Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Archewell Foundation Withdraws Funding from Muslim Charity Over Leader’s Anti-Israel Remarks
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation has reportedly rescinded $55,700 in pledged funds to the Milwaukee-based Muslim Women’s Coalition (MWC) following criticism of the charity leader’s anti-Israel statements. Sources indicate the decision stems from opinions expressed by MWC founder Janan Najeeb, published in local media, prompting the Archewell Foundation to discontinue its support for the organization that aids Afghan women refugees.
Controversial Statements Lead to Funding Withdrawal
Janan Najeeb, founder of the Muslim Women’s Coalition, stated that Archewell revoked its commitment due to articles she penned for local Wisconsin publications. In a February 2024 opinion piece for the Wisconsin Muslim Journal, Najeeb described “Israel’s 75-year occupation of Palestine and the genocide in Gaza” as a “grave injustice.”
Najeeb’s commentary further called for a “permanent ceasefire,” an “end to arming the apartheid state of Israel,” and advocated for the “liberation of Palestine,” using the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, from the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.” These statements are understood to be the catalyst for Archewell’s decision to pull funding.
Previous Controversy Surrounding Najeeb’s Brother
Concerns extend beyond Najeeb’s writings. Last year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on a mural linked to Najeeb’s brother, Ihsan Atta. The mural depicted a Nazi swastika embedded within a Star of David, accompanied by the capitalized phrase: “The irony of becoming what you once hated.”
Jewish community leaders swiftly denounced the mural as “vile” and “horribly antisemitic,” as reported by the newspaper, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the Muslim Women’s Coalition and its affiliates.
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Archewell’s Financial Support and Charity’s Mission
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records reveal that Archewell donated $27,960 to the Muslim Women’s Coalition in 2023. Archewell’s financial records for 2024 are not yet publicly accessible.
The MWC’s stated mission is to “empower Muslim women and girls through education and outreach.” The funding from Archewell was specifically designated for the Afghan Women’s Sewing Group and Support Circle, a program designed to assist refugees from Afghanistan who have resettled in Milwaukee.
Criticism Following Funding Rescission
The withdrawal of funds has ignited criticism from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent yet contentious Muslim advocacy group in the U.S. CAIR, which has faced prior accusations regarding ties to the terror group Hamas, according to past reports, issued a strong response.
CAIR disseminated a letter to Archewell, also authored by Najeeb, accusing Prince Harry and Meghan of “silencing women of color who speak out against injustice.” The letter asserts that Archewell’s action undermines its own stated philanthropic objectives.
Accusations of Hypocrisy and Archewell’s Stated Goals
Najeeb’s letter highlights what she describes as “painful irony” in Archewell’s decision. She contends that withdrawing support from Afghan women, many of whom are “war survivors,” simply because the leader of their support organization “dared to speak out against the creation of more war survivors” is contradictory to Archewell’s aims.
Archewell Foundation, established in 2020, declares its mission is “to do good” and “uplift communities” globally. As of this report, Archewell has not provided a public statement regarding the funding withdrawal despite requests for comment.