Ministry tackles donation violations, two illegal boxes seized at Hawally Mosque

The Director of the Charitable Societies and Endowments Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Abdulaziz Al-Ajmi, announced that field inspection teams were deployed to monitor and address donation violations during the 22nd Ramadan collection project.

During their inspection, the teams discovered two boxes used for unauthorized cash collection at a mosque in Hawalli Governorate, falsely claiming to support security guards at the Houses of Mercy.

Al-Ajmi confirmed that a report was filed to document the incident, leading to the seizure of the boxes and the money inside. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has been notified to take appropriate action.

In a press statement, Al-Ajmi emphasized that collecting donations in this manner is a direct violation of Law No. 59 of 1959, which regulates the licensing of funds collected for public purposes. He urged donors to exercise caution, verifying the identities of collectors and avoiding being misled by vague appeals.

Al-Ajmi advised that donations should be directed only to reputable and established organizations in the country. He stressed that any violation of the established rules during Ramadan would not be tolerated, and necessary legal actions would be taken accordingly.

396 Visits to Mosques

Al-Ajmi reported that, from Ramadan 10 to 22, the inspection teams conducted 396 field visits to mosques across the country to ensure compliance with regulations governing charitable collections in places of worship.

Additionally, 16 visits were made to the main headquarters of charitable societies. The recorded violations included 204 kiosks set up for collecting worn clothes, with their locations forwarded to the Kuwait Municipality for removal. Furthermore, 18 kiosks bearing commercial license numbers were identified, and the Ministry of Commerce was contacted to take the necessary actions.

Al-Ajmi further added that five restaurants were found soliciting donations for Iftar meals, and a company was also identified engaging in similar practices. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry was informed to take appropriate action.

Furthermore, three violations were detected involving individuals and entities soliciting donations through social media platforms, prompting the Ministry to notify the Public Prosecution for legal action.

Al-Ajmi stated that, 12 advertisements from various associations, charities, and other entities were found to be in violation of advertising regulations, and the relevant organizations are being contacted to ensure compliance and avoid further violations.

3 Violations were Detected

Al-Ajmi highlighted that individuals and entities were found soliciting donations through street advertisements, prompting the Ministry of Interior to be notified for further action. Additionally, three violations were identified on social media, and the General Authority for Communications was contacted to address the matter.

Moreover, Al-Ajmi also mentioned that 12 violations were recorded in mosques, including advertisements seeking donations for Iftar meals and charitable projects, as well as imams not adhering to the schedule for distributing donations. In response, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has been informed to take the necessary steps.

Debtors’ Campaign

Regarding the national campaign to collect donations for debt repayment, Al-Ajmi shared that the campaign will run until April 14th and has already raised approximately 8 million dinars since its launch on the 14th of this month. He expects the total amount to exceed 12 million dinars in the coming days. Since the campaign began, around 3,000 assistance requests have been received from citizens seeking help with debt repayment.

Al-Ajmi explained that participating charitable organizations will review these requests to ensure the applicants meet the campaign’s criteria: the individual must be a Kuwaiti citizen unable to pay non-criminal financial obligations, with a civil execution judgment issued against them, and must submit official documents proving their financial inability.

Moreover, Al-Ajmi clarified that once the campaign ends, the participating charitable organizations will submit lists to the ministry containing the names of those eligible for assistance. The ministry will then carefully review these lists to ensure each case meets the campaign’s criteria and requirements. After the review, the lists will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice (Civil Enforcement Department) to begin settling the debts and alleviating the distress of the debtors.

Al-Ajmi emphasized that the campaign will not cover debts related to illegal or prohibited transactions, as well as debts linked to telecommunications companies or informal financing entities (“subcontract financing”), as these are not considered part of the humanitarian priorities.

Source: Al Jarida