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Saudi steps up charity monitoring during Ramadan
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25434511.htm

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RIYADH, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The Saudi government has stepped up surveillance of charities amid fears that some of the big cash donations made to them during the holy month of Ramadan are being channelled to militant groups like al Qaeda.

Saudis give millions for poor Muslims in Ramadan, but under new measures money is being controlled by the security forces to stop it falling into the hands of al-Qaeda linked militants who have been fighting to topple the Saudi monarchy since May 2003.

Saudis must now donate money for the needy -- called "zakat" -- via the monitored bank accounts of charities registered with the ministry of social affairs, and must get receipts.

The government has also imposed a strict ban on dropping cash into boxes at doors of mosques and shopping centres, narrowing the chances of any finding its way to militants.

"Unfortunately some charities misused the donations and they were involved in terrorism so the new measures are very positive to block such leaks," Ahmed Besaudi from the al-Birr Islamic Foundation, a registered charity, told Reuters.

The government said this month it had appointed a committee of accountants to audit the financial reports of the 299 registered charities which receive the donations, to control the funds as part of its crackdown on militants.

Authorities also said they would dissolve the country's most prominent charity, the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, which the United States has accused of funding terrorism.

The decision came eight months after the kingdom announced it was establishing a single aid agency to replace groups like Al-Haramain and end suspicions over Saudi donations.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, carried out mainly by Saudi nationals, U.S. officials have put increasing pressure on several Saudi charities.