BURAIDAH, 6 December — American Muslim organizations have asked President George W. Bush to reconsider a decision to freeze the assets of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), one of America’s largest Muslim charities.
"We ask President Bush to reconsider what we believe is an unjust and counterproductive move that can only damage America’s credibility in the eyes of Muslims in this country and around the world," Khaled Turaani, executive director of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), told Arab News yesterday.
He said this could also create an impression that the war on terrorism is shifting into an attack on Islam.
"Cutting off funding for terrorism will not be 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," Turaani said.
A statement of protest was jointly signed by American Muslims for Jerusalem, the American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council, and Muslim Student Association of USA and Canada.
"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 said.
"Charity is a duty for people of all faiths. In fact, it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Islamic charities in this country help American Muslims fulfill their religious obligation to help orphans and the needy. The frozen assets therefore belonged not to HLF, but to the entire Muslim community. This action is particularly disturbing, coming as it does during the holy month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims make many of their annual charitable donations," the statement added.
The charity has been targeted by pro-Israel organizations and individuals for several years because of what they say is the group’s support for Palestinian militants.
HLF officials have consistently denied those charges and no one has made public any concrete evidence to support the latest action. The only specific accusation made against HLF has been that, among the thousands of Palestinians who received its relief aid, were the children of suicide bombers.
