SR0178

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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The United States is a nation of immigrants from 
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around the world, with a wide diversity of cultures and faiths; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Every faith tradition has a basic tenet that its 
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followers contribute to charity to aid the poor and sick; and

 
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    WHEREAS, One of the five pillars of Islam is the principle 
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of Zakat, commanding Muslims to give to charity; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Muslims also follow the principle of Sadaqa, which 
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asks that they give voluntarily to charity; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Devout Muslims comply with this principle by 
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giving to charities that provide educational, medical, and 
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other humanitarian assistance; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The civil rights and liberties of American Muslims 
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and the operational intent of Muslim charitable organizations 
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have come under intense governmental scrutiny since the 9-11 
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terrorist attacks; several charitable organizations based in 
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Illinois have been targeted for investigation and prosecution 
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based on alleged ties to terrorist activity; during the course 
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of these investigations and prosecutions, the federal 
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government has frozen the assets of these organizations, which 
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total in the millions of dollars; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Good-faith and legitimate contributions made to 
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these organizations by devout Muslims have gone unused for 
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charitable purposes, contrary to the intentions of the 
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contributors; and

 
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    WHEREAS, American Muslim contributors have become 
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increasingly concerned not only that their contributions will 
 


 






SR0178
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go unused, but that past contributions may be used against them 
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retroactively in criminal or immigration prosecutions if the 
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specific charitable organization in question is, in a future 
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investigation, suspected of having ties to terrorist activity 
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that the contributor was not aware of at the time of 
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contribution; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Congress is currently considering the REAL ID bill 
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(HR 1268) which, among other provisions, would threaten 
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immigrant contributors to charitable organizations with 
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deportation ex post facto of a good faith contribution to a 
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charity that was in good standing at the time of contribution; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Americans giving charity to Muslim charities need 
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assurance that the charitable contributions they make in good 
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faith to charities in good standing will indeed go to 
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humanitarian purposes and will not give rise to potential 
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retroactive criminal or immigration prosecution; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the U.S. 
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Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. 
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Department of Homeland Security to develop a list of charitable 
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organizations, including Muslim charitable organizations, that 
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provide international relief and are safe for Americans of all 
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ethnic and faith backgrounds to contribute to without fear of 
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personal prosecution and with assurance that their 
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contributions will indeed be used for their intended charitable 
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purposes; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
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U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. 
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Department of Homeland Security, and every member of the 
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Illinois Congressional Delegation.