Qatar Bows To Pressure, Amends Laws To Fight Terrorism

In a royal decree on Thursday, Qatar has amended its anti-terrorism laws to boost the fight against extremism.

The decree issued by the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani amends a 2004 anti-terrorism law, and creates two national terrorism lists which set rules for listing individuals and groups on each list, Reuters reports.

Advertisement

The amendments set rules for defining terrorism, acts of terrorism, freezing funding and terrorism financing.

Qatar’s move follows sanctions meted out on the country by a coalition of gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia over allegations that it supports the Islamic State and other terrorist group.

Doha has been pushing to dispel the allegations since the sanctions were imposed on it last month.

Recall that Doha, just a week ago, signed a consensus with the United States to strengthen its fight against terrorism financing. Details of the accord had not been released but sources said it provides for the United States to post officials at Qatar’s state prosecutor’s office.

Advertisement

Last month Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar, closed their airspace to its jets and announced an economic blockade that included the closing of Qatar’s border with Saudi Arabia – its sole land link to the rest of the world and a key route for food imports.

Since then, the allies appear to be pushing for the isolation of Iran and the suppression of dissenting media in the region.

Leave a comment

Advertisement