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FOCA Members Offer to Mediate in Darfur Khartoum, Sudan – Representatives of Islamic charities from the Middle East and Europe met with His Excellency Abdelbagi Gailani, Sudanese Minister of Humanitarian Affairs today to discuss ways to improve the circumstances in Darfur so that aid can be delivered to those who need it. The groups offered to mediate between the Sudanese government and NGOs who currently or previously operate in the region. The organizations include the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), and Al Muntada Al Islami. The groups are members of the Friends of Charities Association (FOCA). Other FOCA members include the Muslim World League, the International Islamic Relief Organization of Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) and the Makkah Al-Mukarrama Charity Foundation. “Since 9/11 many Islamic charities have suffered greatly from the reaction to the tragic events of that day,” said Dr. CONTACT _Con-3CABE9A16171C Saleh Al-Wohaibi, Secretary-General of WAMY. “While the reaction hurt our organizations and dismayed our donors, the greatest victims of the unwise policies that followed 9/11 were the beneficiaries of our aid.” The charities agreed that ensuring the prompt, effective and transparent delivery of aid to those in Darfur who are in need should be the first objective of their efforts. FOCA members have seen their activities interrupted by counterterrorism laws and policies that lack due process and transparency. As a result they have been forceful advocates of reform in policies toward charities. “Since 2004 we have joined forces with charities, NGOs, civil liberties groups and other organizations to identify the proper balance between legitimate security interests and the rights of charities to pursue their mission,” said Wendell Belew, chairman of FOCA. “Based on our experience on issues of governance, international humanitarian law and the active presence of many of our members in Sudan, I believe that we are in a unique position to identify issues raised by the government of Sudan as well as western NGOs and mediate between them.” Many of the FOCA charities have had extensive experience working with western NGOs. “Al Muntada is chartered in the United Kingdom and registered with the Charity Commission,” explained Khalid Fawaz, Secretary General of that charity. “We work alongside our European cousins in many parts of the world. Our workers are trained in and follow the principles of International Humanitarian Law and comply with the strictest standards set forth by the United Kingdom Charity Commission.” The ultimate objective of the delegation visit is to pave the way to a continuous effort to deliver aid to Darfur in a seamless manner. “We must apply all of the lessons we have learned in the world of Islamic philanthropy and through our partnerships with western organizations to ensure that we are not merely driven by crisis but work together to establish a continuous and transparent system to deliver aid and nurture development, explained Asim Ghafoor, a lawyer for FOCA.
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