Benevolent societies strictly monitored by Kuwaiti government despite claims of innocence
Kuwait’s labour and social affairs minister said that charitable work was under close and constant scrutiny to ensure full compliance with the law.
“We have competent authorities within the ministry that are strictly monitoring all charitable and benevolent work,” Mohammad Al Afassi said. “We pay special attention to charity action and donations in order to be sure there is the slightest suspicion about them,” the minister said.
Several Kuwait-based charitable organizations are active both in the country and in poor areas in Asia and Africa.
However, the government, wary of charges that some of them supported or sponsored terrorism, insists on monitoring their work to avoid misuses of their funds or possible links with suspicious organizations.
However, leaders of the charity groups have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
“Unfortunately, many benevolent societies have come under so much pressure that fewer needy people are today benefiting from charitable work and assistance,” Ahmad Baqer, Kuwait’s former Islamic affairs, said last month. “Charity organizations should be allowed to work freely within the confines of the law and should not be condemned or accused without proof or evidence,” he said in a paper to a forum on charity work.
Some countries have abusively and with no proof barred Kuwaiti societies from extending assistance and help under the guise of eliminating terrorism, he said.
