i have repeatedly called on various government agencies to modernize their administration, reform their systems, and implement the provisions of several international treaties that kuwait has signed, such as the universal declaration of human rights, and agreements concerning charities, children’s rights, the status of women, and care for the elderly. we have also called for a thorough review of many outdated and inhumane laws. unfortunately, only a few agencies have taken our warnings seriously.
nevertheless, the recent shift in response is remarkable, mostly due to increasing international pressure and warnings, particularly from the financial action task force (fatf). this organization works to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, protect the global financial system, monitor adherence to its recommendations, and penalize non-compliant countries by placing them on gray or black lists and enforcing strict, costly economic sanctions on them.
as a result, decisions have been issued to close down many money exchange offices and several charitable organizations that have been under scrutiny for more than a quarter of a century.
the minister of social affairs, like many of her predecessors over the years, has issued stern warnings to some charities that have strayed from the right path. however, these warnings pale in comparison to the gravity of the violations committed by some of these organizations.
this time, the warnings were prompted by both domestic and international pressure, stemming from the ministry’s ongoing hesitation and inability to control some charitable organizations or track how their funds are being spent abroad. this failure is largely due to the powerful influence wielded by those managing these organizations and the vast sums of money under their control, funds that remain completely unmonitored. anyone who denies this reality is either misinformed or deliberately turning a blind eye.
charitable work in its current state does not require development, adjustment, or guidance; it demands a complete overhaul.
years ago, i wrote an article in which i accused some of these organizations of embezzling more than $50 billion in donor funds, an amount whose fate remains unknown. at the time, two charities fi led lawsuits against me, but i was acquitted after presenting the documents in my possession.
the situation is dangerous, and our international reputation is on the line. the enormous, unsupervised funds in the hands of some organizations have the potential to corrupt even the most honest individuals.
how can the ministry of social affairs expect cooperation from these charitable organizations, which are entrusted with millions of dollars?
recently, one organization raised nearly $13 million in just a few days for a hospital project. does anyone truly believe that such a project will be completed before those funds disappear?
during ramadan, despite all the restrictions, charities managed to raise over $70 million to fund more than 300 projects in 75 countries. yet, no one knows who will actually benefit from this wealth!
the ministry’s optimism is meaningless at this point. a decisive response is required, and charities must be immediately banned from collecting any further funds.
the ministry of social affairs’ announcement to suspend all donation collections for overseas projects and mandate approval from the ministry of foreign affairs for such donations is misleading. to prove my point, i personally made a donation yesterday to one of these external projects, which, like many others, continues its questionable operations.
these are not mere errors or oversights that can be easily fixed, but a dangerous process that harms the country’s financial standing and reputation, while enabling illicit enrichment for some individuals overseeing dubious charitable organizations. how much money was raised during the debt repayment campaign, which the state mobilized all its resources for, compared to the funds raised by most charitable organizations for overseas projects during the same period? the answer is clear... the funds raised by charities for external projects far exceed the amount collected for debt repayment. the reason? the first campaign does not serve the interests of the charities involved, while fundraising for external projects guarantees huge profits for them.
i can state with a clear conscience that no one in kuwait truly knows what these charities are doing abroad.