JEDDAH, 23 October 2003 — The Ministry of Education has ordered all schools under its jurisdiction to stop collecting charitable donations from students.
According to the Eastern Province Director of Education, Saleh Al-Dossary, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, “Collections for charity will not be allowed in schools. Those who want to donate must deal directly with the charities.”
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has also banned Islamic centers from using media outlets for soliciting donations. Both fund-raising bans are part of a series of measures aimed at “monitoring the flow of money and preventing funds from reaching activities described as terrorist,” a ministry source told Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in July, Interior Minister Prince Naif warned people to be wary of putting money in collection boxes at the entrance of mosques. “Those wishing to contribute should verify where the money will go,” he said. He urged Saudi citizens “not to contribute unknowingly to the killing of people by paying money into suspicious boxes or charities.”
Last month security officials banned charity collection boxes in mosques and commercial centers.
