U.S. Muslims form nonprofit council

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Responding to the shutdown of two dozen charities and nonprofit groups since Sept. 11, 2001, Muslims announced formation of the National Council of American Muslim Non-Profits to provide oversight and transparency that will protect Muslim institutions.

The council was launched by the Islamic Society of North America and Muslim Public Affairs Council during a meeting outside Chicago.

Juan Zarate, U.S. Treasury Department assistant secretary for terrorist financing, told the meeting that the council "can empower the American Muslim and Arab communities to establish and implement a global standard of accountability and effectiveness in charitable giving."

Zarate said good relations between the U.S. government and Muslims is "acutely necessary" to keep zakah - mandated religious giving among Muslims, typically an annual 2.5 percent of net worth - and other Muslim charitable contributions out of the hands of terrorist groups like al-Qaida.

The announcement said the new arrangement would help donors who have been fearful about donating due to past scrutiny of Muslim groups.

The council plans to create a "community-based certification process."
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