Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI245
2007-02-13 15:39:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
TERRORIST FINANCE: HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO6266 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #0245/01 0441539 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 131539Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8273 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 0009 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0129 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0739 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0303 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0185 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0563 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 0074 RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA PRIORITY 0013 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0205 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0133 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0028 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0279 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 1352 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1561 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0086 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0353 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0031 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0421 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0111 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1334 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY PRIORITY 0015 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0014 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0085 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 1631 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0825 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0541 RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000245
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, LCANNON, KLEAHY,
STATE FOR S/CT PHILL
STATE FOR NEA/IR, NEA/ARP TREUTER, DBAGWELL
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, A/S POBRIEN, DAS DGLASER, ACURTIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL ECON AE
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL
(HAI) POST-VETTING AND CHARITABLE REPLACEMENT SERVICES
REF: A. ABU DHABI 2598 JUN 03
B. ABU DHABI 409 JAN 06
C. ABU DHABI 2081 MAY 06
D. DUBAI 2853 MAY 06
E. ABU DHABI 2169 MAY 05
F. ABU DHABI 1301 APR 06
Classified By: Ambassador Michelle J. Sison, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000245
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, LCANNON, KLEAHY,
STATE FOR S/CT PHILL
STATE FOR NEA/IR, NEA/ARP TREUTER, DBAGWELL
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, A/S POBRIEN, DAS DGLASER, ACURTIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL ECON AE
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL
(HAI) POST-VETTING AND CHARITABLE REPLACEMENT SERVICES
REF: A. ABU DHABI 2598 JUN 03
B. ABU DHABI 409 JAN 06
C. ABU DHABI 2081 MAY 06
D. DUBAI 2853 MAY 06
E. ABU DHABI 2169 MAY 05
F. ABU DHABI 1301 APR 06
Classified By: Ambassador Michelle J. Sison, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (S) Summary. The USG has approached the UAEG since 2003
about concerns with Human Appeal International (HAI) with
little progress. Despite assurances U/S Levey received in
May 2006, HAI,s Dubai branch office still appears to be
operational. Post has no objections to a designation but
suggests that U/S Levey, prior to any designation, consult
with the UAEG to follow up on concerns raised in May 2006.
These concerns could be conveyed during his projected early
March visit. Post recommends that U/S Levey bring additional
information, updated since January 2006, to pass to the UAEG
to in order to strengthen the impact of the visit. Post
notes that there will likely be negative public/official
reactions in the UAE from a designation of HAI, but that the
UAEG is more likely to support or implement a designation if
HAI is added to the UN 1267 list. Closing HAI in the UAE
will likely cause a disruption for most of its overseas field
offices since funds reportedly are sent through the Ajman
headquarters. End summary.
2. (S) Since 2003 the USG has approached the UAEG at very
senior levels to address serious concerns with HAI but with
little progress (Ref A, B, C, and D). Senior UAE
interlocutors have expressed concern about HAI,s ties with
the Muslim Brotherhood as well as a willingness to act to
curb HAI,s activities, but in fact it appears that little
has been done since the HAI paper was passed both in January
and in April of 2006 (Ref B and C).
--------------
The Dubai Office ) Still Open
--------------
3. (S) Despite assurances from Mohammed al-Qemzi, Chief of
the General Department of State Security in Dubai, in May
2006 (Ref C),HAI,s Dubai branch office is apparently still
open and operational. A caller to the Ajman headquarters in
February 2007 was told that the Dubai Office of HAI, near the
Dubai Hospital, was open and that the organization could be
reached at 971-4-262-6444. The caller was told that they
would be &open till 1:30.8 In January OFAC Attache took
photographs of the office in Dubai where the &Human Appeal
International8 logo and its phone number &262-64448 are
prominently displayed. (Note. Al Qemzi said in reftel that
the license wouldn,t be renewed. Post does not know what
the license cycle is, but it has been nine months since the
request. End note.)
ABU DHABI 00000245 002 OF 004
-------------- --------------
How could HAI,s designation be successfully implemented?
-------------- --------------
4. (S) Post has no objections to a designation of HAI but
suggests that a designation will be most successfully
implemented in the UAE if it is added to the UN 1267 list.
Post also recommends that since the UAEG requests that it be
consulted on designations that a visit from U/S Stuart Levey
prior to any designation would be necessary and advisable
(Ref C). The UAEG consistently asks to be part of the
consultative process on designations, particularly if the UAE
is going to be affected. A unilateral designation of HAI,
without very specific and directed discussion, would be
interpreted as an act of bad faith. A visit by U/S Levey
should focus on what actions have been taken by the UAE since
May 2006. A visit would reinforce the seriousness of USG
concerns about HAI. U/S Levey could push for immediate steps
to resolve concerns such as the multiple bank accounts, the
international branches, the status of the Dubai branch office
and seek UAEG input on how it plans to address these and
other concerns in a timely manner. Since this issue has been
a longstanding item of discussion with the UAE since 2003,
Post has no objection to proceeding with a designation -- if
there is no progress during the Levey visit.
5. (C) Post also recommends that any additional updated
information be made available to pass to the UAE )-
particularly if it strengthens the case against the Ajman
office and HAI's reported Al Qaida ties. Such specific
information would be helpful to demonstrate to the UAEG that
HAI remains a current concern.
-------------- ---
What is the likely reaction of the UAEG to HAI,s
designation?
-------------- ---
6. (S) A designation of HAI would likely result in public and
private backlash in the UAE. HAI is the third largest
charitable organization in the UAE headquartered in the
emirate of Ajman and operating under the patronage of the
ruling Al Nuaimi family in Ajman (Ref E). A designation of
HAI would be the first designation of a domestic UAE entity
as a supporter of terrorism and would likely receive a great
deal of negative attention in the Arabic press/media.
7. (S) Reactions within the government to a designation are
likely to be mixed. In April 2006 Al Qemzi said that he saw
HAI as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization and noted his
willingness to close the Dubai branch office by not renewing
its license in Dubai (Ref C). On the other hand, also in
April 2006, Abdulrahim Al Awadi, Head of the Central Banks
Anti Money Laundering and Suspicious cases unit (AMLSCU),
spoke very highly of the board members of HAI during the
meeting of the Joint Terrorism Financing Coordinating
ABU DHABI 00000245 003 OF 004
Committee.
8. (C) UAEG will probably seek updated information in
addition to the paper provided to the UAE in January 2006.
The UAEG may note that the ties to Al Qaida were primarily
identified in the overseas branch offices and therefore
question why the UAE headquarters is being designated.
Another factor is that it will be politically difficult for
the UAEG to support the designation of a charity that appears
to benefit the Palestinian people )- especially in light of
the UAE President,s public welcoming of the Fatah-Hamas
accord brokered by the Saudis in Mecca.
-------------- --------------
Will the UAEG implement UNSCR 1267 and subsequent
resolutions against HAI?
-------------- --------------
9. (C) If HAI is designated under UN 1267 it is likely that
the UAEG will undertake to freeze their assets. Post expects
little/no action will be taken against HAI if there is only a
US designation.
-------------- --------------
Will the UAEG request that a UNSC member place a hold on
a listing by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee?
-------------- --------------
10. (C) It is possible that the UAE may seek to put a hold on
HAI,s designation.
--------------
Additional Information on HAI
--------------
11. (C) DHS/ICE in Dubai reported that it interviewed and
denied the visa applications of two HAI employees who were
seeking to go to the US in 2006. Information about these
individuals will be reported septel.
12. (U) Post also notes that the local UAE Yellow Pages list
the phone number for the Ajman Headquarters as 971-6-7422115,
the Dubai office as 971-4-2666697. The HAI office in Dubai
lists 262-6444 on the building (Note. The complete number
would be 971-4-262-6444. End note.) HAI,s UAE website lists
971-6-747-1777 as the phone and 971-6-742-7444 as the fax for
the Headquarters. Finally the website for the Australian
Branch of the HAI lists a second office in Melbourne which
was not in the paper presented to the UAE in 2006.
-------------- ---
Likelihood of Charitable Services being replaced
-------------- ---
13. (U) HAI provides assistance both domestically and
internationally in areas such as health care, social
ABU DHABI 00000245 004 OF 004
development, orphan and child care, education, and urgent
relief, but its efforts seem to be primarily directed to
international services (Ref E). Since HAI Ajman claims to
receive and redistribute most of the organization,s funds,
if HAI in the UAE is shut down the greatest impact will
likely not be in the UAE but at the overseas branches and
field offices worldwide that receive funding from
headquarters. Post has no estimates on the exact amount of
local charitable contributions HAI receives since information
is not publicly available. There are three other major
charitable organizations in the UAE, the Red Crescent
Association, the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation in Dubai and
the Sheikh Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation in
Abu Dhabi, that may be able to pick up activities currently
undertaken by HAI in the UAE (Ref F).
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, LCANNON, KLEAHY,
STATE FOR S/CT PHILL
STATE FOR NEA/IR, NEA/ARP TREUTER, DBAGWELL
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, A/S POBRIEN, DAS DGLASER, ACURTIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL ECON AE
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL
(HAI) POST-VETTING AND CHARITABLE REPLACEMENT SERVICES
REF: A. ABU DHABI 2598 JUN 03
B. ABU DHABI 409 JAN 06
C. ABU DHABI 2081 MAY 06
D. DUBAI 2853 MAY 06
E. ABU DHABI 2169 MAY 05
F. ABU DHABI 1301 APR 06
Classified By: Ambassador Michelle J. Sison, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (S) Summary. The USG has approached the UAEG since 2003
about concerns with Human Appeal International (HAI) with
little progress. Despite assurances U/S Levey received in
May 2006, HAI,s Dubai branch office still appears to be
operational. Post has no objections to a designation but
suggests that U/S Levey, prior to any designation, consult
with the UAEG to follow up on concerns raised in May 2006.
These concerns could be conveyed during his projected early
March visit. Post recommends that U/S Levey bring additional
information, updated since January 2006, to pass to the UAEG
to in order to strengthen the impact of the visit. Post
notes that there will likely be negative public/official
reactions in the UAE from a designation of HAI, but that the
UAEG is more likely to support or implement a designation if
HAI is added to the UN 1267 list. Closing HAI in the UAE
will likely cause a disruption for most of its overseas field
offices since funds reportedly are sent through the Ajman
headquarters. End summary.
2. (S) Since 2003 the USG has approached the UAEG at very
senior levels to address serious concerns with HAI but with
little progress (Ref A, B, C, and D). Senior UAE
interlocutors have expressed concern about HAI,s ties with
the Muslim Brotherhood as well as a willingness to act to
curb HAI,s activities, but in fact it appears that little
has been done since the HAI paper was passed both in January
and in April of 2006 (Ref B and C).
--------------
The Dubai Office ) Still Open
--------------
3. (S) Despite assurances from Mohammed al-Qemzi, Chief of
the General Department of State Security in Dubai, in May
2006 (Ref C),HAI,s Dubai branch office is apparently still
open and operational. A caller to the Ajman headquarters in
February 2007 was told that the Dubai Office of HAI, near the
Dubai Hospital, was open and that the organization could be
reached at 971-4-262-6444. The caller was told that they
would be &open till 1:30.8 In January OFAC Attache took
photographs of the office in Dubai where the &Human Appeal
International8 logo and its phone number &262-64448 are
prominently displayed. (Note. Al Qemzi said in reftel that
the license wouldn,t be renewed. Post does not know what
the license cycle is, but it has been nine months since the
request. End note.)
ABU DHABI 00000245 002 OF 004
-------------- --------------
How could HAI,s designation be successfully implemented?
-------------- --------------
4. (S) Post has no objections to a designation of HAI but
suggests that a designation will be most successfully
implemented in the UAE if it is added to the UN 1267 list.
Post also recommends that since the UAEG requests that it be
consulted on designations that a visit from U/S Stuart Levey
prior to any designation would be necessary and advisable
(Ref C). The UAEG consistently asks to be part of the
consultative process on designations, particularly if the UAE
is going to be affected. A unilateral designation of HAI,
without very specific and directed discussion, would be
interpreted as an act of bad faith. A visit by U/S Levey
should focus on what actions have been taken by the UAE since
May 2006. A visit would reinforce the seriousness of USG
concerns about HAI. U/S Levey could push for immediate steps
to resolve concerns such as the multiple bank accounts, the
international branches, the status of the Dubai branch office
and seek UAEG input on how it plans to address these and
other concerns in a timely manner. Since this issue has been
a longstanding item of discussion with the UAE since 2003,
Post has no objection to proceeding with a designation -- if
there is no progress during the Levey visit.
5. (C) Post also recommends that any additional updated
information be made available to pass to the UAE )-
particularly if it strengthens the case against the Ajman
office and HAI's reported Al Qaida ties. Such specific
information would be helpful to demonstrate to the UAEG that
HAI remains a current concern.
-------------- ---
What is the likely reaction of the UAEG to HAI,s
designation?
-------------- ---
6. (S) A designation of HAI would likely result in public and
private backlash in the UAE. HAI is the third largest
charitable organization in the UAE headquartered in the
emirate of Ajman and operating under the patronage of the
ruling Al Nuaimi family in Ajman (Ref E). A designation of
HAI would be the first designation of a domestic UAE entity
as a supporter of terrorism and would likely receive a great
deal of negative attention in the Arabic press/media.
7. (S) Reactions within the government to a designation are
likely to be mixed. In April 2006 Al Qemzi said that he saw
HAI as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization and noted his
willingness to close the Dubai branch office by not renewing
its license in Dubai (Ref C). On the other hand, also in
April 2006, Abdulrahim Al Awadi, Head of the Central Banks
Anti Money Laundering and Suspicious cases unit (AMLSCU),
spoke very highly of the board members of HAI during the
meeting of the Joint Terrorism Financing Coordinating
ABU DHABI 00000245 003 OF 004
Committee.
8. (C) UAEG will probably seek updated information in
addition to the paper provided to the UAE in January 2006.
The UAEG may note that the ties to Al Qaida were primarily
identified in the overseas branch offices and therefore
question why the UAE headquarters is being designated.
Another factor is that it will be politically difficult for
the UAEG to support the designation of a charity that appears
to benefit the Palestinian people )- especially in light of
the UAE President,s public welcoming of the Fatah-Hamas
accord brokered by the Saudis in Mecca.
-------------- --------------
Will the UAEG implement UNSCR 1267 and subsequent
resolutions against HAI?
-------------- --------------
9. (C) If HAI is designated under UN 1267 it is likely that
the UAEG will undertake to freeze their assets. Post expects
little/no action will be taken against HAI if there is only a
US designation.
-------------- --------------
Will the UAEG request that a UNSC member place a hold on
a listing by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee?
-------------- --------------
10. (C) It is possible that the UAE may seek to put a hold on
HAI,s designation.
--------------
Additional Information on HAI
--------------
11. (C) DHS/ICE in Dubai reported that it interviewed and
denied the visa applications of two HAI employees who were
seeking to go to the US in 2006. Information about these
individuals will be reported septel.
12. (U) Post also notes that the local UAE Yellow Pages list
the phone number for the Ajman Headquarters as 971-6-7422115,
the Dubai office as 971-4-2666697. The HAI office in Dubai
lists 262-6444 on the building (Note. The complete number
would be 971-4-262-6444. End note.) HAI,s UAE website lists
971-6-747-1777 as the phone and 971-6-742-7444 as the fax for
the Headquarters. Finally the website for the Australian
Branch of the HAI lists a second office in Melbourne which
was not in the paper presented to the UAE in 2006.
-------------- ---
Likelihood of Charitable Services being replaced
-------------- ---
13. (U) HAI provides assistance both domestically and
internationally in areas such as health care, social
ABU DHABI 00000245 004 OF 004
development, orphan and child care, education, and urgent
relief, but its efforts seem to be primarily directed to
international services (Ref E). Since HAI Ajman claims to
receive and redistribute most of the organization,s funds,
if HAI in the UAE is shut down the greatest impact will
likely not be in the UAE but at the overseas branches and
field offices worldwide that receive funding from
headquarters. Post has no estimates on the exact amount of
local charitable contributions HAI receives since information
is not publicly available. There are three other major
charitable organizations in the UAE, the Red Crescent
Association, the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation in Dubai and
the Sheikh Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation in
Abu Dhabi, that may be able to pick up activities currently
undertaken by HAI in the UAE (Ref F).
SISON