Nonprofit Organizations and Counterterrorism Measures

Alternative Policy Proposals

Best Practice Guidelines for Non-Profits U.S. Treasury Guidelines Working Group of Charitable Sector Organizations and Advisors, Principles of International Charity," March 2005

read in full

Government Policy Decisions and Proposals

Best Practice Guidelines for Non-Profits U.S. Department of the Treasury: "U.S. Department of the Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for US-Based Charities," updated 29 September 2006 European Commission: "Draft Recommendations to Member States Regarding a Code of Conduct for Non-Profit Organisations to Promote Transparency and Accountability Best Practices," 29 November 2005 Financial Action Task Force: "Combating the Abuse of Non-Profit Organisations: International Best Practices," 11 October 2002

read in full

General International Info

Council on Foundations and European Foundation Centre Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy April 2007 Abstract: Humanitarianism and the Muslim World

read in full

NGO Analysis of Counterterrorism Policy Developments

Fact Sheets The Global Nonprofit Information Network (GNIN) released seven fact sheets that concisely document how the war on terror hampers charitable activities. Top Ten Concerns: The Impact of Counterterrorism Measures on the NGO Sector in the United States Overview of Counterterrorism Policies and Effects "Collateral Damage: How the War on Terror Hurts Charities, Foundations, and the People They Serve," OMB Watch and Grantmakers Without Borders, July 2008 "Safeguarding Charity in the War on Terror," OMB Watch, October 2005 (US)

read in full

New York Police Watched Nonprofits before 2004 GOP Convention

A March 25 story in the New York Times revealed that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) conducted a covert surveillance program in 14 states, Canada and Europe that collected information on groups planning lawful protests or events at the 2004 Republican National Convention. The information became public as a result of two lawsuits brought against the city by seven of the 1,806 people arrested during the convention. However, the city has asked a federal court to keep detailed records of this surveillance secret, fearing they will be "misinterpreted." The vast scope of the surveillance has become public knowledge at the same time that Congress is investigating Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) abuse of Patriot Act powers to collect information.

read in full

Double Standard: Chiquita Banana Fined, Not Shut Down, for Transactions with Designated Terrorists

In a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), on March 14 Chiquita Brands International agreed to pay a $25 million fine after admitting it paid terrorists for protection in a dangerous region of Colombia. The payments, made between 1997 and 2004, continued despite the company's knowledge that they were illegal. The company was allowed to continue profitable production during the investigation. The U.S. government's action is inconsistent with standards and procedure used against charities, which have had their assets seized and frozen while investigations are pending.

read in full

Report Finds Underreporting and Abuse of USA PATRIOT Act Powers

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported on March 9 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been systematically underreporting National Security Letter (NSL) requests and has repeatedly violated federal law and agency policies in collecting personal information. The report unleashed a firestorm on the Hill, with calls for reform of the USA PATRIOT Act.

read in full

Senate Votes Down Effort to Expand Definition of Material Support

The Senate bill designed to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, S. 4, had almost 200 amendments and took over two months to complete. One amendment, introduced by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), could have potentially weakened humanitarian work of U.S. charities overseas but was defeated as part of a package of amendments that did not pass.

read in full

Patriot Act Drives Banking Problems for U.S. Muslim Charity

During a September 2006 raid of the Michigan office of Life for Relief and Development (Life), the federal authorities seized computers and organizational records, but told the press the investigation did not relate to terrorism, and that the charity could still operate as before the raid. Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) returned most of the computers shortly after the raid, they kept the documents and files of the organization. When Life later requested the financial documents and receipts to be returned, to enable the organization to file the appropriate tax returns, the FBI attempted to charge Life over $100,000 for “copying fees.”

read in full

Justice Department Refers Kinder USA's Harassment Complaint against FBI to FBI

For nearly three years, according to Kinder USA, the U.S. relief organization based in Dallas, TX, has endured harassment and surveillance of its board, staff and volunteers by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office in Dallas. In December 2006, Board Chair Dr. Laila Al-Marayati sent a letter to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (IG) detailing the problem and asking for an independent investigation.

read in full

Pages