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The Dallas Morning News - April 27, 2005
U.S. investigations into some major
Islamic charities scare many donors
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
WASHINGTON – Khalid Hamideh used to help support a Palestinian widow and her eight children. But the Dallas lawyer's monthly contributions stopped abruptly after the 2001 raid on the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the Muslim charity through which he made his donations.
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has shut down several major Islamic charities, alleging some of their money went to al-Qaeda, Hamas or other terrorist organizations. Khalid Hamideh said many worry about giving to a group that comes under suspicion.
The crackdown has caused tremendous anxiety among Muslims, with many fearful that a simple act of charity could lead to federal agents knocking at their door.
"The number one thing that has happened in our community since 9-11 is everybody is just scared," said Mr. Hamideh, who attends the Dallas Central Mosque. "There is overwhelming fear that 'If I contribute to anything and that group turns out to be on the government's ... hit list, am I going to get prosecuted?' "
Faced with the government's refusal to vet charities, national Muslim leaders are taking matters into their own hands. During a recent Chicago meeting, they established a council that will set standards for its member charities, mosques and other nonprofits.
In the meantime, Muslims have adapted their giving patterns, says Amaney Jamal, a Princeton University professor who has surveyed Arab-American communities in Dearborn, Mich., and Brooklyn, N.Y.
Many make donations in cash rather than by check or credit card. Others have turned away from groups that provide aid overseas, giving instead to local causes or groups considered safe, like the Red Cross or Red Crescent….
Muslim leaders have pressed the government for years to provide a "white list" of charities vetted for ties to terrorism.
"The government needs to take more responsibility in giving us solutions," said Salam Al-Marayati, head of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council. "We keep asking the government 'Tell us what to do. Tell us what the rules are. Let us figure a way where we can get some kind of clearance or some kind of white list.' "
Federal officials say it's not government's role to pick and choose among charities. And Treasury officials fear such a list would spur terrorists to infiltrate approved groups to divert funds.
Consequently, Muslim leaders met last month and formed the National Council of American Muslim Non-Profits, which will establish oversight and governance guidelines for members.
The intent "is to really clear the name of Islam from terrorist financing," said Mr. Al-Marayati, whose group organized the meeting along with the Islamic Society of North America.
Jihad Smaili, who serves on the board of Kind Hearts, a Muslim charity that funds humanitarian efforts in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere, agrees that the council is a positive step.
But he contends the government, having placed Muslim charities under scrutiny, owes it to charity operators to help vet the recipients of the charities' money.
Kind Hearts spends an unusually high 15 percent to 25 percent of its receipts on administration to ensure it is not doing business with undesirable elements, Mr. Smaili said. The charity runs the names of would-be contractors and vendors through Treasury's list of banned individuals. It takes elaborate steps to disburse its money itself rather than writing checks for vendors, he says.
"We are spending a lot of our resources trying to protect Kind Hearts," he said.
The charities' conundrum has resonated among Texas Muslims with the high-profile shutdown of the Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation and indictment of some of its officers. "The community is more fearful because it happened in our midst," said Mr. Hamideh, who represented the Holy Land Foundation. "It wasn't happening to someone on the TV; it was happening to someone we knew."
Muslim donors were jolted anew when KinderUSA, a Dallas-based charity providing humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territories, voluntarily suspended operations in February amid concerns that federal agents were monitoring its operations.
And the Senate Finance Committee sparked new anxiety with its demand last year that the IRS turn over confidential tax and financial records – including contributor lists – for two dozen Islamic charities.
Tricky issues: Dr. Jamal, the Princeton professor, says concern is widespread and taps into a deeper vulnerability Muslims have felt since 9-11. "It's become a very tricky issue," Dr. Jamal said. "Let's say you sponsor an orphan for $50, and it turns out her father was a terrorist. Then, are you supporting terrorism by supporting his daughter?" "Everything is suspect," she added.
In Dallas, some Muslims have started giving to local shelters and non-denominational causes, Mr. Hamideh says. "They have kind of been a beneficiary because a lot of people don't want to send their money overseas any longer."
Many mosques aren't reaping gains, however, amid concern that authorities view them as "suspect," Dr. Jamal said. Some Dallas-area mosques have seen "drastic reductions" in collections since 9-11," said Mr. Maleh, who fled his native Syria and sought asylum here. "People are afraid now, in general, to donate. And they are very careful on who to donate to." ….
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/042805dnnatcharities.534be30f.html
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