The statement by Crown Prince Abdullah at the recent G-8 summit reflects Saudi Arabia’s principled stand on a number of issues of international concern. Foremost among these is the fight against terrorism. The Kingdom once again stated its commitment to cooperate with all international efforts to fight and vanquish this menace. Among the measures adopted was reorganizing charitable organizations in order to subject them to more control, make them more accountable and guarantee that their operations and activities are more transparent.
Strict regulations would monitor money transfers which would be conducted only through banks. Licensed charities only would be allowed to operate. The government would pass legislation to streamline donations directed outside the country so that all such money would be directed through a single channel to prevent it from reaching suspected entities or used for unlawful activities.
All these are commendable. What we hope for is rigid enforcement to prevent any money from being removed from the country by individuals posing as travelers or by any other clandestine means. This involves educating charitable and other organizations as well as people who make donations. It is time the drain of money through charity be stopped. Instead of allowing the money to be taken abroad, it would be better if the resources were directed to domestic needs to improve conditions in the country.
Charitable organizations taking care of orphans, widows and the elderly frequently complain of a lack of resources and find themselves unable to fulfill their obligations. This is because much of the money collected from zakat — a kind of mandatory Islamic tax — or other donations finds its way outside the country under the pretext of helping Muslims and promoting dawa in other countries. The very concept of donating money to charity has been confused with policies and objectives previously unknown to us which has brought us nothing but trouble.
I hope that officials will work to ensure that donations going abroad does not exceed one-third of the total amount raised for charity. This one third is indeed a large amount if compared to the sums collected each year.
We should also remember that charity begins at home. The right thing to do is to use zakat and other donations to benefit the people of this country. Foreign aid should be counted as government assistance to other countries.
- Arab News From the Local Press 12 June 2003
