Muslim charities concerned about targeted audits call for national security probe

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Dozens of Muslim charities from across Canada, fearful they are being unfairly singled out for audits, want the national security watchdog to investigate the matter.

The charities are flagging their concerns in a letter sent today to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet.

A recently released report by the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group said the Review and Analysis Division of the Canada Revenue Agency’s charities directorate works with national security agencies to carry out the audits, with little accountability.

It said that from 2008 to 2015, 75 per cent of the organizations whose charitable status was revoked following division audits were Muslim charities, and that at least another four have had their status pulled since then. 

It added that despite these revocations, not a single Muslim charitable organization, or individual associated with one, had been charged with a terrorist financing crime.

Signatories of the letter, who also include the Ottawa-based ICLMG and other civil society organizations, want the government to refer the matter to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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