Doha - The College of Law at Qatar University (QU) has entered into an agreement with the Boston University (BU) School of Law to develop a Counter-Terrorist Financing Training Programme.
Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani, QU College of Law dean Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz al-Khulafi, BU provost Dr Jean Morrison, and BU Law’s dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig were the signatories.
The intensive one-week course is designed to enhance the capacity of Qatar’s legal professionals and government officials to combat the global threat of terrorism financing.
Speaking at a ceremony in the US, Sheikh Meshal said: “Qatar is a leader in regional and global efforts to counter terror financing and defeat extremism.”
“We look forward to enhancing the capabilities of our professionals through this unique training programme,” the ambassador added. “Qatar has partnerships with leading American universities and we are pleased to now include Boston University School of Law among these partners.”
QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham said: “In our world today, it is vital to raise awareness about the issues of financing terrorism, which is one of the biggest threats facing the international community, and threatens global peace and security.”
“This is why Qatar University, through the College of Law, focuses on raising legal awareness among its students and the community on issues of financial crime, including countering terrorism financing and money laundering,” he added. “We are pleased to collaborate with Boston University through this programme that am sure will prepare a distinguished generation of Qatari law experts capable of serving the country in various legal fields.”
BU Law’s dean Onwuachi-Willig said: “The laundering of illicit funds to finance terrorism poses one of the gravest threats to national security, and a partnership with Qatar University’s College of Law to develop a customised training programme gives us a unique opportunity to support the country’s efforts to fight terrorist financing.”
The counter-terrorism financing course will address the training needs of Qatar’s public prosecutors, ministries’ officials, and financial services professionals charged with detecting and disrupting illicit financing schemes.
BU faculty members with expertise in national security, anti-money laundering, Fintech (computer programs and other technology that are used to support or enable banking and financial services), cyber-security, and financial regulation will work with QU College of Law’s faculty to develop simulations and case studies based on real-world threats.
“We share with Qatar a commitment to defeating terrorist activities funded through the exploitation of financial technology,” said Onwuachi-Willig, adding: “We are excited about establishing this unique partnership with the Qatar University College of Law.
“There is so much to be done to secure our nations, and I see this course as an important first step in a developing a collaborative model that can make a major difference in the global fight against terrorist financing.”
Anticipated instructors include faculty from the BU School of Law’s Graduate Programme in Banking and Financial Law with expertise in fighting financial cyber-crime, as well as experts affiliated with the University’s Harari Institute for Computing, the Frederick S Pardee School of Global Studies, and the Cyber Security, Law, and Society Alliance.
In addition to BU Law instructors, the programme plans to feature experts from the US Department of Treasury, the US Department of State, and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who will share best practices in building and prosecuting counter-terrorist financing legal cases.
The initial programme will take place in Boston in late fall or early spring, with additional programmes slated for spring and summer 2019.