Miscellaneous

List of Experts

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Date: 
June 2, 2010

The Charity and Security Network includes experts with policy, legal and field experience on how national security laws impact nonprofits and the people they serve. To invite them for press interviews, conferences or other speaking events, please contact us.

Click on their name for more information.

State Department Announces Reorganization Changes

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Date: 
January 26, 2012

On Jan. 5, 2012 the Department of State held a briefing on the establishment of the Office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.  It was held one day after State announced that the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism is being upgraded to become the Bureau of Counterterrorism. The realignment is designed to increase coordination and cooperation among the different offices at State. The changes were called for by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2010 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).

U.S. Muslim Charities and The War on Terror: A Decade in Review

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Date: 
December 23, 2011
In December 2011, the Charity & Security Network released U.S. Muslim Charities and the War on Terror: A Decade in Review.  It began as an update to a March 2006 report summarizing action by the U.S. government to shut down American Muslim charities since 2006.
 
But as we researched the report we realized that there is a lot more to the story than the closing of seven American Muslim charities. In numerous instances, the U.S. government has infringed on First Amendment right to free speech and assembly as well as freedom of religion. But the good news is that American Muslim nonprofits have stepped up to the plate to meet these challenges, and have evolved to continue providing humanitarian aid in the U.S. and abroad, while working to prevent violent extremism. Read more...

Animal Rights Activists Challenge Law Threatening Free Speech

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Date: 
December 19, 2011

JURIST is reporting that a group of animal rights activists filed a lawsuit on Dec. 15, 2011 to challenge the constitutionality of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), saying the law has the potential to criminalize many forms of protest that are protected by the First Amendment. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of five animal rights activists who argue that they can no longer engage in lawful advocacy out of fear of prosecution under AETA. 

Paul Okumo Reports from the 4th High Level Conference on Aid Effectiveness

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Date: 
December 1, 2011
Author: 
Paul Okumu, Director for Partnership SISA, Centre for Corporate Partnership and Head of Secretariat-Africa CSO Platform on Principled Partnership (ACP), Nairobi Kenya

Note from CSN: The 4th High Level Conference on Aid Effectivness, held in Busan Korea, brought together over 3000 representatives of governments, civil society groups and private interests from around the world to  review “global progress in improving the impact and value for money of development aid…” Paul Okumu kept colleagues informed on the progress of the event through these emails, and has agreed to have them posted here.

Lawsuit Alleges Security Clearance Revoked Due to Bias Against Muslim Charity

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Date: 
November 14, 2011

A budget analyst is suing the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), claiming his security clearance was revoked because of his wife’s employment at an Islamic charity. His wife is a program associate with Islamic Relief USA, a global nonprofit involved in international humanitarian relief efforts.  Mahmoud M. Hegab filed the suit in early October 2011 seeking the restoration of his security clearance and for damages lost while being unable to work due to its revocation. It is widely believed to be the first case where a security clearance was revoked because of a spouse’s ties to Islamic organizations. The Justice Department is expected to respond to the suit in early December.

TV Show Examines Restrictions on Lawyers Representing Groups on Terrorist List

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Date: 
November 11, 2011

A recent episode of the “The Good Wife” explored some of the problems created by the U.S. government's harsh restrictions on lawyers representing groups and individuals designated a terrorist under Executive Order 13224. These restrictions deny basic due process and are a means of discouraging lawyers from representing those who have been put on the terrorist list, making defense of their claims in court more difficult.

Morton Sklar, the legal consultant to “The Good Wife” tv series, wrote a blog about the damaging impact of these restrictions and offers a better way forward. Read more….

Wikileaks Exposes Trove of Insight on Counterterrorism Rules and Charities

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Date: 
October 11, 2011

On Sept. 1, 2011, an archive of 251, 287 unredacted U.S. diplomatic cables became available on the internet. The range of issues covered is extensive, ranging from Citibank’s hijacked $7 million in Sudan to Hamas’ liability for a Gaza tunnel ponzi scheme. The Charity & Security Network searched through the cables for subjects affecting U.S. charitable activities and found lots of information about OFAC licensing delays, countering violent extremism strategies, the UN counterterrorism regime, and more.  Read more...

Wikileaks Exposes Trove of Insight on U.S. Government Counterterrorism Rules and Charities

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Date: 
October 3, 2011

On Sept. 1, 2011, a searchable archive of over 250,000 unredacted U.S. State Department cables became available on the internet. The publication of the cables expanded a window on American diplomacy that first opened in November 2010 when Wikileaks and several international news organizations started publishing selected cables. The Charity & Security Network has scanned though thousands of the cables for any discussion about issues affecting U.S. charitable activities. Excerpts from cables pertaining to the following topics are below.

Excerpts from Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on a Smart Power Approach to Counterterrorism

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Date: 
October 3, 2011

Speaking at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice in New York on Sept. 9, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reviewed the past decade of counterterrorism activity and articulated the Obama Administration’s multi-layered strategy for addressing violent extremism.  (Text and video)