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Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

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Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is a cabinet department of the executive branch of the government of Kuwait[1][2][3][4] dedicated to spreading tolerant Islamic culture. Specifically, it seeks to spread awareness and expand the influence of Islamic faith, Islamic history, and Islamic sciences.[5]

Activities

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The ministry handles all religious affairs in Kuwait, including regulating all places of worship in the country,[6] overseeing religious groups and activities,[7][8][9] issuing fatwas through its Fatwa Committee,[10][11] and organizing and regulating the annual Hajj for Qatari residents.[12][13][14][15][16] The ministry's Moon Sighting Committee is responsible for determining the dates of Islamic holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr.[17]

The ministry actively promotes tolerance and moderation in Islamic faith. It promotes memorization and recitation of the Quran.[18][19][20][21] It funds the building of mosques both within[22][23][24][25][26] and outside of Kuwait.[27][28][a] The ministry includes the Zakat Fund, which collects Zakat al-Fitr.[31] The Islam Presentation Committee is a division of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs which encourages proselytizing Islam to non-Muslim prisoners and foreign workers.[8][32]

The Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs funds a variety of other activities, including promoting Islamic science and technology,[28] humanitarian aid after natural disasters around the world,[33] and the Kuwait Islamic Arts Center.[34]

History

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In 2005 and 2006, the ministry funded studies of Western perceptions of Islam and Islamic perceptions of Western culture, [35][36] and sought to improve the relationship between these cultures.[7]

In 2008 and 2009, the ministry sponsored the development of a Muslim Seven Year Action Plan on Climate Change.[37][38][39]

Since 2015, the ministry has sought to promote moderate Islam against Islamic extremism.[40][41][b][c] The ministry includes a Supreme Commission for the Promotion of Moderation.[42] In 2015, the ministry undertook a purge of members of the Muslim Brotherhood from its staff.[43][d]

In 2016, the ministry made an administrative decision limiting the appointment of foreigners in Kuwait government positions.[44] As of November 2019, there were 4,028 expats working in the awqaf ministry.[45]

In 2017, the ministry laid off 2,032 employees in order to reduce its expenses. The cuts were especially significant in the office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Quran and Islamic Studies, which lost the vast majority of its staff.[46]

In 2018, the ministry changed its policies to allow women in senior positions.[10]

In 2020, Former Kuwait Minister of Oil Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli accused the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of excessive spending in its fiscal year 2020/2021 budget, attributing the spending to nepotism.[47]

Ministers

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  • Yusuf Al-Hadji, 1970s[48]
  • Yaacoub Abdulmohsen Al-Sanaa[e], 2015[40][49]
  • Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, December 2016 – December 2017[50][51][52]
  • Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, December 2017 – December 2018[50][53]
  • Fahad al-Shaala, December 2018 – December 2019[54][55]
  • Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, December 2019 –[50]

Notes

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  1. ^ See also Kuwait connections to UK mosques[29] and similar work by the Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.[30]
  2. ^ See also "Religious co-habitation brings together all communities in Kuwait". Kuwait Times. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018. (PDF of print edition)
  3. ^ Though see the United States' 2009 assessment of this initiative.[8]
  4. ^ See Hadas
  5. ^ Also written as Ya’qoub Al-Sane

References

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  1. ^ "Government Cabinet Members". The Embassy of Kuwait in Bern, Switzerland. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. ^ "His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah". Government of Kuwait. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ^ Pike, John (2012). "Kuwait Ministries February 2012". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  4. ^ "List of ministers 'almost ready'". Kuwait Times. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013.
  5. ^ Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs. "About Us". Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. ^ Garcia, Ben (23 March 2017). "Getting to know the Christians in Kuwait". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (United States) (September 13, 2011). "July-December, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report". United States Department of State. Retrieved 21 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (United States) (October 26, 2009). "International Religious Freedom Report 2009". United States Department of State. Retrieved 21 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Stauffer, McKenzie (3 April 2019). "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially recognized in Kuwait". KJZZ. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Women to occupy senior positions in Awqaf ministry in coming weeks". Arab Times. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  11. ^ Staff Writer (16 January 2018). "Kuwait issues fatwas against Bitcoin trading". Arab Times. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Before Hajj, Saudi imam decries inter-Muslim conflict". al Jazeera. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Qatar announces date for online Haj registration". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  14. ^ Al-Seyassah, Abdulnasser Al-Aslami (10 June 2016). "'Ministry unable to adjust costs of Hajj, Umrah trips' - Survey shows Kuwait's prices are cheapest". Arab Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  15. ^ "'No change' in Qatar's quota for Haj this year". Gulf Times. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  16. ^ Saleh, A. (8 June 2016). "Ministry announce hajj registration deadlines". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Eid 2019 Moon Announcement from Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab States". ummid.com News Network. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Free summer course for kids to learn Holy Quran; today last day to apply". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  19. ^ "His Highness the Amir patronizes, attends Quran competition ceremony". Kuwait News Agency. 21 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Holy Quran contest winners honoured". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Winners of the Holy Quran reciting contest honoured". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Ministry announces new mosque projects". Gulf Times. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Ministry of Awqaf opens new mosque in Al Ghanim Al Ateeq". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Ministry of Awqaf opens two new mosques". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Ministry of Awqaf opens new mosque in Umm Al Saneem". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  26. ^ "New mosque opens in New Al Rayyan". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Largest mosque in Scandinavia built by Qatar opens". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Kuwait continues offering humanitarian aid to several countries". Kuwait News Agency. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  29. ^ Merley, Steven (5 June 2017). "GMBDW In The Media: Qatar Charity Funds New UK Mosque With Muslim Brotherhood Ties". The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Watch.
  30. ^ Towler, Laura (17 May 2017). "Sweden Just Opened The Largest Mosque in Scandinavia; But They Don't Want You To Know About It". Defend Europa. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Zakat Fund urges Muslims to pay Zakat Al Fitr". The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  32. ^ "The Islam Presentation Committee (IPC), under the authority of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, actively encouraged proselytizing Islam to non-Muslims. The IPC maintained an office at the Central Prison to provide religious education and information to inmates and reportedly extended its proselytizing efforts to embassies that shelter foreign workers facing problems. An NGO that receives governmental financial support to obtain the early release of nonviolent offenders also proselytized in the prisons." https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127351.htm#:~:text=The%20Islam%20Presentation,in%20the%20prisons.
  33. ^ "Kuwait opens housing project in Mongolia for floods' victims". Kuwait News Agency. 20 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Kuwait Islamic arts center keen on spreading art of calligraphy". Kuwait News Agency. 15 February 2018.
  35. ^ Yalonis, Chris (13 June 2006). "Cross Cultural Perceptions between Arab Muslims and the West". Communique Partners.
  36. ^ Yalonis, Chris (2005). "Western Perception of Islam and Muslims". Communique Partners / Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
  37. ^ Jackson, Laura Jane (20 September 2009). "The Muslim 7-Year Action Plan (M7YAP) To Deal with Global Climate Change" (PDF). London: Earth-Mates Dialogue Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2010.
  38. ^ Akef, Mahmoud (10 July 2009). "Istanbul Declaration of The Muslim 7-Year-Action Plan on Climate Change 2010-2017" (PDF). London: Earth-Mates Dialogue Center.
  39. ^ Azhary, Abdul Shaheed (14 July 2009). "World Muslim Scholars' contribution to environment". Imam Shafi Research Forum. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  40. ^ a b "Awqaf Min. stresses moderation as ministry's slogan". Kuwait News Agency. 15 February 2015.
  41. ^ "Kuwait keen on promotion of moderation, peaceful coexistence". Kuwait News Agency. 27 February 2018.
  42. ^ Noyce, David (13 June 2019). "This week in Mormon Land: Former missionary travels 8,000 miles to extend forgiveness and Nelson meets with gay club owner". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  43. ^ Diwan, Kristin Smith (10 February 2015). "The future of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  44. ^ Saleh, A. (4 December 2016). "Restrictions on hiring expats in Awqaf ministry". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  45. ^ Gonçalves, Pedro (18 November 2019). "Expats working in Kuwait's public sector down to 123,000". International Investment. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  46. ^ Saleh, A. (12 December 2017). "Awqaf ministry to lay off 2,032 employees in massive budget cut". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  47. ^ Al-Baghli, Ali Ahmed (27 February 2020). "Spending, extravagance, bankruptcy and deficits are knocking on the door". Arab Times. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  48. ^ "Kuwait splits between conflicts of sheikhs, and sheikhs of conflicts". Middle East Online. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  49. ^ Kuwait News Agency (26 October 2015). "Cabinet, parliament members meet in a cordial atmosphere". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  50. ^ a b c "Kuwait Forms New Cabinet After Dissolution Over Row". Arab Times. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020. Available with photographs from MENAFN.
  51. ^ "Profiles of Kuwait's new Cabinet ministers". Kuwait News Agency. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  52. ^ Kuwait News Agency (11 December 2016). "Profiles of the new Cabinet's members". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  53. ^ Staff writer (11 December 2017). "Key post for Emir's son in new Kuwait cabinet". Gulf News. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  54. ^ al-Khuwaldi, Merza (26 December 2018). "Emir of Kuwait Calls on New Ministers to Apply the Law". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  55. ^ WAM: Emirates News Agency (25 December 2018). "Kuwait names new ministers in cabinet reshuffle". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 9 March 2020.


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