Bush Freezes Assets of Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim Charity

December 4, 2001

Source: The American Muslim Council

http://www.amconline.org/cgi-bin/update/viewnews.cgi?newsid1007570421,31748,

On December 4, 2001, The American Muslim Council issued a statement which read, in part: "American Muslims support President Bush's effort to cut off funding for terrorism and call for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, but that goal is not achieved by taking food out of the mouths of Palestinian orphans or by succumbing to politically-motivated smear campaigns by those who would perpetuate Israel's brutal occupation. No relief group anywhere in the world should be asked to question hungry orphans about their parent's religious beliefs, political affiliations or legal status. Those questions are not asked of recipients of public assistance whose parents are imprisoned or executed in the United States, and they should not be a litmus test for relief in Palestine." The statement continued, "We ask that President Bush reconsider what we believe is an unjust and counterproductive move that can only damage America's credibility in the Muslim world and create the impression that there has been a shift from a war on terrorism to an attack on Islam." This joint statement was signed by the American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslim Council (AMC), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).