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United Hands Relief (UHR), a US-based Muslim nonprofit, has come under scrutiny by the House Ways and Means Committee for its alleged “illegal activities” regarding anti-Israel university campus demonstrations and links to terrorism. Evidence suggests that UHR’s endeavors and its leaders proudly promote hatred and violence, raising serious concerns about the group’s tax-exempt status.

Connections to Terrorism

UHR’s treasurer, Hatem Fariz, has a troubling history. Fariz was convicted in 2006 of providing material support to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a US-designated terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks targeting civilians. To this day, Fariz is involved with entities associated with the PIJ network he helped to build more than two decades ago.

UHR itself is alleged to have ties to terrorism. According to tax documents, UHR receives and provides millions of dollars in grants. A large percentage of this money has been given by UHR to foreign groups. One of these groups is the Gaza-based Generosity Without Limit Association, an entity tied to the Popular Resistance Committees terror group.

The terrorist associations of UHR have drawn the attention of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has asked the IRS to remove UHR’s nonprofit tax status.

A Leader Promoting Hate

One of UHR’s key figures and a supporter of convicted al-Qaeda operative Aafia Siddiqui, Ezreta Nikocevic, serves as the group’s Southeast Regional Development Officer. Nikocevic’s social media activity reveals a deeply rooted pattern of antisemitism. Her posts propagate hateful narratives that demonize Jews, often invoking long-debunked conspiracies and outright lies. Posts such as hers have contributed to deadly actions overseas.

Examples of Nikocevic’s Antisemitic Posts

1. Luciferian Conspiracy: Nikocevic shared a video interview featuring notorious anti-Semite Rick Wiles and conspiracy theorist Jana Ben-Nun. During the interview, Jews are accused of establishing a “Luciferian religion” and creating an “AI Messiah” to take over the world. The video bizarrely claims that Jews are making people “transgender” and “androgynous” by placing “specific things in food and drink.”

2. Holocaust Denial: Another of Nikocevic’s posts accuses Jews of making “fraudulent claims” about the Holocaust and having a history of theft, lying, manipulation and “usurious business practices.” The post perpetuates the stereotype that Jews dominate global wealth, media, and academia – classical anti-Semitic tropes used to justify discrimination and violence targeting Jews and Jewish communities.

3. Condemning Jewish Presence in UAE: Nikocevic cursed the UAE for allowing a Chabad rabbi to light a giant menorah in its nation. She posted a video clip of the lighting, stating, “Emirates… is worse than kafir (non-believers).” When someone commented “Shame” with an angry meme, Nokocevic replied, “Completely.” Rhetoric like this led to the murder of UAE Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan, less than a year from her post.

4. Denying Jewish Identity: Nikocevic posted a slanderous claim that “85% of Israelis are not Semites,” perpetuating the baseless assertion that Israeli Jews are European impostors rather than legitimate descendants of the ancient Jewish people.

5. Ritual Sacrifice Allegation: Nikocevic posted clips of a video from a historic Jewish event taking place at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, labeling it a “ritual simulating the sacrifice of a child.” This medieval blood libel trope, which falsely accuses Jews of harming children in religious rituals, has led to massacres against Jews and Jewish communities throughout history.

6. Encouraging Financial Support for Violence: Nikocevic posted a message from deceased Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, lamenting how Muslims prioritize pilgrimage to Mecca over funding violence against Jews in “Palestine.” Such statements embolden extremist behavior, fueling anti-Semitic violence and hatred.

All of these posts took place in November and December of 2023. Yet another post from Nikocevic, during this period, took aim at Israel following the October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas, when 1200 innocent Israelis were brutally murdered – the worst attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust. Nikocevic posted a graphic of an “Oscar” next to an Israeli flag with the caption, “Award for best actor – 2023 – For playing the victim.”

Implications of UHR’s Activities

UHR leadership’s promotion of virulent antisemitism combined with the group’s financial ties to entities linked to terrorism reveals an organization operating far outside the bounds of its stated charitable purpose. The IRS grants tax-exempt status to organizations that benefit the public good, but UHR’s actions suggest something far different. Instead of fostering humanitarian cooperation, its leadership and activities seem to propagate division, incite hatred and violence, and possibly funnel resources toward extremist causes.

Call to Action

Chairman Jason Smith of the House Ways and Means Committee recently emphasized that tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right. Organizations like UHR, which exploit this privilege to spread anti-Jewish hate and potentially fund terror, must be held accountable. The IRS has been urged to investigate and revoke the tax-exempt status of UHR and other similar organizations.

It is vital to ensure that US taxpayers do not unwittingly subsidize hatred and extremism. Groups like UHR not only harm Jewish communities but also undermine the principles of equality and justice that define America.

Beila Rabinowitz, Director of Militant Islam Monitor, contributed to this report.