Decision to end donation collection sparks debate
KUWAIT CITY, May 27: The recent decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs to suspend donation collections by charitable societies and foundations until further notice is a regulatory step that has sparked widespread debate among those active in the charitable sector. This move is part of a general trend to reassess the mechanisms for charitable work -- a field in which Kuwait has long played a prominent role, both domestically and internationally. While some view the decision as a necessary measure to introduce stronger oversight, others argue that it risks disrupting a vital pillar of the soft power and humanitarian outreach of the country.
Critics of the suspension emphasized the longstanding reputation of the country as a global leader in charitable and humanitarian efforts. They stressed that oversight must be part of a continuous development process -- ensuring transparency and accountability -- without hindering the sector's ability to support beneficiaries or undermining public trust in philanthropy.
Former MP Dr. Mohammad Al-Dallal told the newspaper that charitable work is central to the soft power of Kuwait, reinforcing the country's humanitarian image at both official and grassroots levels. He highlighted the historic role of Kuwaiti charities in bolstering the nation's international standing and noted their pivotal contributions during national crises, especially during the Iraqi invasion. Al-Dallal called for balanced reforms, stressing the need for responsible governance without imposing undue restrictions. He urged the ministry to issue a clear regulatory framework that empowers charities while ensuring proper oversight.
In contrast, writer Ahmed Al-Sarraf expressed support for the decision, arguing that the charitable sector has operated for decades with insufficient oversight. He warned that some associations have been misused to fund illicit activities, serving partisan or personal interests.
Speaking to the newspaper, Al-Sarraf revealed that a temporary committee has been formed to draft a comprehensive law regulating charitable activities. 'The committee recently discussed a key provision concerning the disproportionate allocation of funds to foreign efforts over domestic needs,' he added. He recommended banning all external charitable activity unless conducted under direct government supervision through a unified platform. He also called for strict rules prohibiting political involvement by charitable organizations, demanding transparency in financial reporting and restrictions on receiving funds from government or foreign sources. He proposed that annual budgets be publicly disclosed in at least two daily newspapers.
Meanwhile, preacher Faisal bin Qazzaz Al-Jassem voiced concern over the suspension through the 'X' platform; warning that even a temporary freeze could severely impact Muslims and philanthropists reliant on these organizations. He affirmed that the charitable and relief associations in Kuwait are unparalleled in the Islamic world, often filling gaps where other nations fall short. He asserted that 'tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people are affected by the decision -- orphans, families, preachers, imams, orators, teachers, educators, doctors, nurses and directors of centers, institutes and universities -- have no source of support other than Allah and the charities. Therefore, freezing the accounts means halting all of these activities and rendering all of them unable to continue their work; especially for the orphans, widows, families, patients and health centers.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Arab Times
Tag-along helpers with caravans against rules, law
KUWAIT CITY, June 2: The Kuwaiti Hajj Mission has warned against the use of any irregular permits or the employment of individuals outside the authorized frameworks during the Hajj season, whether in service or administrative roles. In a press statement, the mission said 'we call on all Hajj caravans and citizens to strictly comply with all the regulations and instructions issued by the competent authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to avoid legal accountability and penalties that may include the cancellation of permits and the ban on entry to the holy sites.' The mission pointed out that cooperation with the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is essential to the success of the Hajj season, and that adherence to regulations is a national and religious responsibility. It disclosed that the competent authorities in the Kingdom have granted Hajj caravans a maximum of four percent of the total number of authorized pilgrims, to be used to allocate support service personnel, provided that they are issued official Hajj permits. These personnel must be registered with the caravans and meet the approved requirements. It added that the Kingdom also allocated a maximum of 10 percent of the number of pilgrims for administrative support workers. They are permitted to work during the Hajj season following the regulations and conditions in force with the Saudi authorities, but they are not permitted to perform the Hajj rituals. It also stated that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom issued a circular prohibiting citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from entering this category of administrative workers. This follows the use of these permits to fraudulently perform Hajj in irregular ways, which is a clear violation punishable by law. It explained that this comes within the framework of ongoing coordination with the relevant authorities in the Kingdom to ensure that Hajj caravans and Kuwaiti citizens adhere to the regulations and instructions governing the Hajj ritual. Meanwhile, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohammad Al-Wasmi confirmed that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs is directly informed about the progress of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission's work and its preparations to receive Kuwaiti pilgrims. Al-Wasmi revealed, 'The activities, efforts, and work undertaken by the mission members are clear evidence of their dedication to completing the tasks assigned to them with precision and mastery.' He expressed his happiness 'that the mission is proceeding according to its plan and that success will be its ally.' He pointed out the vast experience of the mission members, which they have acquired over the past several years, alongside the new members who are dedicated to their work. He affirmed the mission's commitment to provide them with the necessary experience to enable the mission to perform its work with distinction. He also underscored the need for the committees to continue their efforts, remain active, and work as a team to achieve success. He added that this is not difficult to achieve, but success requires a great deal of effort, perseverance and patience; especially since success is not uncommon for the mission. He confirmed the ongoing communication with the committees to follow up the work of the mission and ease procedures for the Kuwaiti pilgrims.
Arab Times
8 hours ago
- Arab Times
Words for the Ministers of Finance and Commerce to consider - How did China shift from a starving nation to the world's second-largest economy?
IT is necessary to track and understand China's path to economic power. In the first half of the 20th century, China was a deeply impoverished nation, emerging from Japanese colonial occupation and ravaged by civil wars. In 1949, Mao Zedong rose to power and launched what became known as the Long March. He introduced a strict authoritarian regime and a series of poorly planned policies, most notably the 'Great Leap Forward,' which triggered a catastrophic famine that claimed the lives of approximately 15 million people. During Mao Zedong's rule, China was isolated from the world, heavily dependent on agriculture, and plagued by conflicts among various factions within the Communist Party. Mao later launched the Cultural Revolution, a campaign that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Throughout the 1960s, China was regarded as one of the poorest countries in the world. A dramatic transformation began in 1978 with the rise of Deng Xiaoping to power, who succeeded Mao and set China on a new economic path. Xiaoping graduated from a French university and was, remarkably, among those sentenced to death during the Cultural Revolution; however, fate had other plans. It is reported that after his graduation, Xiaoping said, 'The common sentiment in China was that our country was weak. We wanted to make it strong, so we traveled to the West and endured the hardships of exile to learn.' Driven by his belief in the need to open up to the world, Xiaoping sought the expertise of foreign minds. He enlisted the help of British doctor of Iraqi origin, Elias Korkis, granting him broad powers, and even empowering him to issue directives to ministers. The most important elements of China's success were openness, reform, encouraging foreign investment, and gradually loosening state control over the economy. Agricultural communes were dismantled as part of these sweeping changes. This turning point marked the beginning of rapid economic growth, with rates at times exceeding ten percent. By the early 2010s, China had become the world's factory, relying on its vast pool of inexpensive labor and making heavy infrastructure investments to gain entry into the World Trade Organization. As a result, China's exports soared to $15 trillion within a few years, and its brands flooded global markets. China then moved to diversify its economy, expanding into the world of technology and services. It provided strong support to national companies, prioritized clean energy, and entered the realm of artificial intelligence. Then came the Belt and Road Initiative, a major milestone in China's development, aimed at expanding its global trade influence. This initiative helped propel China's GDP to $19 trillion, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the global economy. As mentioned earlier, a main figure in building this powerful economy was Elias Korkis, a British national of Iraqi origin. Despite China's vast pool of capabilities and competencies, there was no objection to his leadership. No one demanded his replacement with a 'pure' native Chinese citizen. This Iraqi-born doctor was the driving force behind China's reforms, opening the country's doors to foreign professionals and investors. China has welcomed hundreds of thousands of people from various nationalities to work and thrive. The Chinese are no different from other peoples around the world. They are a diverse mix of tribes and communities, many of whom have become naturalized citizens. Millions of immigrants own property, run businesses, and contribute to the growth of China, which is a vast and diverse nation with a population of 1.408 billion. The Chinese have no time to waste on repeating naive slogans. Everyone works toward the best interests of their country. In nearly half a century, China transformed into the powerhouse behind this tremendous economy, securing its distinguished position among the world's nations through a clear and focused vision. This is why the world today watches the Chinese experience with amazement and a keen desire to learn.
Arab Times
8 hours ago
- Arab Times
75% Surge In Kuwaiti-to-Kuwaiti Marriages After Nationality Law Amendment
KUWAIT CITY, June 2: The amendment of some provisions of the Amiri Decree on the Kuwaiti Nationality Law – which aims to strengthen national identity, maintain public order and abolish Article Eight stipulating that the marriage of a foreign woman to a Kuwaiti man does not entail her becoming a Kuwaiti – has led to a 75 percent increase in the number of Kuwaiti women marrying Kuwaiti men and a lower rate of foreign marriages. The newspaper obtained a copy of the recent statistics issued by the Department of Legal Documentation at the Ministry of Justice, indicating that the number of marriages between Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women reached 2,916 from the beginning of January until the end of April 2025. The statistics showed that 332 Kuwaiti men got married to non-Kuwaiti women, 133 Kuwaiti women got married to non-Kuwaitis, 44 Kuwaiti men got married to Bedouns and 10 Kuwaiti women got married to Bedouns. In addition, the number of divorces between Kuwaiti husbands and Kuwaiti wives reached 1,419; while the number of divorces between Kuwaiti husbands and non-Kuwaiti wives reached 332, and 141 Kuwaiti women were divorced from non-Kuwaiti men. Moreover, a statistical analysis of the achievements of the Sharia Documentation Department in April 2025 revealed that the number of documented marriages, by nationality, reached 1,149. The rate of marriages where both spouses are Kuwaiti nationals was 75 percent, while the percentage of marriages where both spouses are non-Kuwaiti nationals was 13.4 percent. The rate of marriages where the husband is Kuwaiti and the wife is non-Kuwaiti was 8.4 percent, while the percentage of marriages where the husband is non-Kuwaiti and the wife is Kuwaiti was 3.2 percent of the total marriages. The total number of documented authentication cases by nationality of husband and wife reached 117. The rate of documented authentication cases in which both spouses are Kuwaiti citizens was 4.3 percent, while the percentage of documented authentication cases in which both spouses are non-Kuwaiti citizens was 29.9 percent. The rate of documented authentication cases in which the husband is Kuwaiti and the wife is non-Kuwaiti was 60.7 percent, while the percentage of documented authentication cases in which the husband is non-Kuwaiti and the wife is Kuwaiti was 5.1 percent. The total number of documented divorces by nationality of the husband and wife was 754. The percentage of documented divorces in which both spouses are Kuwaiti citizens was 59.1 percent, while the percentage of divorces in which both spouses is non-Kuwaiti citizens was 18.4 percent. The rate of divorces in which the husband is Kuwaiti and the wife is non-Kuwaiti was 15.9 percent, while the percentage of divorces in which the husband is non-Kuwaiti and the wife is Kuwaiti was 6.5 percent.
