Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has asked the government for permission to accept a $1 billion donation from Libyan leader Moammar Gad-hafi to help advance the interests of American blacks, a federal official said Monday.
The donation was pledged during a visit to Libya as part of Farrakhan's foreign tour last January, which also included stops in Iran, Nigeria and Sudan.Farrakhan also needs government permission to accept a $250,000 humanitarian award from Gadhafi. He told black journalists last week he planned to travel soon to accept the award, established in 1989 and first given to South Africa's Nelson Mandela.
Telephone calls to the Nation of Islam's Chicago headquarters were not immediately returned.
But the Wall Street Journal, which first reported Farrakhan's request for clearance to accept the $1 billion gift, said plans call for the grant to be used for loans through minority-owned banks, to register voters and to set up a charitable foundation.
The formal request for approval to receive the money was confirmed by a federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
At a meeting of black journalists in Nashville, Tenn., last week, Farrakhan said he wanted to use the money from Gadhafi "to put some hope in a people that are quickly losing hope."
U.S. sanctions forbid most trade with and investment in Libya and also restrict travel. A new law signed by President Clinton also penalizes foreign companies that invest more than $40 million annually in Libyan oil operations. Also, new regulations preclude donations being accepted from terrorist states if the money could be use to promote terrorism.
Farrakhan drew widespread criticism over his trip last winter, which included meetings with Gadhafi, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Nigerian ruler Gen. Sani Abacha. White House spokesman Mike McCurry referred to it as "a thugfest tour."