WASHINGTON, Dec 5: American Muslim organizations in the United States have criticized the Bush administration’s decision to freeze the assets of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), saying it could create the impression of a shift from a war against terrorism to an attack on Islam.

The foundation, described as one of America’s largest Muslim charities, had been targeted by pro-Israel organizations and individuals for several years because of what they said was the group’s support for Palestinian militants. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was said to have urged the foundation to be closed down in his meeting with President Bush at the White House last weekend.

This charge was the basis on which President George Bush on Tuesday ordered HLF assets frozen. He accused it of funding the militant Palestinian organization Hamas, an allegation denied by HLF officials. The only specific accusation made against HLF has been that among the many Palestinians who received its relief aid were children of suicide bombers.

In a joint statement, the American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Islamic Society of North America, Islamic Circle of North America, Muslim American Society, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said that while American Muslims supported President Bush’s effort to cut off funding for terrorism and call for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, the goal “is not achieved by taking food out of the mouths of Palestinian orphans or by succumbing to politically-motivated smear campaigns by those who would perpetuate Israel’s brutal occupation.

“No relief group anywhere in the world should be asked to question hungry orphans about their parent’s religious beliefs, political affiliations or legal status. Those questions are not asked of recipients of public assistance whose parents are imprisoned or executed in the United States, and they should not be a litmus test for relief in Palestine,” the statement added.

Saying that the administration’s action was particularly disturbing because it had come during Ramazan, when Muslims make many charitable donations, the statement said: “We ask that President Bush reconsider what we believe is an unjust and counter-productive move that can only damage America’s credibility in the Muslim world and create the impression that there has been a shift from a war on terrorism to an attack on Islam.”