Ohio Charity Accused of Terrorist Link Shuts Down

An Ohio organization whose assets were frozen by the federal government in 2006 over alleged ties to militant Islamic group Hamas has formally dissolved but is still negotiating a settlement over the frozen assets, the Associated Press reports.

Toledo-based KindHearts for Charitable Humanitarian Development sued the government after authorities refused at the time to say why the charity’s funds had been frozen. The organization denied claims that it was funneling money terrorist groups, saying it spent $6-million a year on aid to the world’s poor.

A U.S. District Court judge sided with the charity in a 2009 ruling, saying the government violated the Constitution by not notifying KindHearts of the reason for freezing its assets or giving it a chance to respond. The government expects a settlement deal to be completed in early July, according to recent court filings.