Overview
Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid al-Kuwari is a Qatari-based financier and facilitator for al-Qaeda.“Treasury Targets Key Al-Qa’ida Funding and Support Network Using Iran as a Critical Transit Point,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 28, 2011, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/tg1261#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20The%20U.S.%20Department%20of,ida%20and%20the%20Iranian%20government. The subject of U.S. sanctions, Kuwari has channeled hundreds of thousands of dollars to al-Qaeda through an Iran-based network run by senior al-Qaeda facilitator Ezedine Abdel Aziz Khalil. Kuwari has also allegedly facilitated the travel of extremist recruits abroad and secured the release of al-Qaeda detainees in Iran.“Treasury Targets Key Al-Qa’ida Funding and Support Network Using Iran as a Critical Transit Point,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 28, 2011, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/tg1261#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20The%20U.S.%20Department%20of,ida%20and%20the%20Iranian%20government.
Qatari authorities previously arrested Kuwari for suspicion of terrorism offences in 2009 and 2011, but released him both times after Alkarama—an organization co-founded by U.S.-designated Qatari-based terrorist financier Abd al-Rahman bin Umayr al-Nuaymi—pressed Kuwari’s case with the United Nations.“Qatar: Civil servant held without charge,” Alkarama, May 18, 2011, http://en.alkarama.org/qatar/733-qatar-civil-servant-held-without-charge. According to a 2014 investigative report by the Telegraph, Kuwari was employed by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior during both arrests.Robert Mendick, “Al-Qaeda terror financier worked for Qatari government,” Telegraph (London), October 12, 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11156327/Al-Qaeda-terror-financier-worked-for-Qatari-government.html.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Kuwari as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224. Kuwari’s second release came three months after the U.S. designated him as an al-Qaeda fundraiser.“Treasury Targets Key Al-Qa’ida Funding and Support Network Using Iran as a Critical Transit Point,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 28, 2011, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1261.aspx. A 2014 Telegraph report alleged that Qatar’s Ministry of Interior had continued to employ Kuwari after his 2011 designation, though the Qatari government refused to verify his employment.Robert Mendick, “Al-Qaeda terror financier worked for Qatari government,” Telegraph (London), October 12, 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11156327/Al-Qaeda-terror-financier-worked-for-Qatari-government.html.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Al-Qaeda
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Jihadist, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Fundraiser and financier
Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks was the deadliest ever on American soil, killing nearly 3,000 people. Since the fall of the Taliban, al-Qaeda has established operations worldwide, including in Syria, the Gulf, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
History
United States
July 28, 2011The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid al-Kuwari” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on July 28, 2011.“Treasury Targets Key Al-Qa’ida Funding and Support Network Using Iran as a Critical Transit Point,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 28, 2011, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/tg1261#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20The%20U.S.%20Department%20of,ida%20and%20the%20Iranian%20government.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.