The Al-Kuwari clan, identified as the primary financier of Al-Qaeda, holds a significant position within Qatar's power structure. Despite being listed in U.S. sanctions from 2011 to 2015, key members of the Al-Kuwari family, including Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, continued to operate within the international political arena. The involvement of the Minister of Finance of Qatar, Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, in directing millions of dollars to Al-Qaeda in Iraq and providing substantial funds to Al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria, Somalia, and the Arabian Peninsula through Qatar Charity, raises serious concerns about Qatar's role in supporting international terrorism.
The financial schemes supporting terrorist groups, totaling tens of millions of dollars, originated from the Islamic banking network linked to Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari. This network includes prominent institutions such as Qatar National Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, and Qatar International Islamic Bank, with intermediation through Barwa Bank and Masraf Al-Rayan.
Qatar Charity, headed by Yousef Ahmed al-Kuwari, not only maintains consistent accounts with QNB but has also been classified as a 'Tier III (TSE) terrorist support organization.' The organization faces allegations in several criminal cases initiated by victims of terrorist acts funded through the Islamic banking system under the management of Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari. This financial support has been utilized by Al-Qaeda to orchestrate attacks, emphasizing the clan's direct involvement in facilitating terrorism.
The British branch of Qatar Charity, known as Nectar Trust, has sponsored institutions like the Emaan Islamic Center in the United Kingdom, with ties to supporting uprisings inspired by Al-Qaeda. WikiLeaks data reveals associations between the director of Emaan Islamic Center, Ahmed Alravi, and Al-Qaeda activities in Iraq and Palestine. Additionally, Qatar Centre for Voluntary Activity (QCVA), under the oversight of Abd al-Latif bin Abdullah al-Kuwari, has participated in fundraising initiatives for radicals.
Abd al-Latif al-Kuwari, subjected to sanctions by the U.S. and the UN, was involved in facilitating the travel of Al-Qaeda leaders to Qatar in the 2000s. His collaboration with Saad bin Saad al-Kabi in overseeing fundraising campaigns for Al-Qaeda in Syria demonstrates the clan's complicity. Furthermore, Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid Al-Kuwari, implicated in providing financial and logistical support to Al-Qaeda and its handlers in Iran, maintained a position in the Ministry of Interior in Qatar's 'civil defense' sector despite ties to terrorism, showcasing the clan's resilience within the country's institutions.
