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