Arab media is reporting that Kuwait is planning to close three branches of the Islah Charitable Society, also known as the Kuwaiti Social Reform Association, a charity associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in that country. According to an Arab Times report:
July 19, 2014 Kuwait City, Plans are underway to close three branches of Islah Charitable Society for violating charity regulations, reports Al-Rai daily quoting ministry sources. In the wake of recent directives issued by the Council of Ministers, the assistant undersecretary for social development in Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Munira Al-Fadli reaffirmed that the sector follows up charitable work. He added that restructuring of the follow-up committee for charitable activities was necessary due to the significance of charity work. She indicated ‘dissolution of the follow-up committee for charity activities two weeks ago was founded on the new organizational structure and mandate’’, adding the committee was in need of employee evaluation and amendment for administrational development. Al-Fadli pointed out that the ministry is keen on developing the charity sector and ‘’there are active committees and inactive ones. In fact, some have not been holding meetings for quite some time and shake-up is imperative in every committee’’.
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A Carnegie Foundation report identifies the Social Reform Society as “the formal organization associated with the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood.” There were reports in April that a proposal to disband the organization was being contested in court.
The GMBDW reported last week that a Kuwaiti MP had called for the country to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. As we noted at that time, recent GMBDW coverage of has discussed Kuwait financing of Brotherhood projects in Switzerland and Poland. Other relevant GMBDW coverage has included:
- In January we reported that the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood had sharply criticized the Egyptian government’s decision to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
- In February 2013, we reported that the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood was supporting the formation of an opposition alliance.
- In January 2013, we reported that a Kuwaiti MP had alleged there were Muslim Brotherhood “sleeper cells” operating in Kuwait.
- In November 2012, we reported on comments by the Dubai police chief accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of creating unrest in the UAE. Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan also said that UAE Muslim Brotherhood members who had been arrested had met with Kuwaiti Brotherhood “mentors” including Tariq Al-Suwaidan.
- In January 2012, German media reported that the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood had boycotted the parliamentary elections which were won largely by Shiites. Despite the boycott, the Brotherhood won four seats.
In November 2013, two Carnegie Foundation analysts posted an article that looked at the status of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait.