St. Paul - U.S. terrorism finance laws and policies unfairly prevent Muslims in Minnesota and around the nation from practicing their religion through charitable giving and undermine America's diplomatic efforts in Muslim countries, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report out today. The 164-page report, "Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity," is the first comprehensive report that documents the serious effects of Bush administration terrorism finance laws on Muslim communities.
"Without notice and through the use of secret evidence and opaque procedures, the Treasury Department has effectively closed down seven U.S.-based Muslim charities, including several of the nation's largest Muslim charities," said Jennifer Turner, a researcher with the ACLU Human Rights Program and author of the report. "While terrorism financing laws are meant to make us safer, policies that give the appearance of a war on Islam only serve to undermine America's diplomatic efforts just as President Obama reaches out to the Muslim world. These counter-productive practices alienate American Muslims who are key allies and chill legitimate humanitarian aid in parts of the world where charities' good works could be most effective in winning hearts and minds."
According to the report, for which the ACLU conducted 120 interviews with Muslim community leaders, donors and experts in several states, federal law enforcement agents are engaging in practices that intimidate Muslim American donors, such as widespread interviews about their donations and surveillance of donations at mosques. The ACLU has documented reports of law enforcement targeting of Muslim donors in Minnesota for these "voluntary" interviews. Those interviewed say the government's actions have a chilling effect on Muslim charitable giving, or Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam and a religious obligation for all observant Muslims. Minnesota Muslims continue to face increased scrutiny by FBI regarding missing Somali men and the recent raids on three money transfer businesses that sent vital remittances from American immigrants to needy family members abroad in East Africa, including Somalia.
"The laws prohibiting material support for terrorism are so broad that in theory even organizations like the Red Cross could be prosecuted for the aid it provides," states Charles Samuelson "However, the pattern is clear that they are using this law to specifically target primarily Muslim charities. Targeting Muslim charities has caused many Muslims to fear donating to legal charities of their choice and has thus prevented them from fulfilling their faith as is their right."
In his speech from Cairo on June 4, President Obama raised the issue of terrorism finance laws that have an adverse effect on Muslim giving. The ACLU report makes comprehensive recommendations to the Obama administration and Congress that are necessary to ensure terrorism financing policies are consistent with American values of due process and religious freedom.
"Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity" is available online at: www.aclu.org/muslimcharities