Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TORONTO213
2009-09-09 20:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:
UAE CHARITY FUNDS TORONTO DE-RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1849 PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHON #0213 2522009 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 092009Z SEP 09 ZDK ZFG FM AMCONSUL TORONTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2928 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0010 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0067 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0011 RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TORONTO 000213
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PTER KISL PREL CA AE
SUBJECT: UAE CHARITY FUNDS TORONTO DE-RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
REF: TORONTO 151
Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Lee MacTaggart, 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TORONTO 000213
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PTER KISL PREL CA AE
SUBJECT: UAE CHARITY FUNDS TORONTO DE-RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
REF: TORONTO 151
Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Lee MacTaggart, 1.4 (d)
1. (C/NF) Muhammed Robert Heft, director of the Paradise
Forever (P4E) center in Toronto, traveled to Dubai and Abu
Dhabi in late August and early September, accompanied by
Toronto-area Liberal federal MP Derek Lee. Heft and Lee met
with officials of P4E's principal benefactor, the Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment
(MBRMCHE),a private charitable organization founded by the
UAE's ruling family. MBRMCHE, which has been P4E's main
donor for the past three years, reportedly transmits funds to
P4E through the UAE's embassy in Ottawa.
2. (C/NF) In a meeting on September 8, Lee told PolOff that
the meeting with P4E's principal donor was an overall
success. MBRMCHE agreed to triple its funding for P4E's
activities, which include a "12-Step" de-radicalization
program for Toronto-area Muslim youths (reftel),as well as
community services for recent converts to Islam living in the
area. (Note: Lee estimates that P4E's budget (before the
increase) is about C$200,000).
3. (C/NF) At the same meeting that MBRMCHE agreed to increase
P4E's funding, the organization's representatives also
reportedly recommended that Heft seek funding from other,
more suitable, donors. (Note: MBRMCHE's main focus seems to
be on poverty. End note.) MBRMCHE set up a meeting between
Heft and representatives of the Red Crescent in Abu Dhabi
during Heft's stay in the UAE. Lee could not say whether
this means that MBRMCHE has decided not to continue funding
Heft's organization. According to Lee, the Red Crescent did
not make any funding commitments at the meeting, but he
suspects that it is a matter of Heft building a relationship
through future meetings.
4. (C/NF) COMMENT: Heft's efforts at de-radicalizing
Toronto-area Muslims with extremist views are well-known to
local authorities. What may be less understood is the
relationship between MBRMCHE and Heft. If MBRMCHE is indeed
hoping that Heft will seek other relationships - and other
sources of funding - it will be important to know which
direction Heft takes, and who picks up any slack in funding
for Heft's goal of positively influencing disaffected Muslim
youth in the region.
JOHNSON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PTER KISL PREL CA AE
SUBJECT: UAE CHARITY FUNDS TORONTO DE-RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
REF: TORONTO 151
Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Lee MacTaggart, 1.4 (d)
1. (C/NF) Muhammed Robert Heft, director of the Paradise
Forever (P4E) center in Toronto, traveled to Dubai and Abu
Dhabi in late August and early September, accompanied by
Toronto-area Liberal federal MP Derek Lee. Heft and Lee met
with officials of P4E's principal benefactor, the Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment
(MBRMCHE),a private charitable organization founded by the
UAE's ruling family. MBRMCHE, which has been P4E's main
donor for the past three years, reportedly transmits funds to
P4E through the UAE's embassy in Ottawa.
2. (C/NF) In a meeting on September 8, Lee told PolOff that
the meeting with P4E's principal donor was an overall
success. MBRMCHE agreed to triple its funding for P4E's
activities, which include a "12-Step" de-radicalization
program for Toronto-area Muslim youths (reftel),as well as
community services for recent converts to Islam living in the
area. (Note: Lee estimates that P4E's budget (before the
increase) is about C$200,000).
3. (C/NF) At the same meeting that MBRMCHE agreed to increase
P4E's funding, the organization's representatives also
reportedly recommended that Heft seek funding from other,
more suitable, donors. (Note: MBRMCHE's main focus seems to
be on poverty. End note.) MBRMCHE set up a meeting between
Heft and representatives of the Red Crescent in Abu Dhabi
during Heft's stay in the UAE. Lee could not say whether
this means that MBRMCHE has decided not to continue funding
Heft's organization. According to Lee, the Red Crescent did
not make any funding commitments at the meeting, but he
suspects that it is a matter of Heft building a relationship
through future meetings.
4. (C/NF) COMMENT: Heft's efforts at de-radicalizing
Toronto-area Muslims with extremist views are well-known to
local authorities. What may be less understood is the
relationship between MBRMCHE and Heft. If MBRMCHE is indeed
hoping that Heft will seek other relationships - and other
sources of funding - it will be important to know which
direction Heft takes, and who picks up any slack in funding
for Heft's goal of positively influencing disaffected Muslim
youth in the region.
JOHNSON