Qatar’s extensive financial ties to American universities and its connections to Islamic terror groups, prompts call for legislative action to protect national security and academic integrity.

Research by Jordan Cope, the Director of Policy Education at StandWithUs and the Qatari Finance Fellow at Middle East Forum, reveals alarming connections between Qatar’s extensive financial support for terrorism and its significant influence over American universities. This is particularly evident in Texas, raising serious concerns about national security, academic integrity, and the spread of extremist ideologies.

In a recent podcast, he highlighted some of these issues.

During his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Cope was tasked with researching the sources of funding for Hamas, the terrorist organization responsible for the tragic deaths of 1,200 individuals, including 46 Americans, on October 7, 2023.

“What I found was quite alarming,” he told The Gateway Pundit. “It turns out Qatar is not just one of Hamas’s biggest financial backers, having poured billions into them, but it’s also one of the largest foreign contributors to American universities.” For example, Texas A&M received $1 billion from its state-sponsored Qatar Foundation.

“Now, this kind of financial involvement from Qatar and its affiliates raises some serious concerns about our national security, academic integrity, and democratic values,” Cope argued. “Qatar has some pretty troubling connections to extremist figures and organizations, which makes their global influence efforts even more concerning.”

The Qatar Foundation not only awarded Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, but it also operates Education City, which comprises a network of international satellite campuses, including Texas A&M Qatar.

“There’s even reportedly a research center named after Yusuf Qaradawi, a prominent figure linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, whose chapters are designated terrorist groups,” Cope pointed out. “Qaradawi has openly endorsed suicide bombings against U.S. troops and has ties to Al Jazeera, where journalists have been involved with terrorist groups.”

“And let’s not forget about Khaled Sheikh Mohammed from Al Qaeda,” he added. “Mohammed was hosted by Qatar, and when the FBI tried to arrest him, Qatari officials helped him escape.” Subsequently, he was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of almost 3,000 Americans.

“Despite all of this, Qatar has managed to weave itself into the fabric of our country through its influence in politics, education, and various institutions,” Cope lamented. “In Texas, a Qatari royal is sitting on a university board, they’re training our emergency responders, and lobbyists connected to Qatar are courting our elected officials.”

A study by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) found that Qatari funding is linked to rising antisemitism and anti-democratic sentiments on college campuses. “At Texas A&M,” Cope said, “the Qatar Foundation reportedly controls over 500 research projects and has significant sway over nuclear research and sensitive weapon development.”

But Qatar isn’t just focused on universities; they’ve also built strong connections with influential academic institutions in Houston. For example, Qatari Royal Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani is on the Board of Advisors at Rice University’s Baker Institute, and several Rice professors have received awards from Qatari officials. This funding relationship has led to some Rice students visiting Doha for various programs.

“Qatar’s influence reaches down to K-12 education, too,” Cope revealed. “They’ve collaborated with Houston Community College to establish the first community college in the U.S., and in 2015, Houston ISD launched the first K-12 Arabic immersion school with support from the Qatar Foundation.”

According to Cope, “Qatar’s outreach doesn’t stop with students; they’re also involved in training and engaging with public safety officials.” In 2025, Qatar hosted Montgomery County Emergency Personnel for training related to the upcoming World Cup, and they sponsored the Dallas Police Chief for a visit on public safety. “It’s worth noting that Qatar’s Police College has trained Hamas officers,” he shared.

“As Qatar targets our youth, emergency responders, and elected officials, we really need to come together to expose this threat and push for legislation that protects our institutions from an authoritarian regime that has American blood on its hands while waving dollar bills,” Cope argued. “We really need to step up and confront the threat posed by Qatar—demanding foreign lobby registration laws, cutting off their funding from our schools, and rejecting their anti-American agenda.”

 

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