What lies behind the veil of the charming Emira of Qatar

EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Valentina Colombo comments the recent encounter between the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned, second of three wives of the former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

The Sheikha has acquired the status of the 'poweful women' of the Emirate, writes Dr. Colombo. She has been focusing most of her time primarily in investing in education through the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

However, during Ramadan of 2015, the Qatar Foundation held a series of lectures where Omar Abdelkafy was invited to speak. Abdelkafy is known for his anti- Semitic and anti- American slogans, as well as his controversial statements regarding the Charlie Hebdo magazine.  He repeatedly insulted the Jews, claiming that they are 'cowards', 'brothers of monkeys and pigs' and 'use human blood to cook unleavened bread during Pesach'.

Sheikha Mozah was also one of the founders of the Qaradawi Center for Islamic Moderation and Renewal, whose manager, Yusuf Qaradawi, is a well known mentor to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Dr. Colombo ends her article by inviting her readers to question the decision of the Italian government to open its doors to such investments, even in a time of crisis.

This article is in Italian and can be read here.