ACLU releases report on charitable giving by Muslims: 'Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity'

June 16, 8:49 PMBaltimore Muslim ExaminerJ. Samia Mair

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Today the ACLU released a 164-page report Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity: Chilling Muslim Charitable Giving in the "War on Terrorism Financing".

According to the ACLU,

This report documents the effect of U.S. government actions on American Muslims' exercise of their right to profess and practice their religion through charitable giving. The ACLU's research shows that U.S. terrorism financing policies and practices are seriously undermining American Muslims' protected constitutional liberties and violating their fundamental human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of association, and freedom from discrimination.

The ACLU found that these policies and practices are neither fair nor effective, and are undermining American values of due process and fairness. This report outlines clear measures the Obama administration and Congress should take to ensure American Muslims can exercise their religion while protecting charities from mistaken targeting and abuse, and simultaneously promoting national security and humanitarian aid.

The headings in the Executive Summary shed light on the report's content and findings:

• Terrorism Financing Laws Impose Guilt by Association and Punish Legitimate Humanitarian Aid
• The Terrorism Financing Legal Framework Denies Due Process to Charities
• Discriminatory Enforcement of Counterterrorism Laws against Muslim Charities
• Intimidation of Muslim Donors by Law Enforcement
• Chilling Effect on Muslim Charitable Giving and Impact on Religious Freedom
• Chilling Effect on Association with Muslim Community and Religious Organizations
• Collateral Consequences Undermine Counterterrorism Efforts

In its conclusion, ACLU states in part:

The United States has long been regarded as a beacon of religious freedom, and since the 1940s, the United States has played a prominent role in promoting the rhetoric of freedom of religion in the international arena. During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt identified “freedom to worship” as one of the “four freedoms” for which the allies were fighting. And yet U.S. terrorism financing laws and policies developed under the Bush administration are inhibiting American Muslims’ ability to freely and fully practice their religion.  (emphasis added)

For more info: ACLU's Action Alert: Act Now: Religious Freedom for Everyone in America