Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity
Video Shows How Terrorist Finance Laws Alienate American Muslims And Chill Religious Practice Of Charitable Giving
NEW YORK, June 16, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — A new video from the American Civil Liberties Union, "Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity," shows how terrorism finance laws have created a climate of fear that hurts the ability of American Muslims to freely practice their religion through charitable giving.
The video accompanies an ACLU report by the same name. The report is based on interviews with 115 Muslim community leaders and American Muslims who say would-be donors are intimidated by laws that allow the use of secret evidence and non-transparent procedures to punish innocent giving and shut down legitimate charities. This hinders the ability of Muslims to practice Zakat, the religious practice of charitable giving, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Observant Muslims are obligated to give, but some fear a visit from the FBI every time they write a check to charity.
"You want to make a political statement? Close down a couple of Muslim charities, create a fear factor, create a hype in the media saying that Muslims are doing things which are not true," says Tariq Rahman in the video. He is a director of the Islamic Circle of North America.
Rahman's organization runs a women's shelter in New York that is highlighted in the video. The shelter offers refuge for abused or homeless Muslim women. Rahman would like to expand its services but a lack of donations has put plans on hold since past supporters are afraid to give.
"Those who have should help the have-nots. It is our religious duty," says Kurshid Khan in the video, also from the Islamic Circle of North America. "The government's actions have very badly affected donations because people now shy away because they are scared."
