On March 23, 2026, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) filed a lawsuit against Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), a UK-based charity, in the Southern District Court of New York. As detailed in the Amended Complaint, IRUSA initiated this federal litigation to protect its status as a trusted, independent, and highly ranked U.S. charity against retaliatory conduct by IRW following a necessary suspension of the parties’ partnership.
On July 15, 2026, rather than granting IRW’s motion to compel arbitration, the court stayed the lawsuit and ordered that both parties engage in the dispute resolution process established in prior agreements.
While the court’s ruling was strictly procedural and did not address the merits of our claims, we welcome this order as a positive step toward resolving our dispute through sensible good faith negotiations, which we have consistently sought. By mandating engagement, we hope and trust that this decision will lead IRW to finally address our critical transparency and compliance concerns, safeguarding our institutional independence and autonomy.
As a wholly independent U.S. charity, IRUSA remains steadfast in its mission. We remain confident that this matter will be resolved in a manner that protects our institution, our donors, and our ability to continue our vital humanitarian work without interruption.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Syed M. Hassan
(571) 421-7032
Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is a U.S.-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering critical humanitarian aid and development to vulnerable communities both at home and abroad. Established in 1993, IRUSA has worked in over 40 countries and promoted domestic and international programming designed to eliminate poverty and create sustainable solutions to the most challenging humanitarian crises. Driven by our core values, IRUSA provides immediate and long-term health, food security, education, economic empowerment assistance to those who need it most in a dignified and non-discriminatory manner. Through world-class programming, IRUSA strives to promote lasting change and positively transform the lives of those we serve.
For more information, visit irusa.org or follow us on X at @islamicrelief