Video: Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity

Video Shows How Terrorist Finance Laws Alienate American Muslims And Chill
Religious Practice Of Charitable Giving

NEW YORK, June 16 /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.

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http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/aclu/38184/

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."

SOURCE American Civil Liberties Union

Rachel Myers of American Civil Liberties Union, +1-212-549-2689, or
+1-212-549-2666, media@aclu.org