Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LONDON71
2007-01-09 14:02:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
TERRORIST FINANCE: REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #0071/01 0091402 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 091402Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1169 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0242 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 0305 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0180 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0124 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0228 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0214 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 2080 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 0123 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0214 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0640 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0244 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0405 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0217 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2126 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0277 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0138 RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH PRIORITY 0026 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0502 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0510 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 3273 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0052 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0204 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0117 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T LONDON 000071
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, EUR/PGI, IO/PHO, AND EUR/UBI
TREASURY FOR HEFFERNAN AND SERAFINI
NSC FOR HINNEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ETTC KTFN PTER PREL EFIN UK
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE
SOCIETY (RIHS) POST VETTING
REF: A. 2006 STATE 202039
B. 2006 LONDON 4220 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: Economic Counselor Sandra Clark for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
S E C R E T LONDON 000071
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, EUR/PGI, IO/PHO, AND EUR/UBI
TREASURY FOR HEFFERNAN AND SERAFINI
NSC FOR HINNEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ETTC KTFN PTER PREL EFIN UK
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE
SOCIETY (RIHS) POST VETTING
REF: A. 2006 STATE 202039
B. 2006 LONDON 4220 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: Economic Counselor Sandra Clark for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Unless the U.S. has compelling information
which either: a) demonstrates that the London branch of the
Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) is under the
operational control of Kuwait-based headquarters or b) shows
a clear linkage between the London branch and al-Qaida, we
believe that HMG would seek to block a designation of the
entire RIHS network in the UN 1267 Committee. Our analysis
is based on UK reactions to our proposed UN designation of
the Sudan-based Islamic African Relief Agency (ISRA/IARA).
We note, however, that the UK branch of RIHS has recently
changed its name to the British Education and Support Trust
(BEST). This may offer us a chance to propose to the UK the
same sort of solution we are seeking on ISRA/IARA (ref B).
We do not see any need for replacement charitable services
subsequent to an eventual designation. End summary.
2. (S/NF) Per ref A, the Embassy's terrorism finance cluster
met to discuss likely UK reactions to a potential UNSCR 1267
designation of the Kuwait-based Revival of Islamic Heritage
Society (RIHS),including its fifteen known branches one of
which is located in the United Kingdom. We were immediately
struck by the parallels between this proposed designation and
the October 2004 proposal to seek a UN designation of the
Islamic African Relief Agency and its worldwide branches. In
that case, the UK made clear that it would place a hold on
any proposed UN designation that includes the
Birmingham-based ISRA-UK (now know as "Feed the Poor"). It
has refused to support a UN listing because we have been
unable to demonstrate to its satisfaction that ISRA-UK is
under the operational control of the Sudan headquarters nor
have we been able to prove that ISRA-UK has witting links to
al-Qaida. Given the strong parallel to the ISRA/IARA case,
we believe that, in order to win UK support for a UN
designation of RIHS in its entirety, we will need to provide
them strong evidence that the London branch is under the
operational control of the Kuwait headquarters or that the
London branch has its own links to terrorism.
3. (S/NF) Even if we were not able to provide HMG with
specific information on the London branch, the UK would
likely be willing to support a UN designation on the entire
network if the London branch were not included. In addition,
we note that, based on information on the Charity
Commission's central register, the London branch has recently
changed its name from "The Society of the Revival of Islamic
Heritage" to "British Education and Support Trust
(B.E.S.T.)." This offers the possibility that we might
propose the same solution on RIHS that we intend to offer on
ISRA/IARA (ref B): namely, that ask the UK to agree to a UN
designation of the entire network including the London branch
under its old name, while not listing the new name as one of
the known aliases.
4. (S/NF) According to figures filed by the London branch
with the Charity Commission, its total income in 2005 (the
last year for which figures are reported) was under $200,000.
Based on this, we do not believe that an eventual asset
freeze would have any serious impact on charitable services
in the UK.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Johnson
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, EUR/PGI, IO/PHO, AND EUR/UBI
TREASURY FOR HEFFERNAN AND SERAFINI
NSC FOR HINNEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ETTC KTFN PTER PREL EFIN UK
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE
SOCIETY (RIHS) POST VETTING
REF: A. 2006 STATE 202039
B. 2006 LONDON 4220 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: Economic Counselor Sandra Clark for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Unless the U.S. has compelling information
which either: a) demonstrates that the London branch of the
Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) is under the
operational control of Kuwait-based headquarters or b) shows
a clear linkage between the London branch and al-Qaida, we
believe that HMG would seek to block a designation of the
entire RIHS network in the UN 1267 Committee. Our analysis
is based on UK reactions to our proposed UN designation of
the Sudan-based Islamic African Relief Agency (ISRA/IARA).
We note, however, that the UK branch of RIHS has recently
changed its name to the British Education and Support Trust
(BEST). This may offer us a chance to propose to the UK the
same sort of solution we are seeking on ISRA/IARA (ref B).
We do not see any need for replacement charitable services
subsequent to an eventual designation. End summary.
2. (S/NF) Per ref A, the Embassy's terrorism finance cluster
met to discuss likely UK reactions to a potential UNSCR 1267
designation of the Kuwait-based Revival of Islamic Heritage
Society (RIHS),including its fifteen known branches one of
which is located in the United Kingdom. We were immediately
struck by the parallels between this proposed designation and
the October 2004 proposal to seek a UN designation of the
Islamic African Relief Agency and its worldwide branches. In
that case, the UK made clear that it would place a hold on
any proposed UN designation that includes the
Birmingham-based ISRA-UK (now know as "Feed the Poor"). It
has refused to support a UN listing because we have been
unable to demonstrate to its satisfaction that ISRA-UK is
under the operational control of the Sudan headquarters nor
have we been able to prove that ISRA-UK has witting links to
al-Qaida. Given the strong parallel to the ISRA/IARA case,
we believe that, in order to win UK support for a UN
designation of RIHS in its entirety, we will need to provide
them strong evidence that the London branch is under the
operational control of the Kuwait headquarters or that the
London branch has its own links to terrorism.
3. (S/NF) Even if we were not able to provide HMG with
specific information on the London branch, the UK would
likely be willing to support a UN designation on the entire
network if the London branch were not included. In addition,
we note that, based on information on the Charity
Commission's central register, the London branch has recently
changed its name from "The Society of the Revival of Islamic
Heritage" to "British Education and Support Trust
(B.E.S.T.)." This offers the possibility that we might
propose the same solution on RIHS that we intend to offer on
ISRA/IARA (ref B): namely, that ask the UK to agree to a UN
designation of the entire network including the London branch
under its old name, while not listing the new name as one of
the known aliases.
4. (S/NF) According to figures filed by the London branch
with the Charity Commission, its total income in 2005 (the
last year for which figures are reported) was under $200,000.
Based on this, we do not believe that an eventual asset
freeze would have any serious impact on charitable services
in the UK.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Johnson