U.S. Muslim Groups Seek Easier Charitable Contribution Rules

A coalition of U.S. Muslim groups have asked President Obama to revise charitable giving rules that have generated a chilling affect amongst the Muslim community with regard to charitable giving, according to an online report by The Public Record: 

.While President Barack Obama conceded in his speech in Cairo last month that U.S. rules on charitable giving “have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation,” civil rights advocates are pressing the president to turn his words into action.  The Muslim Public Affairs Council has joined other nonprofit organizations in urging Obama to follow up on his commitment to work with Muslim Americans to revise charitable giving rules. In a letter to the president, the organizations said, “We are seeking a meeting with you and the appropriate representatives of your administration to provide background information on how current national security rules create problems for all U.S. charities and to provide recommendations for change.”  

The Letter, a copy of which I have not yet obtained, refers to conclusions made in a troubling 166 page ACLU report entitled, “Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity:  Chilling Muslim Charitable Giving in the War on Terrorism Financing”.  (June 2009).  We previously reported on this matter here.  The President acknowledged in his June 4, 2009 Cairo speech that efforts to cut off funds to terrorist organizations have had the unintended collateral effect of making it harder and indeed dangerous to give to an Islamic charity or any group that seeks humanitarian goals for people of the Islamic faith.  Video of the speech is available here.  Obama stated the following with regard to charitable giving by Muslims:

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together.  We must always examine the ways in which we protect it.  For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation.  That’s why I’m committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. 

dkj.