Muslim-Charity Trial Highlights Concerns About Government Tactics

The advocacy group OMB Watch is hoping the mistrial in the case against the Holy Land Foundation, formerly one of the country’s largest Muslim charities, will raise awareness of its concerns about the government’s approach to such charities.

“Will more notice our concerns with the designation process of groups as terrorist organizations, and will more now pay attention to the problems with shutting down a charity before any criminal charges are brought and freezing all of its assets all with secret evidence?” the government-watchdog group says on its Advocacy Blog.

The federal case against the Holy Land Foundation ended this week in a mistrial after jurors were unable to come to a unanimous decision on the nearly 200 counts brought against the charity and five of its former officers and supporters. The government had accused the defendants of funneling money to terrorist organizations, charges they denied.

Another blog, the anonymous Don’t Tell the Donor wonders why more fund raisers haven’t blogged about the quandary facing many Muslims in deciding how to give “zakat,” a donation required of Muslims, especially during Ramadan. The site links to an article in The Detroit News that says government raids have created confusion among donors about which Muslim charities are “safe.”

Do you think the government’s tactics in the Holy Land Foundation case were justified? Are you aware of donors who are wondering whether to contribute to Muslim charities? Share your opinion by clicking on the Comment link below.