Muslim Advocates, ISNA Welcome Government's Assurance that Mosques on Alavi-Owned Property are Free to Operate

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA)--November 13, 2009. Muslim Advocates and the Islamic Society of North America today welcomed the Justice Department's assurance that mosques operating on property owned by the Alavi Foundation are free to operate. Both organizations, however, are concerned about the continued operations of the affected mosques and Muslim institutions in the event that forfeiture proceeds.

Like other houses of worship in America, mosques serve communities and families whose lives would be deeply disrupted by their closure. Referring to the mosques, schools, law firms, businesses and other tenants of Alavi-owned properties, the U.S. Attorney's Office said, "there are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants." ISNA and Muslim Advocates ask that the government not deny communities the valuable services provided by mosques that authorities have publicly stated are blameless in the asset forfeiture case against the Alavi Foundation.

ISNA and Muslim Advocates recommend that all mosques and nonprofit organizations adopt best practices to ensure that their business transactions are in compliance with the law. We also urge mosques and nonprofits to adopt policies and procedures for strengthening charities recommended by Muslim Advocates. Visit the Muslim Advocates website to learn more about best practices and the Muslim Charities Accreditation Program.

Download the community advisory.

U.S. Department of Justice Continues to Cloak Public Access to Guidelines on FBI Surveillance

Muslim Advocates files amended complaint in federal court to protect religious freedom

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) October, 15 2009-- After a lawsuit filed by Muslim Advocates--a national legal advocacy and educational organization--the U.S. Department of Justice released a heavily redacted version of the FBI's Domestic Investigative Operational Guidelines (DIOGs), which sanction racial and religious profiling of law-abiding Americans and infiltration of mosques and other religious and political gatherings. In response, late yesterday, Muslim Advocates filed an amended complaint, asserting that critical passages on gathering data on racial and religious communities and mosque infiltration in the DIOGs were redacted, and need to be made public.

Click here for the full press release.

Click here for a copy of the complaint.

Politico, the Washington, DC daily blog/newspaper, has been following the suit and the FBI's response. The Christian Science Monitor considers Muslim Advocates' suit as it relates to FBI surveillance in the ongoing Najibullah Zazi case in Denver and New York.

Muslim Advocates Report Documents Harassment of American Muslims by Federal Agents at U.S. Border, Airports

In a recently-released report, Unreasonable Intrusions: Investigating the Politics, Faith & Finances of Americans Returning Home, Muslim Advocates documents the systematic and widespread practice of federal agents interrogating Americans returning home after overseas travel at our nation's borders and international airports. Given President Obama's pledge to restore the rule of law, the treatment of Americans returning home is ripe for review and reform.

View a map of Americans interrogated at our borders and airports.

Click here to download the full report.

New Video Provides Legal Guidance on Zakat Giving

Each year, American Muslims carefully consider to which organizations they will donate zakat. Muslim Advocates has created specific materials to assist donors. The latest is an informational video, Guidance on Zakat: The Law and Best Practices

Donors, leaders of non-profit Muslim community organizations and mosque boards are invited to learn more about Muslim Advocates' Muslim Charities Accreditation Program.

Click here for our Guidance on Charitable Giving and our Guidance on International Charitable Giving.

Read more about best practices for non-profit charitable organizations, sign up for an upcoming free educational seminar in your region, and/or participate in the accreditation program.