Is Cohen right? He has a good deal of evidence on his side: “For one thing, he has propagated anti-Semitic hate speech on national television. In a sermon documented by the Middle East Media Research Institute, Al-Ajmi instructed his congregants that ‘our struggle with the Jews is one of faith, identity, and existence’ since ‘the Jews of the past were evil, and the Jews of today are even worse.’ He proceeded to call the Jewish people ‘the scum of mankind… whom Allah transformed into pigs and apes’. In addition, Al-Ajmi brings to his new offices a clear record of embracing jihadism in Syria. On Twitter, he has answered theological questions from the general public by ruling that ‘without a doubt’ the struggle in Syria is ‘a legitimate jihad’.
“US official ‘accuses’ Kuwait’s Awqaf minister of funding terror,” from Arab Times, March 29:
KUWAIT CITY, March 29: The US Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen has unofficially accused the Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr Nayef Al-Ajmi of longstanding support and funding of terrorism. Such accusations might create an unprecedented crisis that could pose a threat against the government and damage the international reputation of Kuwait.
Minister Al-Ajmi had earlier denied these allegations, describing them as ‘utter lies’, and had promised to respond in detail later. According to Scope News website, the minister eventually admitted implicitly that, “It is my history and I am proud of it … helping the Yemeni and Syrian poor, displaced, orphans and widows, and sheltering the refugees”.
The website has indicated possibility of his resignation despite the fact that he is currently out of the country for medical reasons. Meanwhile, top sources in the country affirmed, “Kuwait has not yet received any official information regarding the statement issued by Cohen”.
They revealed that as soon as this information is confirmed, discussions with the American side regarding the matter will be initiated.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Kuwait Mathew Tueller said he did not want to comment on the accusations made by Cohen. In response to question posed to him during his attendance at the Pakistani National Day celebration, Tueller said, “We hold continuous discussions with Kuwaiti authorities regarding the ongoing events in the region as well as the joint interests, which includes the fight against terrorism”. He stressed, “One of the important aspects that should be considered is that the governments should deal transparently with this issue of terrorism”….