This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. ISNA Canada is embroiled in controversy, with the audit revealing the practice of giving free perks to family members of a top official; the improper issuing of charitable tax receipts; and the diversion of charity money to private businesses.
At the centre of it all is long-time secretary general Mohammad Ashraf, who has recently announced he is stepping down. All financial authority has been removed from Ashraf, he said. The first audit warns that ISNA would risk losing charity status if things are not done differently.
The audit looked closely at one portion of those donations, an obligatory alms giving called Zakat and Fitrah meant to aid the needy. After prayer, Zakat is considered by some Muslims to be the most important pillar of the Islamic faith.
It requires Muslims to give a minimum of 2. The audit shows tens of thousands of charity dollars were shuffled from ISNA Canada to its affiliated services and businesses, several of which have secretary-general Ashraf as a director. Federal rules forbid charities from spending donations on business activities that do not aid the charity.
The auditor also uncovered multiple cases where Ashraf or the organization inappropriately gave and received charity tax receipts, repeatedly violating federal charity rules. Former board members told the Star Ashraf diverted profits from the certification agency to a secret account from which he paid himself and at least two family members. They say the board had no knowledge of this. There were also three cases where people received charity tax receipts from ISNA Canada for repaying scholarship loans.
