US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4033

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, EAID, PREL, ENRG, KU, US, ISCON 
SUBJECT: TFUS01: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE MAKES APPEAL FOR AID TO 
HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF EFFORTS 
 
1. (U) Summary.  In a sign of solidarity with the victims of 
Hurricane Katrina, the International Islamic Council for 
Dawah and Relief (an-Egyptian based pan-Islamic 
organization), has issued a statement on the final day of its 
annual conference in Kuwait, urging all its international 
affiliate organizations (83 worldwide) to contribute to the 
relief efforts currently underway in Louisiana, Alabama and 
Mississippi.  End Summary 
 
2. (U) On September 12-13, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf 
(Endowments) and Islamic Affairs co-hosted the annual 
gathering of the Foundation Society of the Islamic Council 
for Dawah and Relief, an Egyptian-based pan-Islamic 
organization that meets annually to address issues of concern 
impacting the Muslim world (Note: Ahmad Al-Hattab, a founding 
member of the organization, is a member of the U.S. Institute 
of Peace's Advisory Committee on U.S.-Muslim Relations. End 
Note).  This year's participants issued a statement of appeal 
for support to victims of Hurricane Katrina, noting that "the 
Islamic message respects humanity as instructed by the holy 
Quran." 
 
3. (U)  The president of the Islamic Council, Sheikh Dr. 
Mohammad Syed Tantawi, a prominent Islamic scholar and head 
of Egypt's Al-Azhar University noted that ratifying the 
Katrina relief proposal was an affirmation of Islam's 
universal support for humanity (Note: Al-Azhar is the world's 
oldest university and Sunni Islam's most prestigious academic 
institution. End Note). 
 
4.  (U) The organization's Secretary General, Kamal 
Al-Shareef, confirmed that a condolence message would be 
conveyed on behalf of the organization to the victims of 
Katrina and that the Islamic Relief Agency and the Kuwaiti 
Committee will be responsible for collecting donations. 
Ambassador has received a condolence letter from the Deputy 
Head of the Islamic Council and Chairman of the International 
Islamic Charitable Organization, Yousef Al-Hajji, expressing 
his solidarity with the hurricane victims. 
 
5. (U) This recent declaration by the Islamic Council comes 
amidst continued outpouring of support and solidarity  with 
the victims of Hurricane Katrina from a broad spectrum of 
Kuwaitis, including government officials, students, 
businesses, charities and other public and private entities. 
Post has made it a priority to respond in a timely manner 
(within 24-48 hours), either via email or faxed response, to 
all correspondents. 
 
6. (U) Earlier this week, the National Bank of Kuwait 
(country's largest bank), established, in coordination with 
the Kuwaiti Red Crescent, a bank account to receive donations 
for Hurricane Katrina victims.  These and other gestures of 
support underscore the broad sentiment of solidarity 
prevalent among a wide spectrum of Kuwaitis and their Muslim 
brethren.  Post will continue to update Washington on these 
and other Hurricane Katrina-related developments. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEBARON