Saudi Steps Up Charity Monitoring During Ramadan
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 channeled 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.Full Story