World Alert: Secret records appear to show Qatar paid $275 million to free members of its royal family kidnapped in Iraq

In late 2015, kidnappers seized nine members of Qatar's royal family and 21 others during a hunting trip in southern Iraq. Nearly 17 months later, the hostages were freed unharmed after Qatar reportedly agreed to a settlement involving cash payments totaling $275 million. Intercepted text and phone messages made available to The Post appear to show Qatari officials agreeing to pay tens of millions of dollars to a group of mediators that included senior Iranian officials as well as representatives of a paramilitary group that the United States regards as a terrorist organization. Qatari officials assert that their government made no ransom payments to kidnappers or to terrorist groups. Qatar has not disputed claims that it provided money to foreign governments to win the hostages' release.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     World Alert Apr 28, 10:07 AM     Secret records appear to show Qatar paid $275 million to free members of its royal family kidnapped in Iraq In late 2015, kidnappers seized nine members of Qatar's royal family and 21 others during a hunting trip in southern Iraq. Nearly 17 months later, the hostages were freed unharmed after Qatar reportedly agreed to a settlement involving cash payments totaling $275 million. Intercepted text and phone messages made available to The Post appear to show Qatari officials agreeing to pay tens of millions of dollars to a group of mediators that included senior Iranian officials as well as representatives of a paramilitary group that the United States regards as a terrorist organization. Qatari officials assert that their government made no ransom payments to kidnappers or to terrorist groups. Qatar has not disputed claims that it provided money to foreign governments to win the hostages' release. Read more » Advertisement You received this email because you signed up for news alerts from The Washington Post. Manage my newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Help ©2018 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071