The virginity of charities

Other Voices

By Ahmad alsarraf The clerics are not swindlers but swindlers have become clerics!” (As lawyer Bassam Al-Asousi reported in Al-Qabas 4/4/2020 quoting the poet Ahmad Fouad Najm.)

There is no evidence of the validity of this statement, which we always hear about praise of former clerics, the extent of their piety and asceticism, and the chastity of their tongue, compared to what we have heard.

Those who denounced and expressed surprise at the transformation of ‘dodgers’ people, known for their intense affection for lure, for advocates and managers of charity societies and their financial institutions. Speaking of the charity work in Kuwait there are respectable people, whose concern is to do good for the society. They are neither tools in the hands of religious parties nor do they follow orders of these parties and although they are few in number they are effective and are appreciated and respected.

But most other associations, especially those affiliated to well-known religious parties, whether Shiite or Sunni do commit mistakes like most NGOs and they must not be immune to racism, especially as they follow religious parties that are known to keep at heart political and electoral interests.

After the scandal of “Faza’a Kuwait”, the truth of many of them has emerged, and with their increased exposure, their ferocity and their attack on everyone who touches their reputation has increased, even if it was critical, logical and respectful, as the professors brothers Badr Al-Bahr, Bassam Al-Asousi and others have written.

Consequently, it was not surprising that some of them incited the government and demanded that all those who ‘criticize’ the work of charity societies be referred to the judiciary in the name of disrupting national unity. I don’t know how a charity society that collects hundreds of millions in the name of their parties is related to national unity.

It is clear that the aim is to intimidate writers and critics, and the fear of shedding light on their activities, and their refusal to disclose their resources and banks. I do not know how they want these societies to be characterized as ‘Semitic’, so it is not permitted to criticize the actions of those responsible for

alsarraf

them?

The people of Kuwait are known for doing charity work, either for religious or worldly purposes and the year of AlHilaq, Al-Tabaa’ and others are a good example.

Also, the first regular school in Kuwait was built by funds from a charity, took care of orphans and paid off the debts of the bankrupt people. When I worked for a bank I witnessed how so many people donated money into the account of whose who had become bankrupt or whose living conditions had worsened.

Those who attack and threaten charity critics are involved in corruption, and as a chairman of a charity, and I work on a distinguished board of directors, I welcome everyone who criticizes my charity to shows me my mistakes since our charity is committed to the utmost transparency and clarity in the work of our society.

I call it pure absurdity and slander when anyone accuses me of attacking charities, so how do I do such work in a society of which I am a member. A distinction must also be made between attacking or accusing of terrorism, criticizing its actions and the secrecy of its methods. As the first and kin said, do not steal, do not fear.

How can it be tolerated, for example, a political entity which supervises, manages and appoints boards of directors of dozens of “charity societies” when one of them admits that their society is supporting candidates belonging to their group to reach the National Assembly, as stated in the article of colleague and lawyer Bassam Al-Asousi (Al-Qabas 4/4/2020).

We consider our work at the Humanitarian Friendship Society a human and sublime human action. We are humans, and we make mistakes but do the right things. We criticize not to end charity work, but we criticize so that it does not deviate from its lofty goals. Some of these associations have repeatedly deviated from their goals hundreds of times, and we have evidence of that from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I openly admit that if I was part of charity whose activities are often subject to criticism, I would not hesitate to wage war on the likes of Al-Asousi, Al-Bahar and Alsarraf and silence them. The cake is big, they do not represent terrible forces in their financial and political size, but they also control a large part of money of the state, such as Awqaf, Endowment trusts, minors’ affairs, and others. Tomorrow’s article will be entitled, ‘The rebellious group will kill you’.

e-mail:

a.alsarraf@alqabas.com.kw