Organization of Religious Affairs
I had previously written and demanded, both orally and in writing, the need to regulate the operations of places of worship and charitable associations, so that they do not become a burden on the local population, nor a source of security risk, nor a means of illicit enrichment, nor a tool for political or sectarian exploitation, especially after their numbers exceeded one thousand.
Much of what we had demanded has been realized with the issuance of the decree regulating the establishment and management of places of worship. This decree does not cover mosques under the Endowments Authority. It stipulates the formation of a specialized committee comprising representatives from several ministries and three experienced citizens, tasked with setting regulations, determining the locations of these places, and issuing licenses. It also prohibits the construction of any new places of worship without a license, and requires approval from relevant authorities for any expansion, renovation, or demolition.
The law further specifies the appointment of a legal representative for each place of worship, who must commit to spending any funds under their control solely for licensed purposes. The premises must not be used for activities other than those for which they are licensed, and an annual budget must be submitted within three months of the end of the financial year. As stipulated by the decree, it is forbidden to engage in any activities that insult religions or sects, interfere in politics, or meddle in the affairs of other countries. Inciting sectarian or racial strife, calling for extremism and violence, and performing rituals in a manner that disrupts security or public order are also prohibited.
Collecting donations requires a permit, and no events may be organized without authorization. There is a strict emphasis on avoiding communication with diplomatic, security, or official institutions of other countries, or hosting individuals from outside Kuwait without a permit. The premises must not be used for purposes other than the licensed activities, nor for residential purposes. Furthermore, the legal representative may not transfer the license to another party without the Ministry’s approval. Government inspectors hold judicial police status, with the right to inspect, review records, and document violations. All licensed places of worship must have their affairs regularized within six months.
The law also includes severe criminal and financial penalties, with the legal representative of the place of worship held personally and jointly liable for the implementation of any rulings issued against the institution.
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What prompted my complaint, and likely hastened the issuance of the decree, is the danger posed by the situation in some countries, resulting from the alarming proliferation of places of worship there and the diverse affiliations of their supervisors. These institutions have become sources of division and power for their operators. It was not surprising that the number of individuals affiliated with these entities, across various sects and religions, exceeded one hundred by a wide margin.
Furthermore, the activities of some of these places contributed to disrupting public interests through the excessive increase in religious holidays that were transformed into official holidays, and the undesirable exaggeration in closing roads and organizing processions throughout almost the entire year. Had the governments of those countries acted in a timely manner, matters would not have reached their current state of laxity.
We reiterate our previous calls for the necessity of regulating the activities of all parties, limiting the appearance of extremists in both private and official media, and showing no leniency toward those who attack the beliefs of others. We also call for preventing certain “backward” individuals, who have taken upon themselves the role of issuing religious rulings, from publishing dangerous and extremist fatwas, and restricting the authority of issuing fatwas to the relevant official bodies.
Ahmed Al-Sarraff
