Georgetown Accused of Failing to Register as Foreign Agent

"Georgetown University and the Qatari Foreign Ministry signed a deal: Qatar promised the institution $630,000 for research on Islamophobia and related programming. In return, Georgetown pledged to follow some stipulations. The university agreed that its Islamophobia-focused Bridge Initiative would "consult with the Islam and Muslims Initiative," another Qatar-supported program, and consider its session, theme and speaker recommendations. The contract also said the university must "organize and host these events and activities in Washington, D.C.""

"Conservatives are now criticizing the university for the contract, arguing it allows Qatar to improperly influence the university's programming. And the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a pro-Israel group whose stated mission is to combat antisemitism, is urging the Justice Department to investigate Georgetown, alleging that it's clearly violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a complex law that generally requires what it defines as "agents of a foreign principal" to register with the attorney general. The Brandeis Center contends Georgetown should've registered as a foreign agent of Qatar."

""The citizens of the United States are entitled to understand when an ostensibly academic institution is, instead, simply peddling the point of view of a foreign government," wrote Evan Slavitt, the center's general counsel, in an email to Inside Higher Ed. "The Brandeis Center, concerned about such influence being used in a way that could further facilitate anti-Semitism in the United States, simply wants Georgetown to be more open about its relationship to the government of Qatar.""

Georgetown University and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry signed an agreement providing $630,000 for research on Islamophobia and related programming. Georgetown agreed that its Bridge Initiative would consult with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, another Qatar-supported program, and would consider recommendations about session themes and speakers. The contract required Georgetown to organize and host events and activities in Washington, D.C. Conservatives criticized the arrangement, arguing it could allow Qatar to improperly influence university programming. The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law urged the Justice Department to investigate Georgetown for alleged Foreign Agents Registration Act violations, claiming Georgetown should have registered as a foreign agent of Qatar. Georgetown did not provide responses to multiple questions about the agreement.

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