At a news conference on Aug. 25, Al Wohaibi said his organization has
been forced to sharply cut its budget for overseas activities, Middle East Newsline reported. He cited
the global credit crisis as well as Western restrictions on Islamic funding.
"Islamic charities like their counterparts in the United States and
Europe must have rights to accept donations, transfer funds to foreign
countries for humanitarian projects and help people in need and in hours of
crisis," Al Wohaibi said.
The United States has reported that Saudi Arabia spent more than $70
billion since the 1970s on Islamic indoctrination abroad. Much of the money
was said to have been used to establish an infrastructure for Al Qaida
recruitment.
The World Assembly was said to have been active in central Europe,
particularly Bosnia, as well as sub-Saharan Africa. Officials said the
organization promotes the needs of Muslim youth, including education, social
welfare and orphan care.
"The grinding poverty, particularly in certain parts of Africa, is the
result of economic oppression and exploitation worsened by ethnic conflict
and regional wars," Al Wohaibi said.
Officials said Riyad has cut back on Islamic funding in the Middle East
as well. They cited a reduced budget in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and North
Africa.
About 3,000 Islamic charities were said to operate in the six Gulf
Cooperation Council states. World Assembly, one of five organizations that
operate around the world, was regarded as one of the largest.
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