20 October 2004	Wednesday	05 Ramazan 1425

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WASHINGTON, Oct 19: US Treasury Secretary John Snow on Tuesday issued a list of 27 charities, many of them based in Pakistan, and told Muslims they cannot give fitra or zakat to these organizations.

Offering his greetings for Ramazan, Mr Snow acknowledged that during the month, when many Muslims were moved to give to those in need, but cautioned that some charities could be conduits for terrorist financing.

"Sadly, some have preyed on the charitable spirit of Americans and our friends worldwide by using charities as a conduit to finance terrorist activity. Those who have corrupted the goodwill of donors do not represent the mainstream values of people of good faith, including Muslims," he said.

"When you open your hearts to charity during Ramazan, we encourage you to educate yourself on the activities of the charities to which you donate, to help ensure that your generosity is not exploited for nefarious purposes," he added.

Mr Snow, who began his greetings with 'As Salaam-o-Alaikum', acknowledged that zakat was one of the five pillars of Islam all of which "enrich our lives by strengthening the bonds of family, community and country".

Through Zakat, he said, Muslims had helped countless people around the world with their charity and kindness. "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam, which is a religion of peace," said Mr Snow while quoting President Bush.

The US Treasury Department, he said, was working to stop the flow of terrorist funds that infiltrate charities by identifying and designating those that finance Al Qaeda, Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

He then issued a list of charitable organizations that have been designated by the US government as supporters of terrorism.

These included: Makhtab Al Khidamat/Al Kifah (formerly US-based); Al Rashid Trust (Pakistan); Wafa Humanitarian Organization (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE); Rabita Trust (Pakistan); The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (US); Ummah Tamer-i-Nau (Pakistan); Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (Kuwait, Afghanistan and Pakistan); Afghan Support Committee (Pakistan); Aid Organization of the Ulema (Pakistan); Global Relief Foundation (US); Benevolence International Foundation (US); Benevolence International Fund (Canada); Bosanska Idealna Futura (Bosnia); Lajnat Al Daawa Al Islamiyya (Kuwait); Stichting Benevolence International Nederland (the Netherlands); Al Aqsa Foundation (US, Europe, Pakistan, Yemen, South Africa); Commit de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens (France); Association de Secours Palestinien (Switzerland); Interpal (UK); Palestinian Association in Austria (Austria); Sanibil Association for Relief and Development (Lebanon); Al Akhtar Trust (Pakistan); Al Harmain Foundation (Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Somalia, and Tanzania); Islamic African Relief Agency (Global network); Taibah International (Bosnia); Al-Harmain & Al Masjed Al Aqsa Charity Foundation (Bosnia) and Al Furqan (Bosnia).