The Commercial Charitable Association

The Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait did not come together to collect two or three dinars to spend on charitable works, but rather for more dangerous matters. Their intentions and goals were clear from the very first day, and the evidence for this is abundant and well-known. The group does not consider itself a political party, a civil movement, or a voice representing Muslims; rather, it is all of these. It is a “political-ideological machine” nearing a century in age, with its stated goal being the establishment of a state governed by Islamic Sharia law, aiming to Islamize all aspects of life. This cannot be achieved without major structural changes. Thus, we saw how, since the movement’s founding in 1928, and with financial support from the British Suez Canal Company, it carried out assassination operations against anyone who tried to stand in its way, including prime ministers, senior military officers, judges, and ministers. Furthermore, books, statements, publications, and positions taken by its leaders—from Hassan al-Banna to Qutb, Al-Huway, and others—openly indicate what they seek. Consequently, we are not facing a charitable association, but rather a branch of a vast military, political, and ideological machine whose name has been associated with blood since its inception. For this reason, many governments—Arab, Gulf, and Western—have sought to ban its activities or designate it as a terrorist organization.

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We had expected that, following the suspension of some constitutional provisions, the stance toward the Brotherhood group would change, or that they themselves would change. However, nothing of the sort occurred, except for the dissolution of the “Kuwait Students Union,” due to its illegal status, which had served as a pipeline for their young cadres. As previously noted, sincere elements within the government attempted to curb their influence by halting their “charitable” activities abroad, given the extreme ambiguity surrounding them. However, the situation reverted to its previous state, and their status did not change significantly. Their threat remains, despite the decline of their influence, due to the absence of political representation for them. They played a negative role in bringing matters to their current state and were an active party in the political conflict.

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Although some entities call for adherence to the law, they have never hesitated to exploit their influence to achieve their own interests. This was evident in the numerous benefits and exceptions they obtained, which no other entity received, including their commercial sites, activities, projects, associations, and branches. This exploitation was also evident one day when they succeeded in leasing an entire school building for a monthly fee of 20 dinars—a bizarre example of influence peddling during the era of laxity that has now passed. Furthermore, the veil was lifted a few days ago over another shameful incident, when the Public Authority for Housing Affairs withdrew and canceled the contracts of more than 1,700 industrial plots due to serious violations committed by their exploiters. Two of these violations belong to a charitable association, which leased the plots to others to engage in various trades and crafts without obtaining any commercial or industrial licenses. I do not know how this charitable entity was allowed to exploit its “political-religious” influence to obtain these two “industrial plots” in the Shuwaikh Commercial Area, and to commit such a volume of violations, while engaging in metalworking, office leasing, and running a photography studio, all without obtaining any licenses, despite their full awareness of these violations. Perhaps the answer lies in their belief that the government had previously allowed them, in a blatant violation of the law, to issue political publications and statements, participate in political activities, support candidates in elections, fund their campaigns, and interfere in the affairs of other countries, among other matters, over a period of six decades. Why then should they not be permitted to exploit industrial plots for multiple activities, in violation of even the most basic provisions of the law?

Ahmed Al-Sarraff