MUSLIM COALITION SEEKS TREASURY MEETING ON CHARITY CLOSURES
Treasury secretary asked to address concerns about due process

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/28/06) - The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of national Muslim organizations,* wrote today to Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow to request a meeting to discuss growing concerns “about the continued targeting of Muslim charities without due process of law.”

AMT’s letter said government closures of Islamic charities, such as the recent shutdown of Ohio-based KindHearts, have impaired the ability of American Muslims to carry out their religious obligation to help the needy in this country and overseas. The government froze KindHearts’ assets, most of which were earmarked for earthquake relief in Pakistan and for KindHearts new South Asia Division.

KindHearts officials say they had no prior notice of the government’s action, despite the fact that a U.S. Senate Finance Committee probe of U.S. Muslim charities, including KindHearts, ended without any charges or even allegations of wrongdoing.

SEE: Statement by KindHearts

SEE ALSO: Leaders Vigorously Rebut U.S. Allegations (Toledo Blade)

In its letter, AMT stated: “As leading American Muslim organizations, we note that although we understand the political climate of our country and support our government’s efforts to thwart terrorist financing; we find it unfair that our government has yet made another extrajudicial decision to effectively wipe-out more than five years of humanitarian assistance to the world’s needy by the mere stroke of a pen. The immediate effects of KindHearts’ closure have already been felt in orphanages, schools, shelters, and medical centers around the world.”

* The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), is an umbrella organization represented by the: American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Student Association û National(MSA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Project Islamic Hope (PIH), United Muslims of America (UMA)

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