News

U.S.’s First Report to UN Human Rights Council Admits Shortcomings
August 30, 2010

On Aug. 20, 2010, the U.S. government made public its report on its human rights record to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report is one step in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in which UN member-state’s human rights records is examined once every four years. This is the first time the U.S. has submitted a report on its human rights record, and its work drew mixed reviews from civil rights and liberty advocates who had hoped it would reflect more of the concerns and recommendations raised by the U.S. nonprofit sector. The U.S.’ review before the UN is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Letter to President Outlines Reforms Needed to Protect U.S. Charities and Donors
August 16, 2010

On August 11, 2010, more than 40 Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian charities delivered a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to reform federal charitable giving laws and regulations that restrict the humanitarian work of legitimate U.S. charities.  The letter identifies several barriers that harm humanitarian groups, their donors and the people they serve. It also outlines “concrete action” the President can direct the Departments of Justice, State, and Treasury to do to “protect innocent donors and charities.”  

Documents Reveal Rampant Government Surveillance on Washington State Activists
August 13, 2010

Documents released on Aug. 4, 2010 by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reveal widespread government surveillance of political activists in Washington State.   Obtained through records requests to several government agencies, the public documents demonstrate anti-war groups have been the target of repeated infiltration by law enforcement officials from 2006-2010. According to the ACLU, the documents "reveal a disturbing abuse and misuse of government resources.”   

Appeals Court Orders Due Process to Fix State Dept. Listing of Foreign Terrorist Organization
August 3, 2010

On July 15, 2010 a long running battle by an Iranian group to get off the State Department's (State) list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) reached a new stage when the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered State to reconsider listing of the People's Mujaheddin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The court said State must provide PMOI an opportunity to rebut the unclassified information State had relied on. The ruling reflects the same due process problems recognized by federal courts found in Department of Treasury (Treasury) designations of two U.S. charities, KindHearts for Charitable and Humanitarian Development and Al-Haramain Oregon. 

Senate Hearing Looks at Problems with FBI Surveillance Guidelines
August 3, 2010

On July 28, 2010, FBI Director Robert Mueller faced questions from Congress about FBI guidelines that allow surveillance on Americans without evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Mueller also told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he did not know how many FBI agents may have cheated on an exam to demonstrate their understanding of the guidelines, called the Domestic Intelligence and Operations Guide (DIOG). Civil liberty advocates, already troubled by the wide discretion DIOG gives FBI agents, said the testing scandal only makes the situation worse.