UNIPATH STAFF
A July 2017 decree by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani amends provisions of the country’s terrorism law. Among other changes, the document outlines a process to create two national lists of individuals and groups involved in terrorist activity, according to the state-run Qatar News Agency.
Effective immediately upon publication in a government newspaper, the amendment contains more specific definitions of the terms “terrorist,” “crime,” “terrorist acts,” “terrorist entities,” “the freezing of funds” and the “financing of terrorism,” Al-Jazeera reported.
Those accused of participating in terrorist activities will have the right to challenge these charges in court.
Qatar issued the decree, which replaced a 2004 anti-terrorism law, two weeks after signing an agreement with the United States to curb the financing of terrorist organizations. At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised Qatar for its effort to “track down and disable terror financing,” according to Asharq al-Awsat.