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Richmond Times Dispatch – May 9, 2006
Bank agrees to review its closing of
accounts that belong to Muslim charity
Robin Farmer
A campaign by Muslim activists against Wachovia Corp. to protest the unexplained closing of bank accounts belonging to a Herndon-based Muslim charity is on hold pending an investigation by the bank.
Any actions against the North Carolina-based bank, which has branches on the East Coast and in Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee, could include protests and boycotts, the activists said. That depends on what it ends up doing and saying.
Activists held a news conference yesterday in front of a Wachovia branch in Washington to urge supporters to express concern about the bank's action against the Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help, or FAITH, a Northern Virginia charity.
The news conference was held by FAITH, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim American Society's Freedom Foundation.
Activists later learned Wachovia said it would re-examine its decision. "Wachovia contacted FAITH Friday evening and [CAIR yesterday] morning," said Corey P. Saylor, CAIR's government affairs director.
"The president's office said they will investigate closure of the accounts," Saylor said.
That was a welcome message for the activists. "Up to this point their response has been 'we closed your account because we can,'" Saylor said.
According to a news release by CAIR, Wachovia sent a letter to FAITH last November announcing that the organization's accounts would be closed in January 2006, despite their good standing.
Numerous attempts by FAITH to discuss the issue with Wachovia officials were unsatisfactory and, according to CAIR, bank Senior Vice President Jeraldine Davis wrote in a letter to the charity, "As you are aware the Bank's contract with FAITH provides that the Bank can close any customer's account at any time.”
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad called Wachovia's approach "heavy-handed" and said an explanation was required.
"Since 9/11, the American Muslim community has noticed disturbing trends within the national banking community where law abiding American Muslims are seemingly and summarily being denied service based solely on their name, religion or ethnicity," Awad said.
According to The Washington Post, FAITH serves needy residents of all faiths, including offering crisis counseling and providing emergency payments for rent, food and utilities.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835948118&path=!business&s
CNSNews.com May 9, 2006
Bank's closing of Muslim charity
accounts sparks protest
By Monisha Bansal
Muslim American groups Monday lashed out at Wachovia Corp., accusing the banking company of discrimination, for closing the accounts of a Muslim charity.
Wachovia first notified the Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help (FAITH), based out of Herndon, Va., that the group's accounts would be closed in November 2005.
"We had no notice or anything before that. It is their right to do so, but there is also a why. Why did you do that?" Margaret Farchtchi, treasurer of FAITH, complained.
The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the MAS Freedom Foundation joined FAITH Monday in protesting Wachovia outside one of the bank's branches in Washington, D.C.
"We've talked with them many times, we've sent them letters requesting this information and the only thing they have responded to us with is that they have the right to do this and they are doing it," said Farchtchi.
"It is not their right to do that if it is discriminatory," she told Cybercast News Service. "I don't know if they are doing this to any other organizations, or if it is just our organization. We don't see a reason for this action being taken and we are completely shocked by it."
CAIR's executive director, Nihad Awad, said Wachovia's "heavy-handed approach to this small community charity requires explanation."….
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200605/CUL20060509a.html
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