Qatar's Battle Against Financing Terrorism Is Long Standing: Qatari Ambassador

Paris, December 01 (QNA) - HE Qatar's Ambassador to France Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al-Thani has underlined that Qatar's battle against financing terrorism was long standing, citing that the last initiative taken by Qatar is the issuance of a law that prohibits sending money to humanitarian organizations abroad suspected of financing terrorism as well as passing a law prohibiting use of social communication networking to finance suspicious activities. In an interview published in a French weekly newspaper ( Le Journal du Dimanche ), HE Sheikh Mishaal said that Qatar has shut down the Madad Ahl Al Sham social network which was used to finance militant factions in Syria and therefore there is a determination to fight ISIS group and filling gaps that existed in the past. HE the Ambassador extended condolences to the French people and the families of the victims , stressing that Qatar is an ally of France in the fight against terrorism. On whereabouts of Abdul Rahman who was named by the U.S. Treasury Department as a terrorist among other national Qataris: Is he in jail or on probation ?, HE the Ambassador said that if there is an official US documents about involvement of this person and the United States presents a request on it, Qatar will take all concrete and necessary actions towards investigation ,stressing that Qatar would not allow individuals to move freely and finances terrorism. In a reply to a question about Qatar's position of Syria's al-Nusra Front , HE the Ambassador affirmed that al-Nusra Front is a terrorist organization, stressing that Qatar does not support terrorist organizations. On allegations that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar are financing Ahrar ash-Sham, Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest) and they are fighting in some cases, along with Syria's al-Nusra Front, Qatari diplomat noted that Ahrar al-Sham is an organization composed of Syrian fighters aimed at ousting of Assad and establishment of a democratic government. On whether Qatar was part of a US-led coalition against ISIS group through military means, HE Sheikh Mishaal said that the command of the US-led coalition is existing inside Qatar's territories and that Qatar has military capabilities and could join the coalition if requested . With regard to the Syrian opposition support, HE the Ambassador said that Qatar offers political and logistical support to the Syrian opposition in order to be able to defend itself within the framework of what was determined by the Friends of Syria Group. About his opinion on resumption of Vienna talks on the future of Syria, HE Sheikh Mishaal said that we believe that decisions of Geneva Conference, which asked for Al Assad quitting , must be applied, and we see that the elements of the regime who had not been contaminated their hands with blood and they did not involve in massacre that claimed lives of 300,000 persons, can sit down with representatives of the opposition to organize the transition. On Qatar's support to President Francois Hollande in his attempt to establish an alliance directed exclusively to fight ISIS group, HE the Ambassador termed it as a great idea, saying that ISIS group poses a threat to the whole world, including us as Muslims, and we do not forget that Muslims are the first victims of ISIS group. added that Russia is a friend of the Arab world and it cannot be a party to this unified coalition unless it targets ISIS group alone. In a reply to a question about attacks on Turkey, Egypt and Paris when Al-Jazeera's broadcaster asks, Who is the beneficiary of such crimes ? HE Sheikh Mishaal confirmed that Qatar condemns all attacks and we know that ISIS group had ordered their implementation.   HE the Ambassador explained that though Al-Jazeera is headquartered in Doha, but it is an independent media outlet and does not reflect the views of the Qatari government . In response to a question about Qatar's support for the French government's decision declaring a national state of emergency and closed down mosques and put imams who support Salafist and radical thoughts under surveillance, HE Sheikh Mishaal that Qatar adopts a moderate call for Islam, because Islam is a religion of peace, some imams have extreme views, and the government of France has the right to take all measures that it deems necessary to maintain security of its people. HE the Ambassador stressed that Qatar does not fund any mosque or any organization, stressing that Qatar would not want to interfere in French internal affairs or in a debate on Islam in France . (QNA)