Qatar faces growing pressure from leaders across the world to halt its financing of international terrorism. But the battle to hold Doha to account for its money lining the pockets of extremists has found a new front: Amsterdam.
A Dutch lawyer is threatening legal action against Qatar, state officials and organisations residing in the country for its support of the Nusra Front, the Al Qaeda-linked affiliate that has been involved in several high-profile kidnaps and possible crimes against humanity in Syria.
Liesbeth Zegveld, an attorney for Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers in the Dutch capital, is demanding compensation for dozens of victims of the Nusra Front now residing in the Netherlands. A letter sent by Zegveld to the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on April 23, obtained by The National, reveals new details about the legal quagmire hanging over the Qatari government, despite its denials on its financing of militant groups.
“The Al Nusra Front receives funding through terror financing networks in Qatar. Your government has protected and failed to act genuinely against public and private terror financing networks,” the letter reads, in reference to the group now rebranded as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham and in control of much of Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
