News

The Charity and Security Network monitors U.S. and foreign government activities and a wide range of news sources to identify developments in national security policy that impact American charities and foundations. We collect and disseminate this information - with a focus on its impact on civil society and nonprofit organizations.

 

News

Al-Haramain Oregon Proposes U.S. Pay Damages for Illegal Surveillance to Another Charity

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Date: 
May 17, 2010

The legal proceedings following a federal court's March 2010 ruling in Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (AHIF) v. Obama that the government illegally wiretapped the charity and two of its lawyers from Feb. 19, 2004 to Sept. 9, 2004 have raised a novel issue: can the government pay a damage award to a listed terrorist organization? Lawyers for AHIF have proposed a novel solution, asking the court to turn over AHIF's share of the damages to one or more other charities.

U.S. Nonprofit Rights Highlighted in UN Human Rights Submission

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Date: 
April 20, 2010

On April 19, 2010 a coalition of charitable, development, human rights and other organizations submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on the United States' government to “re-assess its national security and counterterrorism laws as applied to civil society organizations.” The filing, part of the UN's Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. human rights record, recommended that U.S. laws and policy provide for “clear standards, fair redress procedures, and protection for humanitarian aid, charitable funds and free speech.”  

Senator Asks DOJ for Patriot Act Oversight

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Date: 
April 15, 2010

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is urging Attorney General Eric Holder to perform additional safeguards on Patriot Act provisions. In a letter sent to Holder on March 17, 2010, Leahy says civil liberties and oversight protections could still be implemented despite not being included in the one year reauthorization of three provisions in February. "Even without Congressional action," Leahy wrote, “the administration could still take steps to increase accountability and privacy measures.”   

Breaking News: Judge Rules Warrantless Wiretap of U.S. Charity Unconstitutional

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Date: 
April 1, 2010

On March 31, 2010 a federal judge ruled the phone conversations of an Islamic charity, Al-Haramain, and two of its American lawyers were illegally wiretapped without a search warrant.  According to the New York Times, U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said there was enough evidence to demonstrate "they were subjected to warrantless electronic surveillance" and the Bush administration program that authorized it was unconstitutional.  Background on the case is available here.  A detailed summary will be posted on the Charity and Security Network soon.

State and Defense Officials To Senate: Military Alone Cannot Counter Violent Extremism

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Date: 
March 31, 2010

U.S. Counterterrorism official and several military officials told a March 10, 2010 Senate hearing that military and intelligence operations alone will not be able to stop the threat of terrorism. The speakers described efforts by the Department of State and Department of Defense (DoD) to reduce the threat from violent extremism, but underscored the importance of remedying political, economic, and social factors that contribute to terrorism. The hearing was held by the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. 

House Hearing Examines Government & Community Engagement Efforts To Disrupt Terror Plots

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Date: 
March 31, 2010

“Disrupting terror plots,” Mohamed Elibiary told a House Homeland Security Subcommittee is “the mutual goal” of both Muslim Americans and law enforcement. Acknowledging “vulnerabilities recently highlighted by homegrown violent extremism cases,” Elibiary outlined eight strategies to achieve a “higher level of cooperation between the government and communities.” The March 17, 2010 hearing, “Working with Communities to Disrupt Terror Plots,” was before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment. 

President Asked to Nominate Appointees to Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

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Date: 
March 30, 2010

Update:Joining their colleagues in the Senate, 21 members of Congress sent a letter on March 29 to President Obama requesting the immediate nomination of “qualified individuals to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.” Led by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the letter said, “As new privacy and civil liberties issues emerge, such as the use of new screening technologies and watchlisting procedures, it is imperative that the Board be fully operational.” Click here to read the entire letter.

Letter Urges Reforms on Charitable Giving Rules

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Date: 
March 25, 2010

A March 23, 2010 letter urges the President to take “concrete steps to remove legal hurdles” that disrupt charitable giving. Invoking the one year anniversary of Obama’s remarks in Cairo, the letter calls on the President to “ease hurdles to charitable giving through critical, immediate regulatory and administrative action.” The letter was signed by 20 American-Muslim organizations.

UN’s Improved Listing Process Receives Praise from State Department's Top Counterterrorism Official

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Date: 
March 18, 2010

A UN resolution that addresses human rights violations caused by the terrorist listing process drew praise from the State Department's chief counterterrorism official. Speaking to the International Peace Institute on March 1, 2010, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin called Resolution 1904 “an important milestone” that “improves the fairness and transparency of the [counterterrorism] regime.” He also called on governments to “build partnerships” with the UN and nonprofits who address political and social grievances instead of implementing restrictive and harsh sanctions that limit their capacity. 

Presidential Advisory Council Recommends Against Implementing USAID’s Partner Vetting System

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Date: 
March 15, 2010

Calling for “new principles of partnerships between the Government and community-serving organizations,” a March 2010 report calls on the President to reject the proposed Partner Vetting System (PVS). The President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships' report (discussed on pages 111-112) instead recommends holding “more detailed discussions with U.S. [nonprofits] to create an effective system that addresses their concerns that PVS as currently designed would significantly harm partnerships with local communities and compromise” the safety of U.S. nonprofits workers overseas.