The Catholic League is delighted that the U.S. Treasury Department has denied Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader, a request to secure an exemption from U.S. imposed sanctions making it illegal to accept funds from a terrorist nation. Farrakhan wanted the right to receive $1 billion pledged to him by Moammar Khadafy, the terrorist Libyan dictator. But the Catholic League is now demanding that the State Department honor Rep. Peter King’s request to withdraw Farrakhan’s passport because of his travels to terrorist nations.
Catholic League president William Donohue issued the following statement on the latest development today:
“Last winter the Catholic League requested the Internal Security Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether Louis
Farrakhan had violated federal law by receiving funds from Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy. The Justice Department responded by saying that it would commence an investigation and promised ‘appropriate action’ if it was determined that laws have been broken. It is good news that the Treasury Department has now denied Farrakhan the opportunity to receive the $ billion that Khadafy has pledged. But more needs to be done.
“Farrakhan is now meeting with Khadafy to receive a $250,000 humanitarian award, a gesture declared illegal by the federal government. Because of Farrakhan’s bigoted attack on Jews and Catholics, it is unconscionable that the authorities have not taken more direct action by revoking Farrakhan’s passport. The Catholic League agrees with Beth Gilinsky of the Jewish Action Alliance that the Clinton administration has dragged its feet on this issue and must do more if it is to quell opposition from the Jewish and Catholic communities. We look for decisive action immediately.”
The Catholic League is the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends individual Catholics and the institutional Church from defamation and discrimination.
