OPINION:
“Why Georgetown’s leadership must be held accountable for campus antisemitism” (Web, July 7) by Charles Asher Small repeats false and discredited claims about the U.S.-Qatar educational partnership.
Dr. Small’s piece is the latest in a long-running disinformation campaign that aims to undermine U.S.-Qatar relations and disrupt Qatar’s mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. Thankfully, these efforts have consistently failed.
At the center of this campaign is the baseless allegation that Qatar is influencing students and inciting unrest on U.S. campuses, including Georgetown University. Qatar strongly supports open debate and academic freedom, but we believe that dialogue must be peaceful and respectful, never extending to hate speech or incitement.
Accusations that Qatar has influence over American universities have no basis in fact or reality. We are proud to partner with six U.S. institutions to bring high-quality American education to Qatar, benefiting thousands of students from across the region each year. Qatar’s financial contributions to these universities are directed exclusively to their branch campuses in Qatar, not the United States, and cover costs such as construction, maintenance and faculty salaries.
As Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, said during a 2024 Senate hearing, there is no evidence linking Qatar to campus unrest in the U.S. In fact, Qatar has no ties to most of the universities where recent protests occurred. Institutions where Qatar does have a relationship, like Georgetown, operate in Qatar with full academic freedom.
The reality is that the presence of American universities in Doha has had a more profound impact on Qatari society than any influence on university life in the United States.
And contrary to Dr. Small’s claims, Qatar does not support or fund the Muslim Brotherhood. Our diplomatic engagement is with governments, not political parties, and our role as mediators should not be mistaken for endorsement.
As false narratives such as this persist, so does our commitment to diplomacy. We will continue working with the United States to end the war in Gaza. Too many lives have already been lost. Hostages remain in danger. And the conflict continues to fuel tensions around the world.
We condemn the divisive and misleading rhetoric promoted by Dr. Small and others. Now is the time for fact-based dialogue, empathy for all victims and a collective effort toward lasting peace.
ALI AL-ANSARI
Qatar’s media attache to the United States
Qatar Embassy in Washington
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