Does Islam allow muslims to pay charity (zakat) to non Muslims?

Sure, Mephistopheles.

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is given by Muslims annually since it's an obligation and it's only to be distributed to Muslims.(as far as I am concerned).

However, Muslims can give regular donation and charities which Muslims can give to anyone. Ask the organization to do fund raising and leave the Zakat money alone.

yup, if it will help the world and people it is an act of charity. Zakat is a form of helping others wether muslim or not.

There is hadith about it somewhere

from what i know, the zakat (required charity) is for Muslims. and optional charity can be for muslims and non-muslims. for example, after paying the percentage money of zakat to muslims, and you still have $20 in your bucket and want to give it for charity, this $20 can be giving for muslims or non-muslims. and God knows best.

“Verse 60 of surat 9 (At-Tawbah) does not confine the category of poor and needy to Muslims. Hence, it is evident that Zakah MAY BE GIVEN TO MUSLIM AS WELL AS NON-MUSLIM POOR AND NEEDY. As for the payment of Zakah to non-Muslim poor and needy, I have to add that I had in mind Christians and Jews and whoever we treat similarly such as Hindus and Zoroastrians (as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to treat them like the People of the Book) who live with Muslims peacefully. The permissibility is limited to this category.

they can... however.. muslim have first obligation.... if u give out charity.. ur first obligation is to look into ur close family... and see if someone needs that help.... if u find no one then u extend to ur distant family... if u find no one then u extend to ur community.... and if u find no one then u can look elsewhere.. it is highly doubtful that ur friend will not find someone closer to him that he can help personally with his zakah and time in person..... the basis and understanding of this from my perspective is that this ummah is different then the other ummahs.. it looks out for itself .. helps one another and guides one another.. zakah is likewise a way of the rich among the ummah looking out for the poor among the ummah

'''Allah has also said that one of the categories of Zakah is to 'soften the hearts' (to give money to someone to bring them closer to Islam). There are examples from the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAllahu alaiyhi wa salam) giving huge amounts of cash, camels, etc, to non muslims and their whole tribes became Muslim.

''''

from islamtomorrow.com

As regards your question, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:

"The majority of scholars are of the view that non-Muslims should not be given of the money of Zakah except those whose hearts are inclined to Islam, though there is a difference over whether such stipulation is still relevant or not and the permissibility of giving them of the Zakah money is hunted with controversy.

The prohibition of giving them of the Zakah money is based on the hadith of Mu`adh Ibn Jabal when he was sent by the Prophet to Yemen: "It (Zakah) is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them," i.e. the rich among Muslims and the poor among them. (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

from islamonline.net

Give me a Break! Islam's basic principle and humanity's basic principle is to help all those in need. Religion doesn't make any difference. Misrepresentation of religion creates differences.

Why should I not help someone because their language and method of prayer is dissimilar to mine?

As salamo alikom wa rahamtullah wa barakatuh,

For Zakah that are fard such as money zakah, trade zakah, agriculture zakah glories (gold / silver)zakah,... it must be pay to Muslims only .

For Sadaqh (non fard zakah) it could be paid for any.

following are 2 references but in arabic

May Allah subhanahu wa tala guide us all to his path

That is not true, it may be turned that way by some, but, according the the Koran, that isnot true.