Overview

Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Umayr al-Nu’aymi is a U.S.- and U.N.-sanctioned terrorist financier based in Qatar.“Treasury Designates Al-Qa’ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 19, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx. The U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned Nu’aymi in December 2013 for providing financial support to al-Qaeda, Lebanon-based Asbat al-Ansar, al-Qaeda in Iraq, and al-Shabab. As a chief al-Qaeda financier, Nu’aymi has channeled millions of dollars from primarily Qatari-based donors to al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and Iraq.“Treasury Designates Al-Qa’ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 19, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx. In October 2014, the Telegraph dubbed him “one of the world’s most prolific terrorist financiers.”Tim Ross, “Terrorist Paymaster Targeted by Britain,” Telegraph (London), October 18, 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11172244/Terrorist-paymaster-targeted-by-Britain.html.

In 2012, Nu’aymi allegedly provided financial support to a charity run by a Yemeni-based terrorist financier. Humayqani then channeled the funds to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).Thomas Joscelyn, “Latest Treasury Designation Targets al Qaeda’s fundraising Network,”  Long War Journal, December 19, 2013, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/12/treasury_designation.php;
“Treasury Designates Al-Qa’ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 19, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx. As of mid-2012, Nu’aymi was allegedly providing approximately $250,000 a month to Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Aweys Ali of al-Shabab. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Nu’aymi ordered the transfer of nearly $600,000 to al-Qaeda in 2013 through Abu-Khalid al-Suri, al-Qaeda’s then-representative in Syria. Nu’aymi allegedly intended to transfer nearly $50,000 more, according to the U.S. Treasury.“Treasury Designates Al-Qa’ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 19, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx.

Prior to engaging in terrorist financing, Nu’aymi taught Islamic studies at Qatar University. Qatari authorities arrested Nu’aymi in June 1998 after he co-signed a public letter in several newspapers criticizing Qatar’s consultative council—which advises the Emir (leader) of Qatar—for allowing alcohol sales in the country and the coeducation of women at Qatar University.“Al Nuaimi was promoting Brotherhood ideals,” Gulf News, December 19, 2013, http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/al-nuaimi-was-promoting-brotherhood-ideals-1.1268824;
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2001,” U.S. Department of State, March 4, 2002, https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8292.htm;
“Scholar Who Scolded Government Is Freed,” Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2001, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-04-09/news/0104090202_1_khalifa-al-thani-emir-qatari. Nu’aymi was held for three years without trial, and pardoned in March 2001.“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2001,” U.S. Department of State, March 4, 2002, https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8292.htm;
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2001, ” U.S. Department of State, March 4, 2002, https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8292.htm.

Nu’aymi is also a former president of the Qatar Football Association and a founder of the Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed al-Thani Charitable Association, which has ties to Qatar’s royal family.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;
Gemma Mullin, “Revealed: How Al Qaeda paymasters are 'living freely' in Qatar despite Gulf state's claim that it doesn't support terrorists,” Daily Mail (London), November 15, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2836320/How-Al-Qaeda-paymasters-living-freely-Qatar-despite-Gulf-state-s-claim-doesn-t-support-terrorists.html. Nu’aymi also reportedly arranged meetings for Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Yemeni-based Muslim Brotherhood leader Abd al-Majeed al-Zindani and Hamas co-founder Ahmed Yassin. Zindani is also a former mentor of Osama bin Laden. According to reports, Al Thani treated Nu’aymi “like an old friend” after his release from prison in 2001.Eli Lake, “Terrorists for Human Rights,” Daily Beast, December 20, 2013, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/20/terrorists-for-human-rights.html.

A year after his release, Nu’aymi reportedly received a promotion at Qatar University. He also became president of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS), which reportedly hosted Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and other Hamas leaders. While with ACRPS, Nu’aymi also launched the Global Anti-Aggression Coalition, a self-declared non-violent NGO that issued statements supporting “resistance” in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and Somalia.David Andrew Weinberg, “Qatar and Terror Finance Part 1: Negligence,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies, December 2014, 7-8, https://www.defenddemocracy.org/content/uploads/publications/Qatar_Part_I.pdf. In 2004, Nu’aymi co-founded al-Karama, a Geneva-based human-rights organization. Nu’aymi served as the group’s president until December 2013, when he was labeled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the United States.Eli Lake, “Terrorists for Human Rights,” Daily Beast, December 20, 2013, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/20/terrorists-for-human-rights.html.

In December 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury named Nu’aymi an SDGT pursuant to Executive Order 13224.“Treasury Designates Al-Qa’ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 19, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx. The U.N. Security Council added Nu’aymi to its Al-Qa’ida sanctions list in September 2014.“Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee List of Individuals with ties to Al-Qaida,” February 19, 2015, http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/AQList.htm. That October, the Telegraph reported that Nu’aymi had dismissed the U.S. and U.N. sanctions as a U.S. retaliation for his criticism of U.S. policy in the region.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;
Gemma Mullin, “Revealed: How Al Qaeda paymasters are 'living freely' in Qatar despite Gulf state's claim that it doesn't support terrorists,” Daily Mail (London), November 15, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2836320/How-Al-Qaeda-paymasters-living-freely-Qatar-despite-Gulf-state-s-claim-doesn-t-support-terrorists.html.