Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Funny You Should Mention That

Muslim Charities Complain US Targets Them For Investigation
From Haaretz [emphasis added]:
WASHINGTON - U.S. Muslim charities feel they are being targeted by the U.S government's counterterrorism efforts. On Tuesday, a coalition of U.S. Muslim organizations requested a meeting with Treasury Secretary John Snow to discuss concerns that Muslim charities are targeted in the government's counterterrorism efforts.

In a letter to Snow, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT) said government closures of Islamic charities have hindered American Muslims' ability to carry out their religious obligation to help the needy.
Help the Needy was the name of the "charity" run by Dr. Rafil Dhafir of Manlius, New York. Dr. Dhafir is currently doing 22 years in the pen for his charitable work. New York State just got around to pulling his medical license:
The state has revoked the medical license of Dr. Rafil Dhafir, formerly of Manlius, because of his conviction last year in federal court on 59 felony charges.

Dhafir is serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison in Fairton, N.J., for his crimes, which include mail and wire fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and mishandling nearly $2 million from his charity, Help the Needy. Dhafir maintains he is innocent and plans to appeal his conviction.
If US counter-terrorism agents weren't putting Muslim charities under a microscope it would be a crime - dereliction of duty.

Also posted at The Jawa Report and Vince Aut Morire.