Madid Ahl al-Sham (Arabic: مدد أهل الشام) was a Qatar-based fundraising campaign widely suspected of acting as a conduit for donations intended for Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. While the online campaign reportedly coordinated the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Syrian citizens in need, the U.S. Department of State identified Madid Ahl al-Sham as a fundraising source for violent extremists.
Madid Ahl al-Sham is believed to have been led by Sa’d bin Sa’d Muhammad Shariyan al-Kabi and Abd al-Latif Bin Abdallah Salih Muhammad al-Kawari, both of which are U.S. Treasury Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).
Madid Ahl al-Sham was identified by the Washington Post and other prominent publications as a conduit for Jabhat al-Nusra in 2013 and 2014. The online campaign, which operated under the Qatar Centre for Voluntary Work, was shut down by Qatari authorities in 2014.
Operations
Madid Ahl al-Sham was an online Qatar-based fundraising campaign that utilized social media to appeal for donations from Qatari citizens and residents. While the campaign reportedly had a headquarters, its fundraising efforts were conducted over the internet. Madid Ahl al-Sham-affiliated social media accounts, including the accounts of its coordinators, posted visual flyers calling for donations to the campaign. While most flyers claimed that donations would be used to provide humanitarian supplies to Syrians, one Madid Ahl al-Sham flyer asked for donations to arm, feed, and treat fighters. These flyers contained the names and phone numbers of campaign coordinators for those interested in donating to contact. Other Madid Ahl al-Sham flyers request donors to contact campaign coordinators according to their area of residence in Qatar. Bank account information was often listed on Madid Ahl al-Sham flyers.
Partnership with government
Eid Charity
Madid Ahl al-Sham has reportedly fundraised under the supervision of Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association, a Doha-based charity with ties to the Qatari royal family. In 2014, a Madid Ahl al-Sham campaign to collect funds to provide Iftar meals for the needy was announced under the supervision of Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association, or Eid Charity.
Eid Charity, which operates as a Government Organized Non-Governmental Organization (GONGO) in Qatar, has suspected ties to terrorist networks. The charity is believed to have ties to Hamas and is a member of the “Union of Good” organization led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi.
Multiple members of Eid Charity also have suspected ties to terrorist organizations. Eid Charity founding member Abd al-Rahman al-Nuaimi is a U.S. designated al-Qaeda financial supporter. Hashim bin Mohammed al-Awadhy, a senior member of Eid Charity, is the owner of Rabea TV, a pro-Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood TV outlet. Al-Awadhy's son, Mohammed Hashim al-Awadhy, was killed while fighting in Syria. ISIS supporters described Mohammed al-Awadhy as belonging to their “convoy of martyrs.” Khalifa bin Mohammed al-Rabban, member of Eid Charity and general manager of the al-Furqan Schools, is a member of the board of trustees of the Global Anti-Aggression Campaign (GAAC). Al-Rabban is the current president of Alkarama's board of trustees.
Qatar’s Volunteer Work Center
Madid Ahl al-Sham has also partnered with Qatar's Volunteer Work Center to assist Syrian refugees along the Turkish and Jordanian borders of Syria. General Secretary of Qatar's Volunteer Work Center Yusuf Ali Kadhim stated that Madid Ahl al-Sham took part in fundraising for the project. The Qatar Volunteer Work Center was supervised by the Qatari government's Ministry of Culture.
Qatar Islamic Bank
Madid Ahl al-Sham's solicitations for donations featured Qatar Islamic Bank account numbers for depositing funds. Qatar Islamic Bank and some of its correspondents, such as Saudi Al Rajhi Bank, have repeatedly been reported to have facilitated the transfer of funds to terrorist organizations. Qatar Islamic Bank's largest shareholder is the country's sovereign wealth, the Qatar Investment Authority.
Humanitarian activities
Madid Ahl al-Sham widely advertised its calls for donations to fund the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Syria. In an online flyer attributed to the campaign and distributed through social media, Madid Ahl al-Sham requests donations from Qatari citizens to provide medicine, food, and clothes to Syrian civilians. One Madid Ahl al-Sham coordinator also shared images of what appears to be food and humanitarian supplies, claiming that the aid is being sent to Syria following donations to the Madid Ahl al-Sham campaign.