Civil Liberties

Muslim Charities Unfairly targeted by U.S. Government

The American Civil Liberties Union has spoken out against the way U.S. law targeting funding for terrorism has suppressed Muslim Charities.  The Federal Government argues back that some charities are a front for terrorism. The efforts of the government to stop the funding of terrorism post 9/11 are too vague and they are unfairly applied to Muslim charity organizations.

These laws are impeding Muslim Americans from practicing their religion through charitable giving. Giving to charity is one of the five pillars of Islam and the ACLU acknowledges this. These policies are counter productive and they are making it very hard for American Muslims to practice their religious beliefs because they target their charities.

They are killing legitimate aid to places in the world where Muslim hearts and minds could be won over. Many of the people who would be receiving the aid are legitimate allies of the U.S. war on terror. The U.S. Treasury Department has shut down 9 Muslim Charities, only one of which was actually found guilty of funneling money to terrorists. These 8 charities have been denied due process and have no way to appeal their demise.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-17-voa64.cfm

© 2009 American Muslim Observer.