US freezes Kuwait charity over Al-Qaeda ties

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States Treasury Department on Friday froze the assets of a Kuwait-based charity for allegedly supporting and funding Al-Qaeda, the government said in a statement.

The decision applies to the Kuwaiti headquarters of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), and specifically to any assets the group holds under US jurisdiction. It also bars US persons from any transactions with the group.

"RIHS has used charity and humanitarian assistance as cover to fund terrorist activity and harm innocent civilians, often in poor and impoverished regions," said Stuart Levey, under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The US government applied similar measures to RIHS offices in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2002 "based on...