Justice Ministry urges commitment to law on fundraising

Manama, Jan3 (BNA) The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry cautioned against raising donations for religious purposes without authorization. It stressed the need to abide by legal measures to obtain the necessary licences before collecting donations, in compliance with the legal provisions governing fundraising for public purposes. The mandatory procedures are in compliance with the law-decree 21/ 2013 on regulating fundraisers for public purposes, edict 47 / 2014 on issuing the executive bylaw for law-decree 21/ 2013. In a statement today, the ministry urged all individuals who are raising funds or receiving donations for religious purposes – such as alms-giving, mosque construction, persons in their capacity as clerics etc - to report to the ministry and apply for a licence as per the formula put at their disposal. The Directorate of Religious Affairs has been assigned to receive applications and issue licences by filling in the application form. Competent authorities will facilitate procedures and guide the applicants to all that meets the public interest and serves all parties. The ministry stressed the terms cited in the decree to regulate donations which are raised in Bahrain or abroad so as to serve society as well as religious and charity institutions. It underlined its role, ever since the promulgation of the aforementioned law-decree, to streamline procedures and facilitate measures to ensure maximum benefit for those desiring to raise donations, adding that it has since received a lot of applications. In the statement, the ministry underscored the importance of regulating fundraisers, stressing its role in enforcing transparency in collecting funds and donations, conserving charities, and ensuring raised funds are not misused for illegal ends. The ministry urged people desiring to report to the Directorate of Religious Affairs to dial 17812899 ــ 17812879 ــ 17812803. In this same line, the ministry announced that it follow-up religious educational institutes and scrutinize to ensure their curricula do not incite on violence, sectarianism or hatred. It stressed the need to monitor any source which may endanger security, social cohesion and the national and Islamic unity and subvert co-existence between all citizens, regardless of their religions or doctrines. While stressing respect of all differences, the ministry said that no-one would be allowed to exploit this issue as a pretext for illegal acts. "Leaving religious educational establishments without accountability or legal overview would represent an infringement to the state institutions and the rule of the law", it said. The ministry reiterated the need to respect the law and abide by official procedures so as to protect the country against any ideologies or ideas that encourage sectarianism, hatred or violence, which go against the spirit of moderation and national unity. It vowed zero tolerance against all that threatens security and social peace, stressing the importance of respecting the law, being the condition sine qua non to preserve rights and duties. The ministry said that it would take all measures to remove any school curricula contain ideas that advocate violence, fuel sectarian strife and foment hatred. It stressed the importance of protecting national achievements and gains from any future potential dangers which threaten the security and stability of all and undermine the values of moderation and tolerance. .