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Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Muslim Nonprofit Under Investigation
KindHearts of Toledo assets have been frozen by the US Government. KindHearts is a nonprofit charitable organization administering humanitarian aid to the world's poor. In the past, its officials have denied being connected to any terrorist group or individual.

Read a Plain Dealer article on the investigation.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 01:10:29 PM

Friday, February 17, 2006

OMB Watch New Report on Muslim Charities and Terror Financing
OMB Watch has just published a new report - Muslim Charities and the War on Terror: Top Ten Concerns and Status Update.

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S.-based charities have become targets in the government's war on terror financing. Despite the implications for all domestic nonprofit organizations, the lion's share of the burden of increased scrutiny, suspicion, and pre-emptive action has fallen on Muslim groups. This report lists issues that the charitable sector and the public must address in order to correct an unfair process and make the war on terror most effective.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 07:43:41 PM

Friday, February 03, 2006

Comments To Treasury on Treasury Guidelines Now Online!
On Dec. 5 the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a revised version of its November 2002 Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities. The Treasury Department announcement requested public comment on the revisions by Feb. 1, although the revised guidelines are now operational.

OMB Watch's comments

The Treasury Guidelines Working Group Comments

Kinder USA Comments

MPAC Comments

ACLU Comments

Muslim Advocates Comments

Friends Of Charities Association Comments

The revised guidelines apply to all charities, including foundations and grantees, both foreign and domestic. An expanded introduction notes that adherence to the guidelines provides no legal protection from government sanctions, including the freezing and/or seizing of assets, and makes three new points: 1) the guidelines are voluntary, 2) they are intended to assist the sector in avoiding the risk of diversion of funds, and 3) they are a response to what the Treasury Department perceives as a widespread problem of terrorist abuse of charities.

A more detailed summary of the guidelines is available, as well as a side-by-side comparison of the 2002 and the 2005 revised version.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 11:41:31 AM

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