The Department of Treasury recently released a statement regarding the start of Ramadan. You can read it here. While the greeting for this blessed month is a pleasant and well received initiative, let's hope this marks progress towards open communication and transparency for the government and the community. In this post 9/11 era, the issue of Islamic charities has been one of suspicion, fear mongering, and a complete lack of fairness and due process. Islamic charities have been raided, closed, and investigated without the proper judicial process having its due course. As part of this, millions in funds that Muslims have given these charities have been seized or decimated in legal fees, without any recourse or due process. As a result, many Muslims have been hesitant to give their obligatory zakat or voluntary sadaqa. Even organizations that opened their doors and books to the authorities were not exempt from disparaging and unfair treatment.
Lets hope and pray this era has ended, and opened the door to a new era of cooperation and transparency, both from the chairities side and from the government.

As another positive tidbit, the Boston Globe has now posted its annual Ramadan pictorial, which is wonderful. Enjoy it at
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/ramadan_2009.html