Qatar’s Shura Council participated in the Sixth Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism between Parliaments on Combating Terrorism and the Fourth Parliamentary Dialogue on Countering the Use of Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies for Terrorist Purposes carried out over two days at the Italian Parliament in Rome at the beginning of December 2024.
As reported by Gulf Times, the meetings were a collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorisms Programme on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism based in Doha. The endeavours involved collaborations with the Italian Parliament. Events were represented by HE Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Malki and HE Issa bin Arar Al Rumaihi, members of the Council.
The participants debated global and regional challenges linked to modern technologies for terrorist goals. HE Al Malki stressed in his speech that, under the shrewd leadership of Qatar leadership, the State of Qatar takes the lead in enhancing international cooperation against terrorism. He also stressed that Doha is home to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism’s Programme on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, a forum for parliamentary movements globally, helping parliaments’ actions in opposing and preventing terrorism.
Al Malki also emphasised that a balance is required between deriving advantages from these modern technologies while ensuring their utilisation to increase national and regional safety. He also reminded the Shura Council of its responsibility towards problems with artificial intelligence as well as supplying support for frameworks to stop abuses.
The participants examined common challenges stemming from the nexus between organized crime and terrorism in the Sixth Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism between Parliaments on Combating Terrorism. HE Al Rumaihi highlighted the need to support the international parliamentary alliance in creating effective legislation to fight the financing of terrorism and break its sources.
He highlighted the State of Qatar’s actions to build strategic coalitions with international organizations toward maintaining global stability and, at the same time, attracted attention to the federal legislative framework in Qatar, which is in theme with the best international conventions on counter-terrorism.
The Fourth Parliamentary Dialogue concentrated on the issues facing global and regional security concerning terrorism in general and the usage of modern technologies in executing terrorist activities. Sessions involved methods that the parliaments can assist in the ability of the national, regional, and international players to improve their legislative frameworks for considering risks and adopting technological innovation with the growth in the process, not delaying the economy. There were discussions over the understanding of the world and parliamentarians regarding counter-terrorism cases, particularly about combating terrorism utilising artificial intelligence and current instruments.
Meanwhile, the Sixth Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism between Parliaments on Combating Terrorism examined the connection between organized crime and terrorism as one of the most pressing current challenges for protection. The session involved a conversation about legislative steps required for parliaments to support their reactions to such issues, including fighting terrorism financing and controlling the use of dangerous materials for terrorist objectives. The above assumptions delivered an examination of Mechanisms past actions and strategies for international parliamentary collaboration against terrorism and to stop violent extremism.
In July 2017, Qatar updated its anti-terror law to delineate terrorism and associated crimes including financing of terrorism. This has been part of a broader commitment established through a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States. Other new laws put in place since September 2014 have allowed the government greater oversight of charities suspected of using funds for the financing of terrorism. Qatar routinely holds strategic dialogue with UNOCT to determine progress in cooperation on matters of counter-terrorism and future priority areas. The last exchange also referred to some projects in progress and financed by Qatar, which further proves its status as one of the leading donors to the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism.
