Stereotype linking Kuwait charity to terrorism void: Official
KUWAIT: Stereotypes linking Kuwait’s charity works with terrorism no longer exist in shadow of tight regulations and planned new legislations, according to senior officials. Banal claim about involvement of the Kuwaiti philanthropic work as to supporting or funding terrorism is no longer attestable, stated Dr Abdullah AlMaatouq, Chairman of the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO). Dr Maatouq was speaking during a ceremony with Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh, inking an agreement between her department and the association for training volunteers and personnel in welfare societies, called ‘Tamkeen.’
“Good intentions are not sufficient to safeguard charitable work thus regulating laws have been enacted to place terms and restrictions,” Dr Maatouq said, as Minister Sabeeh disclosed that a bill regulating the sector further had reached the National Assembly, noting that representatives of charities and welfare societies would be invited to the parliament headquarters to closely partake in examining the draft law. The law regulating charitable activities has been enacted, upon an initiative by the philanthropic associations, with intention “of sparing ourselves international problems,” Minister Sabeeh said.
The legislation was amended and the modified copy had reached the parliament. This modified law has special merits, the minister said, revealing that representatives of the associations would be called to the parliament to take part in deliberating the document. Charitable work in Kuwait has developed in recent years due to good regulations and organization, she re-stressed. In turn, Dr Maatouq praised the minister for shouldering the responsibility of developing and protecting the charitable actions through the enactment of a new law designed to preserve workers’ rights and the sector image.