Western Union freezes Muslims’ money transfers

[sonz]

Western Union Financial Services, Inc, a Colorado based American company is accused of freezing thousands of cash deliveries, simply because senders or recipients' names include Mohamed or Ahmed, company officials said, arguing they fear the money transfer could be used in “terrorist” activities, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Western Union officials said they’re following orders from the U.S. Treasury Department said to be aimed at blocking cash flows for “terrorist links.”

300 money transfers from a single Dubai franchise were blocked or delayed each day - none of which ever turned up a terrorist link, said one official at Western Union, also accused of blocking transfers between customers whose names even partially match names included in the Treasury list.

An Indian driver accused the agency of preventing him from sending US$120 (euro96) to a friend at home because the recipient's name was Mohamed.

"Western Union told me that if I send money to Sahir Mohammed, the money will be blocked because of his name," said Abdul Rahman Maruthayil, who later sent the money through UAE Exchange, a Dubai-based money transfer agency.

In another case, Qadir Khan, Pakistani, said Western Union blocked cash transfer to his brother, Mohammed, for a cataract operation.

"Every Mohammed is a terrorist now?" Khan asked.

"Mohammed and Ahmed have become problematic names because they are so common on the list of terrorists," said Nixon Baby, who runs a Western Union franchise in Dubai.

"These are regulations that Western Union is required to obey. We do not have any control."

In some cases the cash transfer is delayed for few hours, but in other cases it’s blocked entirely.

The U.S. Treasury and CIA are said to have been tracking confidential financial transactions handled by the Belgium-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT.

AlJAzeera

[Sis786]

In another case, Qadir Khan, Pakistani, said Western Union blocked cash transfer to his brother, Mohammed, for a cataract operation.

Thats just sick!

"Every Mohammed is a terrorist now?" Khan asked.

Hmm and i thought it would have been Osama or Laden!!:?

[searchingsoul]

I don't think that they view every Mohammed as a terrorist. Instead they are trying to prevent terrorism, which is not a bad thing. While such profiling is inconvenient I think it is necessary and shouldn't be difficult to understand.

[searchingsoul]

prevent terrorism ?

how can tht be done ?

there r millions out there wid the name MUHAMMAD.
n maybe only a handful out of those indulge in "terrorist" activities. :-\

I'm sure that terrorism can't be completely prevented but this doesn't mean that the government shouldn't try to prevent it.

There may only be a handful of people who actually do the dirty work associated with terrorism. But many people believe that there are many people who financially aid terrorism. There may be millions of people named Mohammed. I'd be willing to bet that percentage wise (in the USA) those named Mohammed is very low.

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[muslim_friend]

I don't think that they view every Mohammed as a terrorist. Instead they are trying to prevent terrorism, which is not a bad thing. While such profiling is inconvenient I think it is necessary and shouldn't be difficult to understand.

What do you mean? Don't you understand that this is harassment?

[searchingsoul]

What do you mean? Don't you understand that this is harassment?

To a degree I see it as harassment. For example, if I was in Iran dressed in my normal Western attire, and I was ridiculed or assaulted, it would definitely be harassment. But I think I should expect such harassment.

I think that those with Islamic names should try to see the viewpoint of Western Union and appreciate that Western Union is trying to prevent terrorism.

Harassment will always feel bad to the individual being harassed. But it is necessary to view the "broader picture".

[Abdul-Raouf]

The americans are the worst terrorists................ they killed the japanese without any mercy using atom bombs.... then the afghans... iraqis.....

No so called terrorist has killed that much......

so no doubt that
the american army will be in #1 positon in the terrorists list .....

[searchingsoul]

The americans are the worst terrorists................ they killed the japanese without any mercy using atom bombs.... then the afghans... iraqis.....

No so called terrorist has killed that much......

so no doubt that
the american army will be in #1 positon in the terrorists list .....

It's easy to place blame on another country. But before doing this we need to realize and accept the faults of other countries. If a comparison of atrocities is made I doubt that any country would be superior to the other.

[wilberhum]

they killed the japanese without any mercy using atom bombs

I always love those that live in a black and white world. Do you have any idea what the Japanese did to the people they conquered? Not to mention the fact they started the war. They made Hitler look like a nice guy.

[guyabano]

The americans are the worst terrorists................ they killed the japanese without any mercy using atom bombs.... then the afghans... iraqis.....

No so called terrorist has killed that much......

so no doubt that
the american army will be in #1 positon in the terrorists list .....

Dark age thinking again ! :heated:

[Muezzin]

I always love those that live in a black and white world. Do you have any idea what the Japanese did to the people they conquered? Not to mention the fact they started the war. They made Hitler look like a nice guy.

I'm sorry, but how did the Japanese start World War 2? Those guys invading Poland weren't riding around in Toyotas.

[Ghazi]

I always love those that live in a black and white world. Do you have any idea what the Japanese did to the people they conquered? Not to mention the fact they started the war. They made Hitler look like a nice guy.

:sl:

Seriously you have bad case of nationalism, america are the only county I can think of that have used wmd's and they're the one's -----ing about other countries having them hyprocrites.

[wilberhum]

I'm sorry, but how did the Japanese start World War 2? Those guys invading Poland weren't riding around in Toyotas.

You really need to study a little history.

[j4763]

I'm sorry, but how did the Japanese start World War 2? Those guys invading Poland weren't riding around in Toyotas.

That made my day

But the Japs did invade china first and then there surroundings me thinks, so yeah they did start the war in the east.

And if it hadn’t been for the yanks dropping those two bombs many, may more people would have died than those who died due to the a-bombs. (imo)

[Muezzin]

You really need to study a little history.

And you really need to explain yourself. Like so:

But the Japs did invade china first and then there surroundings me thinks, so yeah they did start the war in the east.

In the East, yes. Which is sufficiently different to the quote 'Not to mention they started the war'. That would imply that the entirety of World War II was started by the Japanese, which is just wrong.

[wilberhum]

How could I get so wrong? You talk about what the US did to Japan, I should have realized you were talking about Europe. How silly of me. So just to set you straight.
The US never entered WWII until Japan attacked us.

[Muezzin]

How could I get so wrong? You talk about what the US did to Japan, I should have realized you were talking about Europe. How silly of me.

Actually, I didn't talk about what the US did to Japan, another member did, but I'll let that slide. The fact is you said Japan started the war, which is incorrect. What they did do was attack America, and bring it into the war, but Japan did not start it.

So just to set you straight.
The US never entered WWII until Japan attacked us.

I know. But it did not start it as you said. Do you understand what I'm getting at?

[wilberhum]

But it did not start it as you said. Do you understand what I'm getting at?

Start WWII for the world? No.
Start WWII for the US? Yes.
And that was the context of my statement.