SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 8: Attracting charities to help rebuild Lebanon in the aftermath of Israeli invasion has once again highlighted the problems faced by Muslim charities in post-9/11 America.
While various groups and organisation were busy raising millions of dollars for Israel, Muslim and Arab groups were facing serious difficulties in raising money for the reconstruction of Lebanon.
Arab and other Muslim groups have been able to collect only two million dollars nationwide for Lebanon, according to Islamic Relief, a California-based charity.
It was an atmosphere fuelled by fear that hindered their efforts. “A lot of people are afraid of donating to Middle East causes because they’re afraid they’ll be accused of supporting something other than humanitarian causes,” said Duston Barto, a spokesman for the Zakat Foundation of America.
The Illinois-based group pledged to raise $250,000 for Lebanon, but it was able to collect $140,000 only because many Muslims fear that writing a donation cheque could bring FBI agents to their doors. An estimated $40,000 has come from Chicago donors.
Even a law enacted recently by the Illinois legislature was not enough to ease Muslims apprehensions. The law —- the Charity Without Fear — prevents donors from prosecution if their contributions are used unlawfully without their knowledge.
In the case of Lebanon donors are especially cautious because they fear their money might end up with the Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation.
So far, the government has not issued specific guidelines for operating in Lebanon and instead has encouraged charities to practice ‘due diligence to ensure that their assets are used for charity and not diverted to ‘finance terrorism.
After Sept 11, 2001, the US government issued general guidelines meant to help charities maintain transparency and prevent money from being diverted to groups or individuals that the government has designated as terrorists.
It also created a list of some 400 individuals and organisations, including 43 charities, that it accuses of funding terrorism.
In May last year, the Illinois General Assembly passed bipartisan resolutions calling on the federal government to create a list of Muslim charitable organisations to which one can safely donate.
Instead of preparing a list of acceptable charities, the Treasury Department endorsed and guided the creation of a National Council of American Muslim Non-Profits which would be a self-policing organisation working for transparency, accountability and the safe delivery of charitable funds to the proper recipients.
