Difference between revisions of "Hand in Hand for Syria"

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|logo=HiHLogo.jpg
 
|logo=HiHLogo.jpg
 
|description=The organisation that "Dr Rola" was working for when she called for humanitarian bombing of Syria.
 
|description=The organisation that "Dr Rola" was working for when she called for humanitarian bombing of Syria.
|members=Dr Rola
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|members=Faddy Sahloul, Fadi Al-Dairi, Omar Abdul Gabbar, Nada Alkordi, Razan Zehrawi, Talaat Atassi, Rola Hallam, Raid Atassi, Manhal Alnasser, Basim Rahbi
 
|twitter=hands4Syr
 
|twitter=hands4Syr
 +
|founders=Fadi Al-Dairi, Faddy Sahloul
 
|facebook=https://www.facebook.com/handinhandsforsyria
 
|facebook=https://www.facebook.com/handinhandsforsyria
 
}}
 
}}
'''Hand in Hand for Syria''' is a UK registered charity incorporated on 13 February 2012<ref name="cc">[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/PrintReport.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1145862&ReportType=BW Charity Commission] - Statutory information on 'Hand-in-Hand-for-Syria' at 29 June 2014</ref> and [http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/ its web site] was set up on 1 March 2012. Channel 4 reports that it was "formed from within the Syrian diaspora [in 2012] in response to a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the region"<ref name="C4">[http://www.channel4.com/news/syria-where-medicine-is-a-weapon-of-war Syria - where medicine is a weapon of war], Channel 4 report of Jan 23, 2013</ref>. The organisation came to prominence through "[[Dr Rola]]", who was apparently working as a volunteer during an alleged Napalm attack on a school in the village of Orum Alkubra in Aleppo on 26 August 2013.<ref name="HIH">[http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/ Hand in Hand for Syria] - Home page</ref>
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'''Hand in Hand for Syria''' is a UK registered charity incorporated on 13 February 2012<ref name="cc">[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/PrintReport.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1145862&ReportType=BW Charity Commission] - Statutory information on 'Hand-in-Hand-for-Syria' at 29 June 2014</ref> and [http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/ its web site] was set up on 1 March 2012. Channel 4 reports that it was "formed from within the Syrian diaspora [in 2012] in response to a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the region"<ref name="C4">[http://www.channel4.com/news/syria-where-medicine-is-a-weapon-of-war Syria - where medicine is a weapon of war], Channel 4 report of Jan 23, 2013</ref>. The organisation came to prominence through "[[Dr Rola]] (Hallam)", who was apparently working as a volunteer during an alleged Napalm attack on a school in the village of Orum Alkubra in Aleppo on 26 August 2013.<ref name="HIH">[http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/ Hand in Hand for Syria] - Home page</ref>
  
 
==Official Narrative==
 
==Official Narrative==
 
Their [[Facebook]] page describes Hand in Hand for Syria as a "UK Registered charity providing humanitarian support for the people of [[Syria]]." Their website states that they work wth the "UN’s OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) to plan the distribution of aid."<ref>http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/what-we-do/partners</ref>
 
Their [[Facebook]] page describes Hand in Hand for Syria as a "UK Registered charity providing humanitarian support for the people of [[Syria]]." Their website states that they work wth the "UN’s OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) to plan the distribution of aid."<ref>http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/what-we-do/partners</ref>
[[File:HiHLogoPlusName.png|thumb|Original logo|210px|left]]
+
 
[[File:SNOFlag.png|thumb|180px|Flag of the Syrian Nation Opposition]]
 
[[File:HiHLogoPlusNameNew.png|thumb|Revised logo|210px|left]]
 
 
===Problems===
 
===Problems===
 
According to the UK charity commission, "an organisation cannot be a charity if it has a 'political purpose'."<ref name="CharityCommission">[http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/detailed-guidance/registering-a-charity/what-makes-a-charity-cc4/annex-b-about-political-purposes UK Charity Commission, What Makes a Charity? Annex B - Political Purposes]</ref> As a UK charity, Hand in Hand for Syria is therefore explicitly prohibited from "furthering the interests of a particular political party" or from "securing or opposing any change in the law, whether in the UK or overseas".<ref name="CharityCommission"/>
 
According to the UK charity commission, "an organisation cannot be a charity if it has a 'political purpose'."<ref name="CharityCommission">[http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/detailed-guidance/registering-a-charity/what-makes-a-charity-cc4/annex-b-about-political-purposes UK Charity Commission, What Makes a Charity? Annex B - Political Purposes]</ref> As a UK charity, Hand in Hand for Syria is therefore explicitly prohibited from "furthering the interests of a particular political party" or from "securing or opposing any change in the law, whether in the UK or overseas".<ref name="CharityCommission"/>
  
 
===Logo===
 
===Logo===
As in the case of [[World for Libya]], the charity's logo is clearly intended to display a political affiliation. (See the flag of the Syrian National Opposition - ''right, above''). Both supposedly non=political groups aligned themselves with the aims of the rebel groups. In Spring 2014, when their website was updated, the logo was quietly modified to remove the three red stars and the globe, but the affiliation remains indisputable.
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[[File:HiHLogoPlusName.png|thumb|Original logo|210px|left]]
 +
[[File:SNOFlag.png|thumb|180px|Flag of the Syrian Nation Opposition]]
 +
[[File:HiHLogoPlusNameNew.png|thumb|Revised logo|210px|left]]As in the case of [[World for Libya]], the charity's logo is clearly intended to display a political affiliation. (See the flag of the Syrian National Opposition - ''right, above''). Both supposedly non=political groups aligned themselves with the aims of the rebel groups. In Spring 2014, when their website was updated, the logo was quietly modified to remove the three red stars and the globe, but the affiliation remains indisputable.
  
 
===Name===
 
===Name===
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Is this congruence of name and FSA objectives just coincidence? Is the name's similarity with [[World for Libya]] also just one more coincidence?
 
Is this congruence of name and FSA objectives just coincidence? Is the name's similarity with [[World for Libya]] also just one more coincidence?
  
==Relationship to World For Libya==
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==Opaque Organisation==
{{FA|World for Libya}}
+
[[Image:Imam Mujahed.jpg|right|thumb|Misleading poster]]
Hand in Hand for Syria has no known acknowledged connection to ''[[World For Libya]]'', a UK charity registered 8 months earlier. However, the parallels are striking:- both sport a logo indicative of a political affiliation to a rebel group, against which the {{ccm}} have proposed [[humanitarian intervention]]. Moreover, both have been assisted by film maker and medic Dr [[Saleyha Ahsan]].
+
The organisation of Hand in Hand for Syria is unclear. Various non trustees have claimed trustee status. As [[Declan Hayes]] puts it:
 +
{{QB|Because of its opaqueness, it is hard to ascertain who exactly is in charge of the Hand in Hand for Syria organisation. Although, for example, [[Faddy Sahloul]] is used as the main
 +
contact point on the Charity Commission page, which also lists Razan, his (apparent) wife and [[Fadi al Dairi]] as the only other two trustees, some others, such as accountant [[Marwan Ghannam]] who registered their website (but who is not involved in doing their accounts) also play key roles. Another person who has played a prominent if at times coy role in this group is marble entrepreneur [[Iman Mujahed]]...<ref name="hig">[[File:Hand in Glove.pdf‎]], by [[Declan Hayes]]</ref>}}
  
==Funding==
+
==Accounting failure==
As of 29 June 2014 the charity had failed to file any accounting information, in breach of the UK Charity Commission's legal requirement.<ref name="ccfiling">http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/detailed-guidance/money-and-accounts/charity-reporting-and-accounting-the-essentials-2009-cc15b</ref>
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[[Razan Zehrawi]], a Hand in Hand for Syria’s trustee with a background in decorative arts is in charge of their banking,<ref>http://www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk/what-we-do/who</ref> rather than [[Marwan Ghannam]], another trustee who is a qualified chartered accountant.<ref name="hig"/> In spite of repeated claims of painstaking accounting "even down to the antiseptic"<ref>edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1310/08/ctw.01.html</ref>, as of 16 August 2014 the charity had failed to file any accounting information, in breach of the UK Charity Commission's legal requirement.<ref name="ccfiling">http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/detailed-guidance/money-and-accounts/charity-reporting-and-accounting-the-essentials-2009-cc15b</ref> Moreover, [[Fadi Al-Dairi]] suggested that the [[Charity Commission]] was 'Islamophobic' for asking them to submit their accounts.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgJwd48ASy4</ref><ref name="hig"/>
  
===2014 Appeal===
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==2014 Appeal==
 
In 2014, Hand in Hand for Syria launched an appeal for money to equip Atareb Hospital, Aleppo. Irregularities have been alleged in this regard, since what is described as "a basic hospital funded by handouts" and "a field hospital" appears in fact to be relatively well-equipped, including a kidney dialysis machine, surgical and x-ray facilities.<ref>http://bbcpanoramasavingsyriaschildren.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/bbc-editorial-complaints-final-report-19-may-2014/</ref>
 
In 2014, Hand in Hand for Syria launched an appeal for money to equip Atareb Hospital, Aleppo. Irregularities have been alleged in this regard, since what is described as "a basic hospital funded by handouts" and "a field hospital" appears in fact to be relatively well-equipped, including a kidney dialysis machine, surgical and x-ray facilities.<ref>http://bbcpanoramasavingsyriaschildren.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/bbc-editorial-complaints-final-report-19-may-2014/</ref>
 +
 +
==Relationship to World For Libya==
 +
{{FA|World for Libya}}
 +
Hand in Hand for Syria has no acknowledged connection to ''[[World For Libya]]'', a UK charity registered 8 months earlier. However, the parallels are striking:- both sport a logo indicative of a political affiliation to a rebel group, against which the {{ccm}} have proposed [[humanitarian intervention]]. Moreover, both have been assisted by film maker and medic Dr [[Saleyha Ahsan]].
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 14:16, 16 August 2014

Group.png Hand in Hand for Syria Facebook Twitter WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
HiHLogo.jpg
Formation2011
Founder•  Fadi Al-Dairi
•  Faddy Sahloul
Type charity?
Interest ofDeclan Hayes, Robert Stuart
Membership•  Faddy Sahloul
•  Fadi Al-Dairi
•  Omar Abdul Gabbar
•  Nada Alkordi
•  Razan Zehrawi
•  Talaat Atassi
•  Rola Hallam
•  Raid Atassi
•  Manhal Alnasser
•  Basim Rahbi
The organisation that "Dr Rola" was working for when she called for humanitarian bombing of Syria.

Hand in Hand for Syria is a UK registered charity incorporated on 13 February 2012[1] and its web site was set up on 1 March 2012. Channel 4 reports that it was "formed from within the Syrian diaspora [in 2012] in response to a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the region"[2]. The organisation came to prominence through "Dr Rola (Hallam)", who was apparently working as a volunteer during an alleged Napalm attack on a school in the village of Orum Alkubra in Aleppo on 26 August 2013.[3]

Official Narrative

Their Facebook page describes Hand in Hand for Syria as a "UK Registered charity providing humanitarian support for the people of Syria." Their website states that they work wth the "UN’s OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) to plan the distribution of aid."[4]

Problems

According to the UK charity commission, "an organisation cannot be a charity if it has a 'political purpose'."[5] As a UK charity, Hand in Hand for Syria is therefore explicitly prohibited from "furthering the interests of a particular political party" or from "securing or opposing any change in the law, whether in the UK or overseas".[5]

Original logo
Flag of the Syrian Nation Opposition
Revised logo

As in the case of World for Libya, the charity's logo is clearly intended to display a political affiliation. (See the flag of the Syrian National Opposition - right, above). Both supposedly non=political groups aligned themselves with the aims of the rebel groups. In Spring 2014, when their website was updated, the logo was quietly modified to remove the three red stars and the globe, but the affiliation remains indisputable.

Name

In its 29 July 2011 founding statement, Free Syrian Army leader Colonel Riad al-Asaad said:

... We announce the formation of the free Syrian army to work hand in hand with the people to achieve freedom and dignity to bring this regime down, protect the revolution and the country’s resources, and stand in the face of the irresponsible military machine that protects the regime.”[6]

Is this congruence of name and FSA objectives just coincidence? Is the name's similarity with World for Libya also just one more coincidence?

Opaque Organisation

Misleading poster

The organisation of Hand in Hand for Syria is unclear. Various non trustees have claimed trustee status. As Declan Hayes puts it:

Because of its opaqueness, it is hard to ascertain who exactly is in charge of the Hand in Hand for Syria organisation. Although, for example, Faddy Sahloul is used as the main contact point on the Charity Commission page, which also lists Razan, his (apparent) wife and Fadi al Dairi as the only other two trustees, some others, such as accountant Marwan Ghannam who registered their website (but who is not involved in doing their accounts) also play key roles. Another person who has played a prominent if at times coy role in this group is marble entrepreneur Iman Mujahed...[7]

Accounting failure

Razan Zehrawi, a Hand in Hand for Syria’s trustee with a background in decorative arts is in charge of their banking,[8] rather than Marwan Ghannam, another trustee who is a qualified chartered accountant.[7] In spite of repeated claims of painstaking accounting "even down to the antiseptic"[9], as of 16 August 2014 the charity had failed to file any accounting information, in breach of the UK Charity Commission's legal requirement.[10] Moreover, Fadi Al-Dairi suggested that the Charity Commission was 'Islamophobic' for asking them to submit their accounts.[11][7]

2014 Appeal

In 2014, Hand in Hand for Syria launched an appeal for money to equip Atareb Hospital, Aleppo. Irregularities have been alleged in this regard, since what is described as "a basic hospital funded by handouts" and "a field hospital" appears in fact to be relatively well-equipped, including a kidney dialysis machine, surgical and x-ray facilities.[12]

Relationship to World For Libya

Full article: World for Libya

Hand in Hand for Syria has no acknowledged connection to World For Libya, a UK charity registered 8 months earlier. However, the parallels are striking:- both sport a logo indicative of a political affiliation to a rebel group, against which the commercially-controlled media have proposed humanitarian intervention. Moreover, both have been assisted by film maker and medic Dr Saleyha Ahsan.

 

Known member

1 of the 11 of the members already have pages here:

Member
Faddy Sahloul

 

Related Document

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
File:Hand in Glove.pdfreport23 July 2014Declan HayesAn exploration of the murky truth about "Hand in Hand for Syria", first brought to prominence by the murky "Dr Rola" TV report which appeared designed to stoke support for a 'humanitarian' bombing of Syria.
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References