Charity work abroad should be done in a legal way: Ministry

JEDDAH: In order to ensure reliability, all the citizens and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who wish to set up a charitable project abroad need to ask for permission from the Ministry of Interior before starting to operate in the country.
According to a local report, this law came into effect to monitor all the charities being carried out abroad and it has urged the citizens and all the Saudi societies to be well informed about the action mechanism while providing assistance abroad and take into consideration not to breach the rules and instructions and comply with them to avoid accountability and investigation.
Several local philanthropists and organizations monitoring overseas assistance appreciated the new initiative by the government.
Najah, Charity affairs counselor of Islamic Relief Organization, said: “It’s a good move by the government. There might be several important reasons to announce this law, but the need for permission will reassure the intended charity is carried out in a legal way, and having it authenticated by the right channels will ensure the donors that their help is being reached to the right person.”
Zaid Abdullah, a social worker, said: “There are several campaigns being held in the country recently to help the brothers and sisters in countries with civil war. One of the benefits of this law will help the donors to identify whether the charitable organization or institute is legal or not.
“Many donors sometime think that such campaigns might take advantage of their generosity and gets tentative to be a part of it, which sometime wrecks the sincere charity organization. However, since the organization can raise funds or perform any charitable activities only after it gets approval from the government, it will help the donors to donate wisely.”
Duaa is also among many others who have made it their duty to give back. Being an active benefactress, she said: “Although helping the less fortunate is a good deed, but sometimes I get scared to help or be a part of any campaign being performed abroad thinking in case I might get in trouble. This rule will help government not only to keep a track of charitable projects being carried outside, but also the need for approval to function projects abroad will encourage donors in the Kingdom.”
Maj. Gen. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Maraol, director-general of Media Department at the Interior Ministry, said anyone carrying out charitable projects requires getting approval from the relevant Saudi authorities before proceeding with the action as well as a prior approval from the states and governments abroad.
The authorities eligible to provide assistance outside the Kingdom are the King Salman Center for relief and humanitarian action and the national campaign to support the brothers in Syria.