Qatar’s Dangerous Grip on American Academia
The rise of antisemitism on U.S. university campuses has accelerated at an alarming rate, particularly following Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. While many have observed this trend, a recent Al Jazeera podcast exposed just how deeply foreign influence has infiltrated American academia.
On this program, Khaled Al-Hroub, a professor at Northwestern University’s Qatar campus, did not provide an objective analysis of the war in Gaza. Instead, he openly glorified Hamas, portraying the terrorist group as a “symbol of resilience.” This rhetoric was not an academic discussion—it was blatant propaganda.
Al-Hroub’s comments are not an isolated case but rather a symptom of a well-funded, deliberate effort to inject radical ideology into U.S. education. The primary force behind this infiltration? Qatar.
Qatar’s $6 Billion Influence Operation in U.S. Universities
Over the past decade, Qatar has funneled more than $6 billion into U.S. universities, making it the largest foreign donor in American higher education. Institutions such as Harvard, Georgetown, and Northwestern have eagerly accepted these funds, allowing Qatar to shape academic discourse, influence curricula, and suppress dissenting voices.
The impact of this financial pipeline is clear:
Georgetown University’s Qatar campus has been exposed for promoting narratives sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, the ideological parent of Hamas.
Harvard’s Middle Eastern Studies programs have been heavily shaped by Qatari funding, omitting discussions of radical Islamist movements and Qatar’s own human rights abuses.
At Northwestern’s Doha campus, figures like Khaled Al-Hroub serve as direct conduits for Qatari-backed narratives, ensuring that anti-Israel sentiment dominates academic discussions.
Radicalization on U.S. Campuses
The explosion of pro-Hamas demonstrations across American universities following October 7, 2023, was not spontaneous. It was the result of years of ideological grooming, facilitated by Qatari influence.
Students, exposed to anti-Israel and anti-Western narratives, now take to the streets chanting “From the river to the sea”, a well-documented call for Israel’s destruction.
Professors openly defend Hamas, portraying terrorists as “freedom fighters.”
Jewish students face harassment, intimidation, and even physical violence.
Radical student groups push extreme rhetoric, glorifying terrorism while demonizing the West.
This is not simply an issue of free speech—it is a foreign-backed effort to radicalize young minds.
Qatar’s Influence Reaches K-12 Classrooms
Qatar’s influence is not limited to universities. The Qatar Foundation International (QFI) has extended its reach into K-12 schools across the U.S., using Arabic-language programs as a vehicle for ideological influence.
While language education is valuable, QFI has been accused of inserting anti-Western, pro-Islamist content into school curricula, ensuring that by the time students reach college, they have already been exposed to a distorted historical narrative.
A Call for Action
Efforts to expose Qatar’s deep web of influence are gaining momentum. A bipartisan bill in Congress seeks to ban U.S. universities from accepting money from countries that fund terrorism—a critical step in restoring academic integrity and protecting students from foreign manipulation.
At the same time, investigative reports have revealed the extent of Qatar’s financial and ideological control over American education, prompting renewed calls for transparency in university funding. Institutions that claim to champion academic freedom must now be held accountable for their ties to a foreign regime that openly undermines democratic values.
A National Security Threat
The glorification of Hamas, the rise of campus antisemitism, and the radicalization of students are not accidental—they are the consequences of unchecked foreign interference in American education.
Universities must sever financial ties with Qatar.
Lawmakers must implement strict oversight of foreign funding.
Students, parents, and faculty must demand greater transparency from academic institutions.
Failure to act will allow this radicalization to continue, with consequences reaching far beyond the classroom. This is not just an education crisis—it is a national security threat.
When professors justify Hamas and students glorify terrorism, the question must be asked: Who is funding this? The answer leads directly to Qatar.
