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America's war on Islam fomented enough fear to broadly alienate Muslims, drive charitable giving underground, and fostered a profound distrust of government and law enforcement authorities. Rightfully, they believe fighting terrorism is a war against them.
Conclusion
Since 9/11, the Bush and Obama administrations have violated US and international laws that enshrine freedom of religion, expression, association, and from discrimination. America is a signatory to numerous laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Violating them is anathema, yet it's done repeatedly, especially against Muslims and Islam.
The ACLU wants it stopped and recommends policy changes to the President, Treasury Department, Justice Department, FBI, State Department, Congress, and against proposals to create a "white list" of approved charities. Some include:
-- repealing Executive Order (EO) 13224 - "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism;"
-- a new EO requiring watch list name verification by credible evidence of terrorist ties and quarterly reviews to keep current;
-- setting time limits on frozen funds, after which beneficiaries must receive them;
-- prohibiting racial profiling;
-- ending public raids on charities under investigation and intimidating Muslims;
-- ceasing intrusive investigations without substantive cause to conduct them;
-- assuring the rule of law is scrupulously followed at all times; and
-- avoid "white lists" of approved charities that could be biased in favor of some at the expense of others, based on religion, political affiliation, or other factors.
The ACLU also says that current laws:
"prohibiting material support for terrorism are in desperate need of re-evaluation and reform. (They) punish wholly innocent assistance to arbitrarily blacklisted individuals and organizations, undermine legitimate humanitarian efforts, and can be used to prosecute innocent donors who intend to support only lawful activity through religious practice, humanitarian aid, speech, or association."
Federal Prosecutors Seize Four US Mosques and a Fifth Ave. Office Tower
On November 12, the AP headlined, "US Moves to Seize 4 Mosques and Skyscraper Tied to Iran," saying, but not proving, they're "owned by a nonprofit Muslim organization long suspected of being secretly controlled by the Iranian government."
