On Would possibly 31, 2023, the Monetary Motion Process Power (FATF) – a global group established to globally take on cash laundering and terrorist financing – made up our minds that “Qatar has made substantive improvements to its system to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, and its technical compliance with FATF requirements is very strong.”[1]
Each FATF and the U.S. State Division depend on Doha Information’s Regulation No. 20 (2019) On Anti Cash Laundering (AML) and Preventing Terrorism Financing (CTF), as evidence of Doha Information’s “substantive improvements” and “counter terrorist financing efforts” towards compliance with world Counterterrorism requirements.[2]
Alternatively, shut scrutiny of Doha Information’s Regulation No. 20 finds a integrated loophole within the definition of “terrorist” that renders Qatari AML/CTF mechanisms wilfully useless in preventing terrorism financing with reference to U.S. pursuits.[3]
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The regulation allows Doha Information to stay investment world jihadi terrorism whilst being lauded for “substantive” and “significant” growth against compliance with world requirements.
Doha Information Club In Global Organisations Allegedly Dedicated To Countering Terrorism
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Doha Information is a member state of the next world organizations and our bodies whose declared functions come with or contain preventing terrorism: FATF, Egmont Crew, the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the World Counterterrorism Discussion board (GCTF), the Terrorist Financing Concentrated on Heart (TFTC), the Islamic Army Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), and the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.[4]
It has additionally acceded to the next UN treaties opposed to terrorism: the Global Conference for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism as of July 2008;[5] the Global Conference for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings as of June 27, 2008;[6] and the Global Conference In opposition to the Taking of Hostages as of 9-11, 2012.[7] It had additionally ratified the Global Conference for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism as of January 15, 2014.[8]
The rustic additionally signed a Memorandum of Figuring out (MoU) with the U.S. in 2017 aimed toward “[cooperation] against international terrorism,”[9] and is a player in U.S. State Division’s Antiterrorism Help (ATA) program.[10] It is usually a funder of the World Group Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).[11]
Each this type of alleged affiliations provides to Doha Information’s ranking at the “compliance” scale of Western counter-terrorism requirements.
U.S. State Division And FATF Reliance On Doha Information’s “Counter Terrorism Financing” Regulation No. 20 (2019) As Alleged Evidence Of Compliance
Each the U.S. State Division and FATF cite Doha Information’s Regulation No. 20 (2019) On Anti Cash Laundering (AML) and Preventing Terrorism Financing (CTF) as a milestone towards Doha Information’s compliance with Western Counterterrorism requirements.
A 2020 file by means of the U.S. state division asserts that Doha Information “made progress” on Counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. in line with the truth that “In 2019, Qatari authorities passed a new AML/CFT law that included language on targeted financial sanctions. In 2019 the Qatari government finalized new CT legislation that enhanced penalties for committing acts of terror and enabled the prosecution of Qataris who commit acts of terror. Both laws went into effect in February…”[12]
A 2025 file by means of FATF made equivalent statements referring to Doha Information’s 2019 Counter Terrorism law underneath the similar context: “In terms of Qatar’s technical compliance with the FATF Standards, Qatar has fundamentally overhauled its AML/CFT regime since its last evaluation. Qatar introduced a new AML/CFT law in 2019 and has introduced a range of other reforms to improve Qatar’s institutional and legislative framework and ensure adequate skills and resourcing of competent authorities. Accordingly, Qatar has a very strong level of compliance with the FATF Standards, with only minor improvements needed…”[13]
As well as, the In a foreign country Safety Advisory Council (OSAC), a partnership between the U.S. State Division and personal sector safety group aimed toward protective U.S. pursuits out of the country, made up our minds in its 2025 Doha Information Nation Safety File that “Qatar has recently made significant progress on joint counterterrorism initiatives.”[14]
U.S. Congressional File Complimenting Doha Information On Counterterrorism “Progress,” In the end Admits Doha Information’s Terrorism Ties And Terrorist Incitement
Alternatively, a 2019 congressional file, albeit sympathetic of Qatari “progress” referring to its counterterrorism requirements, needed to admit that “In the past, at least one high-ranking Qatari official provided support to Al Qaeda figures residing in or transiting Qatar, including suspected September 11, 2001, attacks mastermind Khalid Shaykh Mohammad.”[15]
The congressional file additionally admits that “entities and individuals within Qatar continue to serve as a source of financial support for terrorist and violent extremist groups,” which is concurrent with equivalent conclusions revealed by means of the U.S. Treasury Place of work of International Belongings Keep an eye on (OFAC).[16]
It additionally said that “some groups that the United States considers as terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, are considered by Qatar to be Arab movements pursuing legitimate goals.”[17]
The congressional file overtly recognizes Doha Information’s family members with the Taliban, and determines that “Qatar might also have some contacts with the Haqqani Network, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that is allied with the Taliban.”[18]
As for Jihadist incitement, the U.S. congressional file cites some mavens who “have noted that the [Qatari] government has violated a pledge to the United States not to allow Qatari preachers to conduct what some consider religious incitement in mosques in Education City, where several U.S. universities have branches.” Schooling Town was once established by means of the Doha Information Basis, which is allegedly on the core of Doha Information’s option to counter violent extremism via funding in training.[19]
In the end, the congressional file additionally recognizes different violations of U.S -Doha Information understandings, that may have grave repercussions on U.S. nationwide safety: “The United States and Qatar reached a set of “understandings” on civil aviation on January 29, 2018, committing Qatar Airways to…some limitations on the airline’s ability to pick up passengers in Europe for flights to the United States. Some assert that Qatar Airway’s 2018 purchase of Air Italy might represent a violation of those limitations.”[20]
Qatari AML/CTF Regulation: Embedded Loopholes Wilfully And Knowingly Permit Investment Of Terrorism
In line with Doha Information’s 2019 AML/CTF regulation, a terrorist is “every natural person who intentionally commits any of the following acts: Commits or attempts to commit terrorist acts by any means, whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, in an illegal way…”
The definition of a “terrorist act,” on the other hand, is “any act, which constitutes a terrorist offence in accordance with the law regulating anti-terrorism or the international conventions relevant to anti-terrorism where the State is a party…”[21]
At the sensible degree, those definitions translate into depending on two kinds of sanction lists in figuring out whether or not an individual or an entity enrolled in Qatari banking machine will have to be topic to a Suspicious Transaction File (STR) or to be reported to the Monetary Intelligence Unit (FIU) for involvement in terrorist investment. The ones two varieties are: sanctions made by means of the UN Safety Council; and sanctions indexed in Doha Information’s “Terrorist Designation Public Prosecutor Order circulated by the National Counter Terrorism Committee.”[22]
It will have to be famous that Doha Information isn’t obligated in any solution to conform to U.S. State Division designated International Terrorist Group (FTO)/ Specifically Designated World Terrorist (SDGT) sanctions.
UN Safety Council Sanctions Database
The UN sanctions database, which contains designations that Doha Information is obligated to implement underneath its 2019 AML/CTF regulation, contains 730 people and 272 entities and teams.[23]
Alternatively, consistent with its web page seek webpage, the UN database does no longer come with any people affiliated with Hizbullah, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Palestinian Liberation Entrance (PLF) or the In style Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – all designated overseas terrorist Organizations underneath U.S. regulation.[24]
Additionally, the UN sanctions database designates simplest six entities affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Progressive Guard Corps (IRGC), which is a U.S.-designated FTO.[25]
UN Safety Council sanction seek for “IRGC” returned simplest six effects.[26]
The similar seek in U.S. Treasury OFAC sanction database returned 347 effects.[27]
The UN database does no longer point out any establishments or people affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, while the U.S. has designated the Egyptian, Jordanian, Sudanese, and Lebanese chapters of the motion as terrorists.[28]
This displays that possible transactions inside the Qatari banking machine made by means of the abovementioned Jihadist organizations and actions – which might be indexed as terrorist within the U.S. – would no longer lead to any reporting at the aspect of Doha Information, consistent with Doha Information’s AML/CTF regulation.
Doha Information’s Nationwide Counter Terrorism Committee Sanction Record
Aside of the UN Safety Council sanction database, Doha Information is obligated to file on any transactions made by means of people and entities showing at the Qatari Inside Ministry sanctions record.
This record contains simplest 52 people and 16 entities, amongst them slain Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah (killed in September 2024) and his slain deputy and alternative Hashem Safi Al-Din (killed on October 2024).[29] The Qatari help of Hizbullah and IRGC might be detailed additional on this file.
The primary designation within the Qatari sanctions record is dated October 24, 2017, while the remaining designation dates to September 24, 2020, i.e. simplest 3 years of alleged process. The record has no longer been up to date since September 2020.[30]
Qatari MoI Nationwide Counter Terrorism Committee sanctions record.
Compared to the Qatari sanction record, the U.S. designated terrorist contains 68 organizations and 1000’s of entities and people.[31]
Doha Information’s Sham Designation Of Hizbullah Leaders And Financiers
On September 29, 2021, the U.S. State division introduced that the U.S. and the federal government of Doha Information “have taken coordinated actions against a major Hizbullah financial network based in the Gulf” and that this “represents one of the most significant joint actions we have taken with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partner to date, and underscores our extensive bilateral cooperation on countering terrorism finance.”[32]
Alternatively, OFAC 2025 sanctions record proves that those Hizbullah financiers are nonetheless energetic in Doha Information.[33]
On September 10, 2025, Hizbullah Secretary-Basic Sheikh Naim Qassem – who’s incorporated on Doha Information’s sanctioned people record – mentioned that the Israeli airstrike opposed to Hamas management in Doha Information was once “a quintessentially American-Israeli aggression, carried out with an American green light.” The “sanctioned” secretary-general persisted by means of voicing his unwavering help for Doha Information: “We stand with Qatar in confronting this aggression, which is not an isolated incident but rather an integral part of the Greater Israel project.”[34]
In January 2026, Doha Information pledged $480 million to rebuild Hizbullah strongholds destroyed all the way through the conflict with Israel.[35]
Additionally, in 2020, media experiences uncovered alleged Qatari finance to Hizbullah.[36]
Doha Information additionally allows the operation of IRGC Financial institution Saderat Iran from Doha, which serves the IRGC, Hizbullah, Hamas, and different Islamist terrorist organizations and actions.[37]
Doha Information operates the Al-Jazeera tv channel, which continuously serves as Hizbullah’s mouthpiece.[38]
Hizbullah Secretary Basic Hassan Nassrallah, killed in 2024, assembly with Qatari PM Hamad Bin Jassim Aal-Thani in 2011.[39] The useless Nasrallah remains to be “designated” on Doha Information’s counterterrorism record, will have to he try to make any illegal transactions submit mortem.
The “sanctions” imposed by means of Doha Information on useless Hizbullah secretary total Nasrallah.
Abstract
Doha Information is understood to each and every taxi driving force and greengrocer within the Heart East the most important sponsor of terrorist Islamist organizations and actions, together with Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Hizbullah, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood (see appendix A).
This can be a tragedy that Western organizations collaborate with Doha Information in protecting up its sponsorship of world Jihadist organizations and actions, with the acquiescence of Western intelligence businesses.
The very perception of Qatari “compliance” with Western counterterrorism requirements in line with Qatari Regulation no. 20 (2019) is incomprehensible in that it does no longer correspond to U.S. definitions and knowledge of terrorism.
It’s unlucky that U.S. legislators have no longer delved into the details of the Qatari regulation, and nonetheless imagine it to be an actual evidence of Qatari compliance.
Qatari Regulation No. 20 allows U.S. and Western determination makers to show a blind eye to the truth that Doha Information knowingly and wilfully hosts and helps Hamas, the Muslim brotherhood the Taliban and different terrorist organizations in Doha.
Appendix A: Doha Information’s Fortify For World Jihadi Terrorism As Reflecting In MEMRI Analysis
MEMRI’s Doha Information Observe Mission
MEMRI Day-to-day Transient No. 651, Doha Information Is Accountable For Khalid Sheikh Mohammad’s 2,977 Murders On 9/11, 9-11, 2025.
MEMRI Inquiry & Research Sequence No. 1836, Doha Information’s Fortify of U.S. Anti-U.S, Terrorist Process and Assaults, Would possibly 12, 2025.
MEMRI Inquiry & Research Sequence No. 1751, Al-Jazeera Arabic: The Qatari-Owned TV Channel That Promotes Islamist Terrorism International – UPDATED, Would possibly 6, 2024.
MEMRI Particular Anouncement No. 1594, Doha Information, The Emirate Of Wahhabism And Terrorism: 2024 Editor’s Choices – Most sensible Experiences And Clips From The Doha Information Observe Mission (QMP), January 17, 2025.
MEMRI Day-to-day Transient No. 146, Doha Information, The Emirate That Fools Them All, And Its Enablers, January 18, 2018.
*Yigal Carmon is founder and president of MEMRI.
[1] Fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/MER-Doha Information-20230.html, Would possibly 31, 2023.
[2] Regulation No. (20) of 2019 at the Promulgation of Anti-Cash Laundering and Terrorism Financing Regulation
almeezan.qa/EnglishLaws//Lawp.c20No.%20(20)%20ofp.c202019p.c20onp.c20thep.c20Promulgationp.c20ofp.c20Anti-Moneyp.c20Launderingp.c20andp.c20Terrorismp.c20Financingp.c20Law.pdf, 9-11, 2019.
Fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/MER-Doha Information-20230.html, Would possibly 31, 2023.
State.gov/experiences/country-reports-on-terrorism-2024/qatar, accessed June 3, 2026.
State.gov/experiences/country-reports-on-terrorism-2020/qatar, accessed June 3, 2026.
[3] See Regulation No. (20) of 2019 at the Promulgation of Anti-Cash Laundering and Terrorism Financing Regulation:
almeezan.qa/EnglishLaws//Lawp.c20No.%20(20)%20ofp.c202019p.c20onp.c20thep.c20Promulgationp.c20ofp.c20Anti-Moneyp.c20Launderingp.c20andp.c20Terrorismp.c20Financingp.c20Law.pdf, 9-11, 2019.
[4] Tftc-istehdaf.org/member-states-and-executive-committee, accessed June 3, 2026.
State.gov/the-global-coalition-to-defeat-isis-partners, accessed June 3, 2026.
State.gov/experiences/country-reports-on-terrorism-2019/qatar, accessed June 3, 2026.
Thegctf.org, accessed June 3, 2026.
Imctc.org/en/AboutUs/MemberCountries/Pages/default.aspx, accessed June 3, 2026.
Commute.state.gov/content material/shuttle/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html, accessed June 3, 2026.
[5] Treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-11&bankruptcy=18&clang=_en, accessed June 3, 2026.
[6] Treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-9&bankruptcy=18&clang=_en, accessed June 3, 2026.
[7] Treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-5&bankruptcy=18&clang=_en, accessed June 3, 2026.
[8] Treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-15&bankruptcy=18&Temp=mtdsg3&clang=_en, accessed June 3, 2026.
[9] Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[10] Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[11] State.gov/experiences/country-reports-on-terrorism-2020/qatar, accessed June 3, 2026.
[12] State.gov/experiences/country-reports-on-terrorism-2020/qatar, accessed June 3, 2026.
[13] See web page 7 in FATF 2023 analysis of Qatari compliance:
fatf-gafi.org/content material/dam/fatf-gafi/mer/Mutual-Analysis-Doha Information-2023.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf, Would possibly 2023.
[14] Osac.gov/Content material/File/87e7e243-86cb-4f97-907f-1c32d8387c73, September 22, 2025.
[15] See web page 19: congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[16] See MEMRI Particular Dispatch No. 12286, Database Of U.S. Treasury’s Place of work Of International Belongings Keep an eye on (OFAC) Finds That Doha Information Is Webhosting Specifically Designated World Terrorists (SDGTs) Affiliated With Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic State, Hizbullah, And Iran, December 4, 2025.
[17] See web page 19: Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[18] See web page 13: Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[19] See web page 20: Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[20] See web page 23: Congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R44533/R44533.46.pdf, April 11, 2019.
[21] Almeezan.qa/EnglishLaws//Lawp.c20No.%20(20)%20ofp.c202019p.c20onp.c20thep.c20Promulgationp.c20ofp.c20Anti-Moneyp.c20Launderingp.c20andp.c20Terrorismp.c20Financingp.c20Law.pdf, 9-11, 2019.
[22] See article 10.4 in web page 21: Qfiu.gov.qa/laws/information/AMLCFT_Instructions_052020_QCB_EN.pdf, Would possibly 2020.
[23] Major.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content material/un-sc-consolidated-list#compositionp.c20list, accessed June 3, 2026.
[24] Seek.sanctions.un.org, accessed June 3, 2026.
[25] Congress.gov/crs-product/IF10613, March 19, 2026.
[26] Seek.sanctions.un.org, accessed June 3, 2026.
[27] Sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov, accessed June 3, 2026.
[28] State.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations, accessed June 3, 2026.
state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/01/terrorist-designations-of-muslim-brotherhood-chapters, January 13, 2026.
[29] Portal.moi.gov.qa/wps/portal/NCTC/sanctionlist/list_details/!ut/p/z1/vVJNc9owEP01PgptJPmrN9ehNimQkEIIunRkVRi3tmVsFZp_X0GGZDoNTnKJLtK-3dW-fbuY43vMa7ErcmEKXYvS2ivufR-FhJGUkXEymgxhdj27umQ3CYEvFC8fA6LJCAiD8fUwjmAWpvM0pgDBjY95j9s95bvpeJiwrzBN_PlnW4Ckc-82JQAXb8uHMyeCt-X3BPD-_u8wx7yRxQ-8Cl1wGWEK-W7AEPMlIBGCh6i4yEIA5mZecIiWtWnMBq_2siqLDNXSSKTqvCy6jQOdOAJPD9QJe9lhWLd5QkstRdmpo8MBnxJQNJRIrlmGmHIDlFnpEFDhhZSRNZHeqdHznfB-HZcH6q-M-hjQN8vXilxhnpc6e1y8qM5okGPeqrVqVTv43Vp4Y0zTfXLAgUa3RpSDSheDXO8GW-HAvulOuAPTeB4fBPtXvmdrMX2pyEZ3Bt__9zdeWfn8c_IlsYuXu0Lt8aLWbWXpf3vnWqTH3vsHZNkWP7dbHtkV0rVRfyzRj92hplrYUwX0Af26DR5ouaviLJh0fwE9Txst/dz/d5/L3dDZyEvUUZRSS9ZTlEh/, Would possibly 16, 2018.
[30] Portal.moi.gov.qa/wps/portal/NCTC/sanctionlist/nationalsection/!ut/p/z1/jVHLbsIwEPwWDr5ml4RH2puJEKaFAFWiBF-QQWmwlMSpbeD3C604VG1N9jareWh3gEMOvBFnWQorVSOqK97y0W5Ol3P0B7hYTSOKmyeWsChADIcBZE7Cegy8i37IFtPZ4BXj2TiZ4Gbls2T0xnzEfjc9_jMUu-kdBO62z4A7I24f-CK4TnwU8gK8rNT-uw_a7IOwBK6L90IX2jvp6_pobWueCRJslbai8molvVKdvQ9B8NKa-55gHCURQSOaw63iShr7E6XxXyFHZSzkv7yhrdM0zVGu6yw0tNf7BL_zWvc!/dz/d5/L3dDZyEvUUZRSS9ZTlEh, accessed June 3, 2026.
[31] Treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/sdnlist.pdf, June 2, 2026.
[32] 2021-2025.state.gov/the-united-states-and-qatar-take-actions-against-hizballah-financial-network, September 29, 2021.
[33] See MEMRI Particular Dispatch No. 12286, Database Of U.S. Treasury’s Place of work Of International Belongings Keep an eye on (OFAC) Finds That Doha Information Is Webhosting Specifically Designated World Terrorists (SDGTs) Affiliated With Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic State, Hizbullah, And Iran, December 4, 2025.
[35] Reuters.com/global/middle-east/qatar-says-it-will-provide-lebanon-with-430-million-financial-support-2026-01-26, January 26, 2026.
[37] MEMRI Particular Dispatch No. 12459, Doha Information Is Undermining U.S. Drive On Iran Via Permitting U.S.-Designated Financial institution Saderat Iran – An Financial Lifeline For The IRGC – To Proceed Working In Doha, April 28, 2026.
[38] MEMRI Particular Dispatch No. 12443, Liberal Arab Reporters: Doha Information’s Al-Jazeera Is A Propaganda Mouthpiece For The Iranian Regime, April 16, 2026.
[39] English.alarabiya.web/options/2017/05/27/hezbollah-and-Doha Information-a-story-of-forbidden-love-, Would possibly 27, 2017.
