TERRORISM FINANCE: UN 1267 COMMITTEE AND E.O.

S E C R E T STATE 035781 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN FOR TFCO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018 TAGS: PTER KTFN PREL PGOV KU SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: UN 1267 COMMITTEE AND E.O. 13224 DESIGNATION OF REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE SOCIETY REF: 07 KUWAIT 816 (NOTAL) Classified By: NEA DAS Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph three. -------------- Summary -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) The USG intends to designate the Kuwait-headquartered international NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) in the near future, including its overseas branch offices, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. The USG also intends to pursue simultaneous UNSCR 1267 designation of RIHS, which would require member states to freeze the assets of all RIHS entities, including its headquarters and all branch offices. The consequences of the U.S. designation of RIHS pursuant to E.O. 13224 include a prohibition against the provision by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction of support or resources to or for the benefit RIHS and blocking of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons. End Summary. -------------- Objectives -------------- ¶2. (S/REL GOK) Department requests that Post pursue the following objectives: -- Inform the GOK that the USG intends to designate RIHS, including its overseas branches, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, and that we also intend to propose designating the NGO simultaneously via UNSCR 1267. -- Explain that the USG decision is based on our concern that bilateral consultation on RIHS (including high-level engagement and intelligence sharing over the past three years) has not resulted in GOK action to address the threat that RIHS poses to the international community. There is extensive evidence that funds from RIHS continue to flow to support terrorist operations that kill and wound innocent persons in various regions of the world. This is clearly an untenable situation. -- Request that the GOK treat this information confidentially until the designation is made public, emphasizing that our ability to consult with the GOK on these issues depends on our confidence that information we share will not be leaked to the NGO or others. -- Urge the GOK to support, or at a minimum not ask UNSC members to block, the designation of RIHS at the UN 1267 Committee. Such joint action would send a strong message of deterrence to other Kuwait-based individuals and groups operating in KUWAIT and abroad. -- Reiterate that the most important consequence of UNSCR 1267 designation includes the requirement that UN member states freeze the assets of all RIHS entities, including the headquarters. U.S. domestic designation under E.O. 13224 includes a prohibition against the provision by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction of support or resources to or for the benefit RIHS and blocking of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons. -- Repeat previous U.S. requests that the GOK take similar actions against RIHS and take aggressive steps to address the NGO's support for terrorism and violent extremism in other countries around the world. -- Emphasize that the USG wishes to improve our cooperation with the GOK to disrupt Kuwait-based terrorist fundraising activities through enhanced bilateral dialogue and greater intelligence and law enforcement cooperation. -------------- Background -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) The GOK cooperated with the USG's investigation of RIHS after the September 11, 2001 attacks, particularly the NGO's Pakistan and Afghanistan branches which were designated under UNSCR 1267 in January 2002; however, subsequent bilateral cooperation on the NGO has been much more limited. The USG has expressed concerns to the GOK about RIHS on many occasions over the past three years and provided extensive information about RIHS's support for terrorism and violent extremism around the world. To date, the GOK has not taken significant action to address or shut down the NGO's headquarters or its branches. Unfortunately, this is consistent with GOK tolerance of similar behavior by Kuwaiti citizens and organizations as long as the behavior occurs or is directed outside of Kuwait. The Department hopes that in addition to striking a blow against RIHS, this designation will serve as a clear signal that the USG is not content with the GOK counterterrorism status quo. -------------- Reporting deadline -------------- ¶5. (U) Post should report GOK reaction by cable to EEB/ESC/TFS Jay Jallorina, NEA/ARP Ashley Bagwell, and Treasury TFFC Danny Harris by April 11. -------------- Point of contact -------------- ¶6. (U) Please contact Jay Jallorina, State EEB/ESC/TFS, at (202) 647-7699 or via e-mail for any necessary further background to meet our objectives. RICE