The Alleged Halal Conspiracy at the Heart of the Menendez Corruption Scandal Had Many Victims
Highlights: In this complex case, Habib Ghanim, who had been certifying halal beef liver for Egypt for over 20 years, saw his business disrupted in 2019 when the Egyptian government granted a monopoly for halal certification to IS EG Halal, a company led by Wael Hana, an Egyptian American. This decision had severe consequences for Ghanim and other American Muslims in the halal certification industry.
The situation took a legal turn when Wael Hana, along with U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and others, was charged with bribery in a federal indictment. It is alleged that Menendez used his influence to support IS EG Halal’s monopoly in exchange for bribes from Hana, including cash and gold.
Muslim American halal certifiers had expressed concerns about Hana’s rapid rise in the industry, his connection with Senator Menendez, and the monopoly granted by the Egyptian government. Hana defended himself by stating that he received training from the Egyptian government to perform halal certification.
The case highlights the complexities of the halal certification process, the significant impact of government decisions on businesses, and the legal challenges surrounding alleged corruption involving influential figures.
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