By Chris Walker
This text was initially printed by Truthout
“I believe they have been nervous concerning the optics of giving cash to Muslim organizations,” one supply recommended.
A brand new report means that the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) blocked funding for Muslim organizations that have been looking for federal grants for elevated safety to fight hate crimes at their facilities.
Underneath the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) allocates lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in federal funds to spiritual organizations that require enhanced safety. The company is meant to make selections primarily based on a demonstrated want for such funding, not a bunch’s particular spiritual affiliation.
Earlier this 12 months, DHS and the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (“DOGE”) froze all funding for these grants. After dealing with stress from a number of teams to reopen the grants, the businesses did so — nevertheless, DHS heads reportedly reached out to FEMA to inquire about blocking grants for some Muslim organizations, baselessly claiming the teams had ties to terrorist networks.
FEMA sources chatting with CNN stated these allegations have been “questionable.”
Initially, FEMA advised DHS officers that such an motion can be discriminatory and certain unlawful, CNN reported, citing a number of nameless staff inside FEMA who spoke to them concerning the matter. These FEMA staff stated they have been “deeply involved” concerning the query, the report from CNN added.
“I believe they have been nervous concerning the optics of giving cash to Muslim organizations,” one of many sources advised the information company.
“Every thing about it appeared unsuitable,” one other supply stated. “This felt like a manufactured narrative designed to justify excluding Muslim organizations from funding. What had all the time been an apolitical, risk-based grant course of instantly seemed politicized in a manner we’d by no means seen earlier than.”
The request by DHS heads to FEMA staff was made within the spring. By the top of summer time, in keeping with these sources, DHS gave the impression to be blocking funding to Muslim teams, as dozens had reportedly been denied funding once they in any other case would have been authorised.
A DHS spokesperson has denied any wrongdoing by the division.
“DHS and FEMA don’t make coverage selections on the premise of faith,” they stated.
However one Muslim rights group, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), stated its funding was blocked as a consequence of unfounded accusations of connections to terrorism.
“The sort of baseless info may be very detrimental for civil society and for organizations which can be doing good work,” ISNA govt director Basharat Saleem stated in a press release to CNN.
Representatives from focused organizations have accused DHS of appearing on the behest of a pro-Israel (and anti-Islam) assume tank referred to as the Center East Discussion board, which had accused a lot of these teams of terrorism connections and highlighted the FEMA grants particularly.
In a press release reacting to CNN’s report, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, nationwide deputy director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned DHS for denying safety funds for Muslim teams.
“It’s un-American and unconstitutional for the federal government to dam American Muslim organizations — together with mosques, group facilities, and civil rights teams — from important safety funding primarily based on their religion or baseless, politically-motivated allegations,” Mitchell stated. “These actions violate the constitutional rights of all Individuals and endanger susceptible communities at a time when hate crimes towards all religion communities, together with Muslims, are on the rise.”
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