German magazine Der Spiegel has revealed the role played by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in tarnishing Qatar’s reputation in Europe.
The leaked documents expose Abu Dhabi’s relentless attempts to smear Qatar with the assistance of specialized Swiss investigators. The investigation also uncovers the extension of these efforts within German territory.
Operating out of an office on Rue de Montchoisy in Geneva, Alp Services, a private investigation company, employs teams of investigators, public relations experts, and advocates. The company offers espionage services and conducts smear campaigns, catering to politicians, wealthy businessmen, and states.
The leaked documents reveal Abu Dhabi’s desperate attempts to tarnish Qatar’s reputation, utilizing specialized Swiss investigators and extending these efforts within German territory.
One of the primary targets of Alp Services is the state of Qatar. The company was tasked with promoting the idea of connections between individuals, relevant institutions in Qatar, extremist Islamic organizations, and terrorists, regardless of the validity of the allegations. Alp Services collaborates with media organizations, particularly the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, to exert influence in the region.
Alp Services and the UAE have specifically targeted the Muslim Brotherhood. The magazine highlights Abu Dhabi’s efforts to portray individuals and institutions associated with Qatar as connected to Islamists and terrorists, regardless of the veracity of these claims.
The UAE had previously banned the Muslim Brotherhood and considered it one of the most powerful organized opposition groups, resulting in members being imprisoned or forced into exile. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed issued a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood following the Arab Spring, making their suppression a personal goal.
The investigation confirms that Alp Services has become a tool for the UAE in Europe, conducting smear campaigns and exerting political influence. The leaked data reveals the daily cooperation between the Swiss company and an Emirati intelligence officer named “Matar.”
Recorded phone conversations shed light on discussions regarding weather, the coronavirus, past and future visits, and business matters.
Another successful project undertaken by Alp Services was the vilification of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) and its attempts to undermine its activities. IRW, founded in Birmingham, UK in 1984, is one of the largest Muslim charitable organizations providing humanitarian assistance to the impoverished and needy. Despite operating in multiple countries, it has been listed as a terrorist organization in the UAE.
The UAE’s targeting of Qatar extends to German territory, with Germany viewed as an essential target due to its large Muslim population. Alp Services is aware of Germany’s sensitivity toward profiling religious and ethnic minorities.
Alp Services appears to have established contact with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which was part of the German government at the time. Documents reference a “secret exchange” with German parliament member Christoph de Vries.
On August 25, 2020, De Vries received an email from a woman whose name, upon searching, was linked to a prestigious institution. The forged email created an atmosphere against Islamic Relief Deutschland and associated it with critical articles in “Die Zeit” magazine, summarizing their content.
The email claimed that the organization received substantial funding from the German Foreign Ministry and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). However, it was later revealed that the email was part of the multiple identities used by Alp Services throughout Europe.
De Vries clarified that he did not know at the time that the Geneva-based office sent the email acting on behalf of the UAE. He stated that he had never contacted Alp Services, and the name meant nothing to him. He assumed an employee of the organization sent the email. The email and others called for the cessation of funding for Islamic Relief.
Following media interest in De Vries’ statements, the German government suspended funding for Islamic Relief and confirmed that the organization no longer receives financial support. This fulfilled the objective of Alp Services and the UAE to smear and undermine the work of the Islamic relief organization.
