Background Information on Turkish IHH, Sponsor of Mavi Marmara Ship of Freedom Flotilla

Since Israel's attack on the Freedom Flotilla Monday morning, much media focus has been placed on the activists and organizations on-board the boats. One such organization is the Turkey-based Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH).

IHH sponsored the Mavi Marmara, the largest of nine boats trying to bring approximately 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the one on which the violence that left nine people dead took place.

An Islamic organization, IHH was formed in 1994 in response to the war in Bosnia. It provides shelter, clothing, food and various other necessities to individuals in conflict or natural disaster zones. IHH is presently involved in humanitarian aid projects in over 120 countries, including Ethiopia, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Palestine.

Following the attack on the Mavi Marmara, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon was quoted as saying that "the [IHH] organizers are well-known for their ties to global Jihad, Al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror… The organizers' intent was violent, their method was violent, and unfortunately, the results were violent."

Despite these claims, however, IHH is not on the U.S. State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. In fact, the Department has stated that the supposed links between IHH and Al-Qaeda "can't be validated."

IHH leaders have also vehemently denied having any links to terrorist organizations or extremist groups.

In 2005, IHH was designated by the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations as the foundation that uses its resources in the most efficient way. The Turkish Parliament also awarded IHH with the Parliamentary Award of Honor in 2007.

IHH has had Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ESOCO) since 2004. It is also affiliated with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations, the Council of International Organizations for Relief in Iraq and the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World.

Notwithstanding, in 2008, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak outlawed IHH – along with 35 other associations and foundations – for allegedly supporting Union of the Good, an umbrella organization which provides money and other aid to groups purportedly affiliated to Hamas.

In January 2010, however, IHH partnered with Viva Palestina – a charity led by British politician George Galloway which aims to bring food, medicine and essential goods to Gaza – and helped bring over 150 vehicles loaded with humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.

IHH was also responsible for shipping over 40 vehicles that Egyptian authorities did not allow into Gaza with the aforementioned convoy to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon.

In an interview with Islamic News published on 2 March 2010, Durmush Aydin, IHH's Vice President for International Relations, explained that the organization has been involved with Palestinian solidarity projects for many years.

"We worked in Gaza, even during the war, under the bombs," Aydin is quoted as saying in the article.

This past April, Izzet Sahin, IHH's representative in the West Bank, was arrested near Bethlehem. He remained in Israeli custody for 20 days before being released with few details as to why he was imprisoned.

Veysel Basar, a member of the IHH Board, held a press conference on May 31st at IHH headquarters in Istanbul in response to the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara.

"Israel is now carrying out “terror of information” following the act of “armed terror” they carried out this morning by brutally attacking our friends," said Basar, according to a press conference transcript posted on IHH's makeshift website.

IHH has been using Facebook, Twitter and various blogs to provide information since the Free Gaza flotilla was attacked because members state that they have been unable to access the organization's original website.

In the same press release, Basar explained that the Mavi Marmara boat was thoroughly inspected by Irish, Turkish and Greek customs authorities and that all necessary procedures were taken before leaving the port for Gaza.

"The attack on our ships has once again shown that Israel does not want peace in the region. Besides, it does everything to still justify and continue its bloodthirsty actions. We are much more determined to free Palestine than Israel is determined to shed blood,” he said.

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