Global crisis will hit charities says jurist

The current international crisis will affect Islamic charitable work and will jeopardise human rights even in Europe and America, according to a senior legal official.

Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Rukin, Head of the Emirates Jurists Association, gave a lecture on the crisis and its impact on the region at the University of Sharjah on Tuesday.

He praised the stands of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, regarding the September 11 attacks on the U.S. and their consequences.

Dr Al Rukin said the September 11 attacks are a crime against innocent civilians that contradicts Islamic principles and Sharia.

"However, the strikes against innocent civilians in Afghanistan is another crime which should not be justified."

Dr Al Rukin said the crisis resulted in different threats, one was freezing accounts and "drying up" sources of Islamic charitable work. "This will have serious impacts on noble work."

He added that the decision to freeze and check accounts of organisations and individuals "were dictated by the U.S. on world governments and weren't based on international will."

Dr Al Rukin said the international crisis will threaten public freedom and human rights worldwide.

"The crisis will deprive establishments such as societies, leagues, opposition groups, media, and mosques from the right to express their opinions," he said, pointing out the fact that 66 per cent of Americans are willing to give up some of their civil freedom for the sake of fighting terrorism.

The crisis will also threaten the unstable situation among nations in the near east and will end in more disputes in the region. "The crisis will widen the gap between people and their governments and create more conflicts in different parts of the world."

It will also have serious impact on the Palestinian cause and encourage Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

"In addition, the crisis will be affecting national resistance movements in other parts of the world including Syria, Palestine and Lebanon," he said.

Dr Al Rukin analysed some military impacts of the crisis saying that it would last for an indefinite period.

"The start was marked by the first strikes on October 8, but it is difficult to say when the U.S. will achieve its objectives and cease the strikes."

He said the objectives include arresting Al Qaida leaders and combating terrorism, while there are other unannounced objectives including overthrowing the Taliban regime, establishing a new allied regime, having control on resources in the near eastern countries, and striking other countries such as Somalia, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

Dr Al Rukin drew two scenarios of the current crisis. He expects that the Taliban might not be able to stay for a long time because of the strikes, tribal defiance and financial temptations. The neighbouring countries may not agree on a certain regime tailor-made by the U.S. to replace Taliban.

The second expected scenario, he said, is that the Taliban might be able stay for a long time benefiting from the existing contradictions in the welfares of China, Russia, Iran and the U.S. in the region.

The crisis will result in American existence in the region, its closeness to natural resources and nuclear weapons in Pakistan. This may result in more dependance on the U.S. to safeguard stability in the region, he said.

Dr Al Rukin said the crisis will end in a large mess among all countries and nations as well as nations and their people.

Regimes in Muslim countries are required to enhance communication with their people and governments should strengthen their relationships and relinquish disputes, he believed.

People should contribute to official charities to help reduce the effects of war on the Afghans, added Dr Al Rukin.