03-04-2004, 12:07 PM
http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http.../news/12030.php
WASHINGTON - Muslim charities and organizations in the United States say they are the target of a government "witch hunt" since Sept. 11 which is intimidating donors and hampering their work.
Required by their faith to pay "zakat," or alms for the needy, Muslims say the ripple effects of the government's hunt for terrorist funds are hurting their community at its core and making them feel like suspects.
They say the official designation of three U.S. Muslim charities as suspected sponsors of terrorism, coupled with what they consider rising anti-Muslim discrimination since the 2001 attacks by Islamic militants, has put them in the firing line simply because of their religious affiliation.
Under constant surveillance
Charities also complain about high levels of secrecy surrounding the designations, and say excessive scrutiny and hefty costs to meet strict new U.S. regulations mean a smaller percentage of donations is now really reaching those in need.
"I feel like we are suspect, having done nothing wrong," said Laila al-Marayati, board member of charity KinderUSA. "People just assume that by definition if you're Muslim, you're going to have something to do with terrorism. . . . . We're under the assumption that we're under surveillance all the time."
"Guilt by association"
Dalia Hashad, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union advocacy group, said: "To say that the Muslim community, and certainly Muslim charities, are receiving extra scrutiny is not an exaggeration, and I don't think the word witch hunt is inappropriate to describe what the government is doing."
An inquiry by the Senate Finance Committee into the activities of 25 Muslim groups - including the three already frozen by officials - was the latest example of "guilt by association," Islamic groups say.
The committee asked the Internal Revenue Service in December for records including donor lists for the 25 groups "to conduct oversight on the issue of organizations, particularly tax-exempt organizations such as charities and foundations, which finance terrorism and perpetuate violence."
The IRS has not yet supplied the information, a committee spokeswoman said.
Some nongovernmental groups tracking Muslim charities said they were surprised by many of the names on the list that they said had not been linked to terrorism before, such as the Islamic Society of North America, one of the largest Muslim organizations in the country.
"What's really going on here is a very inappropriate fishing expedition," said Hussein Ibish, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
"This political witch hunt is very disheartening and disappointing for us," said Jihad Smaili, a board member of KindHearts, one of the groups listed by the Senate committee.
The Treasury Department says the Sept. 11 attacks showed militant groups had infiltrated and abused charities.
"However, this has not resulted in a shutdown of all charities, but rather a focused attempt to target those that are financing or supporting terrorism," said Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise.
The Treasury has so far designated more than 20 charities worldwide as part of the financial support network for al-Qaida, Hamas and other militant groups.