Terrorism Finance Laws Undermine American Muslims' Religious Freedom, Says ACLU

New Comprehensive Report Details Effects Of Flawed Policies On Muslim
Charitable Giving

NEW YORK, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. terrorism finance laws and
policies unfairly prevent Muslim Americans from practicing their religion
through charitable giving, create a climate of fear and distrust in law
enforcement and undermine America's diplomatic efforts in Muslim countries,
according to an American Civil Liberties Union report out today. The 164-page
report, "Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity," is the first comprehensive report
that documents the serious effects of Bush administration terrorism finance
laws on Muslim communities across the nation.

"Without notice and through the use of secret evidence and opaque procedures,
the Treasury Department has effectively closed down seven U.S.-based Muslim
charities, including several of the nation's largest Muslim charities," said
Jennifer Turner, a researcher with the ACLU Human Rights Program and author of
the report. "While terrorism financing laws are meant to make us safer,
policies that give the appearance of a war on Islam only serve to undermine
America's diplomatic efforts just as President Obama reaches out to the Muslim
world. These counter-productive practices alienate American Muslims who are
key allies and chill legitimate humanitarian aid in parts of the world where
charities' good works could be most effective in winning hearts and minds."

According to the report, terrorism finance laws expanded after 9/11 grant the
Treasury Department virtually unchecked power to designate groups as terrorist
organizations and lack procedural safeguards that would protect American
charities against government mistake and abuse. These laws authorize executive
branch officials to target charities on the basis of secret evidence and
without notice, charges, opportunity to respond, or meaningful judicial
review. The laws also permit the Treasury Department to seize all of a
charity's assets "pending investigation," pursuant only to a blocking order
signed by a mid-level Treasury Department official.

According to the report, for which the ACLU conducted 120 interviews with
Muslim community leaders and donors in several states, federal law enforcement
agents are engaging in practices that intimidate Muslim American donors, such
as widespread interviews about their donations and surveillance of donations
at mosques. Those interviewed say the government's actions have a chilling
effect on Muslim charitable giving, or Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam
and a religious obligation for all observant Muslims.

"Widespread intimidation of Muslim donors and the arbitrary blacklisting of
charitable organizations trample on Muslims' free exercise of religion through
charitable giving and tarnish America's reputation as a beacon of religious
freedom," said Turner. "Post-9/11 policies have created a climate of fear that
prevents Muslims from practicing their religion, and unless the Obama
administration takes action, this legacy of the Bush administration will
persist."

In his speech from Cairo on June 4, President Obama raised the issue of
terrorism finance laws that have an adverse effect on Muslim giving. The ACLU
report makes comprehensive recommendations to the Obama administration and
Congress that are necessary to ensure terrorism financing policies are
consistent with American values of due process and religious freedom and in
line with U.S. human rights commitments.

"Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity" and a new video featuring people who have
been affected by the laws are available online at:
www.aclu.org/muslimcharities.

SOURCE American Civil Liberties Union

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