MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS

S E C R E T KUWAIT 001138 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB FOR JSALOOM, TREASURY FOR UNDERSECRETARY LEVEY, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2016 TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV PREL KTFN KU SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS AND JALAMAH PAPERS REF: A. KUWAIT 697 ¶B. STATE 28021 ¶C. STATE 25359 ¶D. KUWAIT 251 Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) During a March 20 meeting, and in subsequent conversations, Econoff followed-up with Khaled Al-Maqamis, the MFA's Director of Follow-up and Coordination (MFA TF lead) to elicit GOK feedback on the USG non-papers about the Revival of the Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) and potential TF-designations of Jalamah, Bathali and Al-Ali (refs B and C). ¶2. (S) Al-Maqamis commented that the RIHS paper had insufficient evidence to warrant GOK sanctions against the Kuwait-based organization and welcomed additional information confirming USG concerns. He expressed frustration with what he believed to be USG efforts to mistakenly target Islamic charities, asking at one point if it was the USG's intention to shut down all Islamic charities based on suspicions of association with Islamic extremism. ¶3. (S) Al-Maqamis expressed confidence in GOK oversight of Kuwaiti charities and pointed to existing MFA measures to monitor charities activities abroad, including the requirement for all Kuwaiti charities to pre-register with GOK embassies in order to secure GOK work authorization in third countries. Al-Maqamis also pointed to a recent agreement between RIHS and the Government of Bangladesh that will require RIHS to hire only local nationals or Kuwaitis to staff its Bangladesh operations. (Note: Econoff has asked Al-Maqamis' office for a copy of the agreement. End note.) Al-Maqamis added that the recent Bangladesh agreement was an MFA initiative that he hoped to replicate in other countries with a RIHS presence. ¶4. (S) Al-Maqamis voiced similar concerns about USG information regarding Jalamah, Al-Bathali, and Al-Ali, cautioning that the information outlined in the papers were insufficient for any legal action in Kuwait against the three individuals. Al-Maqamis gave no indication of GOK willingness to co-sponsor a potential designation of the three individuals. He added that all three individuals were being closely monitored by Kuwait State Security (KSS). ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/index. cfm?cables Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** TUELLER