A number of media sources, news centers and social networks have published news about the decision of the Iraqi Committee to Combat the Financing of Terrorism and Money Laundering to include the Nature Iraq Organization and its founder Azzam Alwash to freeze all of his real and liquid assets on March 16, 2020. The decision is based on the “suspicion" that the organization "receives remittances with high amounts from foreign bodies, and also sends remittances to unknown parties, as well as the existence of a case pending before the Integrity Commission" as mentioned in the folds of the above-mentioned decision.
We would like to announce that the aforementioned foreign entities are companies, governments and international organizations, for example, the United Nations, the European Union, European, Canadian and American governments, companies and organizations working in the fields of environmental and conservation research projects, all of which are documented and some of our publications are considered a global reference in the field of environment, water and biological diversity.
Nature Iraq has received global and regional awards for the entirety of its work in the field of protection of the marshlands and a sustainable environment, as well as the honouring medal by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, knowing that all of our work is based on contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding and the expenses of studies and research in Iraq are paid through these transfers. All our actions are linked to contracts and our money is documented and there are no unknown parties as mentioned in the book.
The organization has submitted a grievance to the central bank to review the decision and cancel it and reverse all decisions related to it. We also want to inform the public that the decision of the above-mentioned committee came at a time when we were looking forward to the completion of the investigation in the integrity committee in Rusafa based on the submitted documents and the positive witness statements.
We would also like to remind the public that the organization is awaiting the Iraqi justice decision and strongly rejects the above-mentioned suspicion that the organization is engaged in money laundering and terrorist financing. Unfortunately, the decision was issued without any attempt by the investigative bodies to contact or inquire from the Department of Civil Society Organizations, the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, or from our organization so that we can clarify the suspicion and respond to the facts in our possession.
Dr Azzam Alwash,
Head of the Nature Iraq Organization
We would like to announce that the aforementioned foreign entities are companies, governments and international organizations, for example, the United Nations, the European Union, European, Canadian and American governments, companies and organizations working in the fields of environmental and conservation research projects, all of which are documented and some of our publications are considered a global reference in the field of environment, water and biological diversity.
Nature Iraq has received global and regional awards for the entirety of its work in the field of protection of the marshlands and a sustainable environment, as well as the honouring medal by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, knowing that all of our work is based on contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding and the expenses of studies and research in Iraq are paid through these transfers. All our actions are linked to contracts and our money is documented and there are no unknown parties as mentioned in the book.
The organization has submitted a grievance to the central bank to review the decision and cancel it and reverse all decisions related to it. We also want to inform the public that the decision of the above-mentioned committee came at a time when we were looking forward to the completion of the investigation in the integrity committee in Rusafa based on the submitted documents and the positive witness statements.
We would also like to remind the public that the organization is awaiting the Iraqi justice decision and strongly rejects the above-mentioned suspicion that the organization is engaged in money laundering and terrorist financing. Unfortunately, the decision was issued without any attempt by the investigative bodies to contact or inquire from the Department of Civil Society Organizations, the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, or from our organization so that we can clarify the suspicion and respond to the facts in our possession.
Dr Azzam Alwash,
Head of the Nature Iraq Organization
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