Qatar denies backing Islamic extremists – despite hosting Hamas leader
Qatar – the Gulf state that’s home to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal – has hit back at suggestions that it supports the Islamic extremist groups, saying that “determined, collective action” is needed to end sectarian violence gripping Iraq and Syria.
The energy-rich Opec member has come under renewed scrutiny over its ties to terrorists, including Hamas and Syrian rebel groups.
The Gulf state is home to exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and is a key financial patron for the Gaza Strip, which Hamas controls.
Qatar denies financially backing Hamas, however, and has sought to play a role in brokering a truce to end fighting between the group and Israel.
A German official last week suggested that Qatar may also play a role in funding the Islamic State group, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria and was behind the recent killing of American journalist James Foley.
Qatari foreign minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah unequivocally denied funding the extremist group.
“Qatar does not support extremist groups, including Isis, in any way,” he said in a statement, using an alternative name for the group. “We are repelled by their views, their violent methods and their ambitions. The vision of extremist groups for the region is one that we have not, nor will ever, support in any way.”
Qatar was one of the first Middle Eastern countries to condemn Mr Foley’s murder, saying it was “a heinous crime that goes against all Islamic and humanitarian principles, as well as international laws and conventions”.
The tiny Gulf emirate has supported Syrian rebels fighting to topple president Bashar Assad. The Islamic State group is battling Assad’s forces, but it has also clashed with other rebel groups that do not embrace its extreme interpretation of Islam.
The group has carved out a self-declared Islamic state, or caliphate, taking in wide expanses of territory on both sides of the Syria-Iraq border.
Experts say the group generates at least some of its funding from kidnapping, extortion and other criminal business enterprises.
Germany’s development minister, Gerd Mueller, on Wednesday suggested that Qatar could also be supporting the group.
In a television interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Mr Mueller said it was important to examine who is financing the group, and that “the key word is Qatar”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
