Religious charities accuse US of interfering in their work

Doha: Islamic charities here yesterday accused the United States and other Gulf governments of meddling in their activities and preventing them from delivering aid to disaster-hit areas.

Participants in the 'Second GCC Forum For Charitable Works' said restrictions imposed on Islamic charitable associations will not help root out those involved in funding terror activities and prompt more illegal activities.

"Many Islamic charities are suspected of funding terrorism and denied funds without any evidence," said Ali Al Suwaidi, general manager of the Qatar-based Shaikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association and the event organiser.

Praising Qatar

"We aim to convey a message that Islamic charities are being prevented from conducting an indispensable relief job in areas that need urgent aid."

Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the conference, Al Suwaidi said while Qatar-based organisations are allowed to transfer funding for their activities under the tight control of the local authorities, other Gulf-based non-governmental organisations are not.

"Qatar has established a monitoring body that supervises the funding activities of all charities. We have no objections to this monitoring system as far as we can work freely. But there are other countries where there are heavy restrictions and organisations are banned from transferring funds." Al Suwaidi said three days ago the United States shut down the Islamic charity Kind Hearts in Ohio "without any evidence against them".

According to participants, restrictions impede charities from delivering aid to areas like Iraq and Palestine.

Crippling restrictions

Mohammad Al Salloomi, General Manager of the Saudi-based Third Sector Centre, said the measures imposed by the United States against some Islamic charities in the US and the region would lead Islamic organisations to work in the dark.

"The only way to have transparent charitable work is to allow charities to work and continue to deliver aid. Restrictions that are driven by misconceptions and generalisations will lead more aid charities to work illegally."

Some 200 delegates from 50 organisations from across the region and representatives and lawyers from international organisations are participating in the two-day event.

Al Suwaidi said the objective of the event is to present the indispensable role played by Islamic charities aid work.