Qatar, still a long way to combat terrorism finance

Qatar, criticized for its inaction in the face of terrorism, has decided to take the necessary measures to combat financing terrorist Islamic groups.

Last November, Doha signed a letter of intent on prohibiting Qatari individuals from financing terrorist groups, especially Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria.

The agreement, based on prior agreement with Washington, was signed upon French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Doha.

But even with this, Doha still has a long way to go in the field of counter-terrorism, as the political scene has been witnessing Qatari individuals funding branches of Al Qaeda in Iraq and Syria and Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia.

During the research process of writing 'Our Dear Emirs' (Nos tres chers emirs), the book which I wrote with my colleague Christian Chesnot, we conducted an interview in 2016 with Abdul Rahman Bin Umair Al Nuaimi, one of the most prominent financiers of terrorist group, who was living freely and not under arrest despite being blacklisted by the U.S. and the UN.

In mid-2000, Nuaimi allocated $2 billion a month to finance Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which spawned Daesh. He also financed Osbat al-Ansar, which was established with a primary base of operations in the Palestinian camp of Ain al-Hilwah refugee camp in southern Lebanon.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Nuaimi ordered the transfer of nearly $600,000 to al-Qaeda in 2013 through Abu Khalid al Suri, Al Qaeda veteran in Syria.

Nuaimi denied many accusations; “Give us proofs that we finance extremists,” Sheikh Nuaimi answered our questions. The Qatari authorities have recently tightened the noose on Sheikh Nuaimi, but this was not the case two years ago.

“I have no issues with the Qatari authorities, however, it is about the Americans, they want to silence me,” Nuaimi affirmed. “I am only in the travel ban list of Europe, the United States and Saudi Arabia.”

Al- Nuaimi is characterized by frankness. “Yes, I agree that Daesh represents an occupying force composed of foreigners, it should not be financed,” Nuaimi said. “Al-Nusra Front, however, is composed of Syrians who oppose the dictatorship of Bashar Al-Assad.”

There is nothing bad here, according to what Nuaimi said, it is alright to help them achieve their goals!

Even if Nuaimi was proven to be lying, he swears that Qatar did not finance the Muslim Brotherhood as much as other revolutionaries groups in Syria, Egypt and Libya during the Arab Spring.

Abdul Rahman Al-Nuaimi is considered close to the Emir, rumors have long hit his non-government Karama organization, especially that it receives funds from the Qatari state. It is pertinent to mention that his relation with the ruling elite in Qatar is old and has a long history.

During a joint press conference of Macron and the Qatari Emir we asked Prince Tamim Bin Hamad about the existence of individuals like Al-Nuaimi, who are on U.S. and UN blacklists. “This was nothing but erroneous press information,” the Qatari Emir replied, the French President did not make any comment.

If Paris has a good relation with Doha, it is no doubt that Qatar should be pressured into putting an end to this, for it leaves the security of Qatar’s allies at stake.