Georgeous George (as opposed to Champagne Charlie - a mistake easy to make 
) is in the latest series of Big Brother in the UK.
Now there are a lot of things we could discuss about this strange turn of events, but the one I want to talk about is his chosen charity.
For those who have just arrived, BB has a bunch of celebrities (OK that is stretching the term a little) desperately in search of a little luvin' from the wider public, couped up in a house until they are turfed out one by one. When normal plebs are used in the show the participants get to keep prize money they might win. With the luvvies, sorry celebs, they get a fee. George is donating his to a "charity" called Interpal.
This has caused some consternation for two reasons.
Interpal is, according to some UK media reports, a banned organisation in the US because it is judged to have terrorist links. In the UK it has been subject to investigation, but cleared by the Charities Commission for charitable status in the UK. Essentially it is a "charitable" arm of Hamas and the funds variously go towards health, education and other uses in PA areas usually under the control of and conforming to the policies of Hamas. Moreover, there are claims (I haven't researched enough to establish the veracity of these) that money tends to find itself to suitable needy people - particularly families of suicide bombers etc.
Now we could argue about what the money Interpal raises is or is not doing in Palestine and what evidence there is for such claims. However, most people would agree (I think) that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Should the mere possibility of association with such an organisition be be justification for banning such charities? The nearest comparison I can think of is Noraid which collects money in the US for various purposes including charitable works in Northern Ireland, but is reputed to be linked to the IRA.
Geck
) is in the latest series of Big Brother in the UK.Now there are a lot of things we could discuss about this strange turn of events, but the one I want to talk about is his chosen charity.
For those who have just arrived, BB has a bunch of celebrities (OK that is stretching the term a little) desperately in search of a little luvin' from the wider public, couped up in a house until they are turfed out one by one. When normal plebs are used in the show the participants get to keep prize money they might win. With the luvvies, sorry celebs, they get a fee. George is donating his to a "charity" called Interpal.
This has caused some consternation for two reasons.
Interpal is, according to some UK media reports, a banned organisation in the US because it is judged to have terrorist links. In the UK it has been subject to investigation, but cleared by the Charities Commission for charitable status in the UK. Essentially it is a "charitable" arm of Hamas and the funds variously go towards health, education and other uses in PA areas usually under the control of and conforming to the policies of Hamas. Moreover, there are claims (I haven't researched enough to establish the veracity of these) that money tends to find itself to suitable needy people - particularly families of suicide bombers etc.
Now we could argue about what the money Interpal raises is or is not doing in Palestine and what evidence there is for such claims. However, most people would agree (I think) that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Should the mere possibility of association with such an organisition be be justification for banning such charities? The nearest comparison I can think of is Noraid which collects money in the US for various purposes including charitable works in Northern Ireland, but is reputed to be linked to the IRA.
Geck
