Police investigation confirms:

MS did not support terror

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has told MS that the Danish organisation ISRA is eligible for receiving funds again since Danish police cannot substantiate accusations of terror support.

29. July 2005

Danish police has closed the investigation of Independent Scandinavian Relief Agency (ISRA) which was placed on a US terror list in October 2004. The police found no evidence of terror support.

Wednesday July 27 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark announced that ISRA is qualified to receive funds administrated by MS as has been the case in the past.

The organisation collects used hospital equipment which they send on to countries like Somalia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Sudan and others. The expenses are covered by MS via a fund from Danida (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark).

Minister: No basis for Accusations

Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs says in a statement found on the ministry’s website that she is glad there is no basis for the accusations of support to terror.

It all began in October 2004 when Danish tv-channel TV2 broadcasted a dramatic news story: ISRA, an organisation with office in Copenhagen, had been placed on the US list of organisations supporting terror. The nation was left with the impression that maybe MS was part of a conspiracy with dark forces that support terror.

In addition a press release from then Minister for Development Cooperation Bertel Haarder stated that this was indeed a serious matter which could have dire consequences for MS. 

However, already back in October the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had expressed satisfaction that an MS report on the matter clearly demonstrated MS’ adherence to existing rules and regulations guiding the financial support for shipment of renovated equipment to ISRA partners in the South. 

Investigations took Nine Months

Commenting on the case, MS Secretary General Lars Udsholt is happy that police findings finally vindicate the position taken by MS and ISRA all along:

“We are of course very pleased that Danish police now confirms that the dramatic accusations could not be substantiated. However, we are also concerned that police investigations have taken nine months to complete. Meanwhile, ISRA’s operations have been brought to a halt and needy people in poor countries have lacked the support provided by ISRA through hospital equipment and other supplies.”

Lars Udsholt also points to the more critical aspects illustrated by this case:

"Danish authorities should be extremely carefully when applying the ‘terrorist label’ without proper documentation. Back in 2002 the Danish Minister of Justice Lene Espersen confirmed to Danish humanitarian organisations that 'anti-terror legislation should not criminalise those supporting an organisation in the well-founded belief that it is a non-terrorist association'. Yet the case demonstrates that this might easily happen despite the fact that clear evidence was provided from the very beginning by MS and ISRA."

Since 1990 MS has administrated Danida money allocated for the transportation of equipment fit for relief-work in developing countries. MS handles applications from a wide range of Danish organisations and the administration of this grant is subject to continuous reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ISRA has received support for a range of different shipments since 1996.