Abu Dhabi Secrets: Impact of the UAE’s Widespread Smear Campaign on European Muslims
The United Arab Emirates launched a far-reaching smear campaign that targeted over a thousand individuals and hundreds of organizations, falsely associating them with the Muslim Brotherhood. Beyond this, the UAE embarked on a cunning and effective plan to defame European politicians and officials, accusing them of being supporters of Qatar. This extensive and manipulative scheme, now infamously known as the Qatargate scandal, has sent shockwaves through the international community. The campaign, carried out by the Swiss company Alp Services on behalf of the Emirati government, involved press campaigns, social media manipulation, and modification of Wikipedia pages, leaving lasting consequences on those affected.
The Qatargate Scandal Unfolds
As part of the UAE’s smear campaign strategy, Alp Services identified potential targets, including politicians, to discredit and counter Qatar’s influence. Notably, several prominent European politicians were among these targets, namely MPs Marc Tarabella from Belgium and Eva Kaili from Greece. Subsequently, Belgian prosecutors accused them in connection with the Qatargate scandal. Furthermore, the list compiled by Alp Services also featured former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who was allegedly linked to a corruption pact. The striking alignment between the investigation’s findings and Alp Services’ dossier has raised suspicions and led to allegations that the UAE’s intelligence agencies might have orchestrated a well-scripted scheme to manipulate the outcome of the Qatargate investigation.
The Consequences and International Response
The fallout from the Qatargate scandal has been significant. European institutions and prosecutors, as well as the international community, have called for accountability and transparency in investigating the UAE’s role in this orchestrated campaign. Questions have been raised about the ethics of employing such smear tactics and the implications they hold for diplomatic relations and regional stability.
Mennel Ibtissem – A Ruined Music Career
Mennel Ibtissem, a talented French-Syrian singer, faced the wrath of the UAE’s smear campaign during her participation in the French edition of the TV talent show, The Voice.
A social media campaign attacking her hijab and resurfacing old tweets led to her being forced to leave the show. Despite denouncing the tweets and emphasizing her love for France and condemnation of violence, the damage was done, and her career suffered significantly. The UAE’s smear campaign had a heavy toll on her mental health, almost leading her to quit music altogether. Ibtissem’s name was found on a “target list” prepared by Alp Services, despite her having no political or religious affiliations.
Hazim Nada – Financial Ruin
Hazim Nada, the founder of Lord Energy, a Swiss-based oil trading company, had no ties to politics or the Muslim Brotherhood. However, due to his father’s association with the group, he became a target of the smear campaign.
The UAE’s actions led to his company’s bank accounts being closed, resulting in financial devastation. Unable to finance shipments and facing a loss of support from banks, his company eventually went bankrupt in 2019. The public accusation by the US that Youssef’s bank financed Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda worsened Nada’s plight, leaving him financially destroyed. He suffered from panic attacks and insomnia as a consequence of the false allegations.
Islamic Relief Worldwide – Forced Resignations
The UK-based charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide, also fell victim to the UAE’s smear campaign. Alp Services, led by Mario Brero, pitched a campaign to smear the humanitarian organization, falsely linking it to the Muslim Brotherhood and violent extremists. Heshmat Khalifa, a member of the organization’s board of trustees, became a target of the campaign. Despite the allegations not sticking, Brero resorted to resurfacing old antisemitic posts by Khalifa, causing him to resign from his position. The charity faced inquiries from British, Swedish, and German authorities, and banks threatened to halt fund transfers to crisis zones worldwide, negatively impacting millions of vulnerable individuals dependent on the charity’s support.
The UAE’s widespread smear campaign, executed through Alp Services, had a far-reaching and devastating impact on individuals and organizations falsely associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. From ruined music careers to destroyed businesses and forced resignations, the campaign left lasting scars on the lives of those targeted. The repercussions of such actions raise important questions about justice and accountability in an increasingly interconnected world.
