PHILADELPHIA – October 27, 2023 – The Middle East Forum (MEF) is spearheading a grassroots campaign urging American investment firms and privately-held corporations to divest from Qatar in response to its support for the Hamas-led massacre in Israel. We invite all Americans to participate in this easy, quick, digital letter-writing campaign.
Visit the link to take action: https://mef.pub/DivestFromQatar
Qatar, the fabulously wealthy Gulf monarchy, is a chief sponsor of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization responsible for the slaughter of 1,400 Israelis and others on Oct. 7. Hamas's political headquarters is in Doha. By working financially with Qatar's government, U.S. companies indirectly fund Hamas atrocities.
On Oct. 23, MEF dispatched letters to a dozen private equity firms and hedge funds urging them immediately to divest from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), a sovereign wealth fund under the auspices of the Qatari royal family. Addressed to company owners and CEOs, the letters warned of the financial and ethical risks of continued business with Qatar.
"America's financial giants must champion long-term values over a myopic concern with profits," says Gregg Roman, MEF's director.
Qatar's closest American business partners include companies that have demonstrated their support of Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. One notable example is activist investor Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, which received $141 million from QIA during its Initial Public Offering. In an Oct. 10 statement, Ackman called on Harvard University to release the names of students whose organizations signed a letter blaming Israel for provoking Hamas's attack. The billionaire hedge fund manager voiced concerns that Pershing could "inadvertently hire" pro-Hamas students, who he claimed were hiding "behind a corporate shield."
Another company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, revealed in June that QIA was prepared to close a $4.05 billion deal for a 5 percent stake in the sports conglomerate, which owns professional hockey and basketball teams in Washington, D.C. When pressed about Monumental's relationship with Qatar, a company spokesperson claimed that Qatar's funding of Hamas had to be weighed against the better "food" and "lighting" that QIA's investment brings to area sports arenas.
Affinity Partners, AlTi Global, Inc., Apollo Global Management, Ariel Alternatives, Atlas Merchant Capital, Blackstone, Fanatics, Inc., KKR, Liberty Strategic Capital, North Road Company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and Pershing Square Capital Management each received MEF letters calling for Qatar divestment.
"You should consider every legal option to immediately divest from QIA, including reviewing your shareholder agreement and executing a majority buy-out of QIA shares" of your company, the letters stated.
MEF calls on all Americans to show their opposition to Qatar's support for international terrorism. Click on the campaign link: that directs you to a sign-up portal where you can review and, with the click of a mouse, send emails to corporate leaders.
Campaign link: https://mef.pub/DivestFromQatar
In addition to this campaign, MEF is working with Congress to deter future investments from Qatar by labeling Qatar a state sponsor of terrorism. These measures will mean that businesses accepting Qatari investments may find themselves liable for previous and ongoing acts of terror.
Help us pressure America's business leaders to put national interest and morality over profits.
The Middle East Forum, a non-profit organization, promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western civilization from Islamism. It does so through a combination of original ideas, focused activism, and funding allies. For more information, visit www.meforum.org.
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Gregg Roman
roman@meforum.org
+1 (215) 546 5406
