Qatar wants the West to see it as a responsible, “moderate” mediator. Al Jazeera wants skeptics to believe the network has toned down its most inflammatory (i.e. terror-loving) instincts and matured into something closer to a conventional global broadcaster.
But it can never maintain the facade for long.
According to the official website for the 17th Al Jazeera Forum, taking place February 7 to 9, 2026 in Doha, the conference’s headline theme is “The Palestinian Cause and the Regional Balance of Power in the Context of an Emerging Multipolar World.”
On its face, that sounds like the usual nauseating, sanctimonious, academia-infused soirée one might expect from Doha. But look at the actual lineup, and the mask slips.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Honored With Keynote Speech
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is listed as one of the keynote speakers.
This matters because Iran is not a neutral “regional stakeholder.” It is a regime currently facing global scrutiny over the scale of its crackdown on mass protests. Multiple reports and opposition-linked monitoring groups claim that as many as 43,000 people may have been murdered overall, with roughly 30,000 killed in the span of just two days, figures that major outlets note are difficult to independently verify due to internet shutdowns and information controls.
So yes, Qatar is giving a keynote platform to Iran’s top diplomat while the world is still sorting through the scale of one of the bloodiest internal crackdowns in recent history.
Opening Session: Hamas’ Khaled Meshaal
The program lists Khaled Meshaal, described plainly as “Head of Hamas abroad,” as a featured speaker in the conference’s opening session, titled “Gaza after Two Years of War: The Resistance Project, Occupation Plans and Prospects for Internationalisation.” Meshaal is one of two frontrunners gunning (pun intended) for the leadership of the entire terrorist organization.
Other Senior Officials Speaking at the Forum
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia (keynote speaker)
Burhanettin Duran, head of Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications (keynote speaker)
Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani, Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network and a member of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani royal family (keynote speaker)
Rima Hassan, member of the European Parliament (keynote speaker)
Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s deputy foreign minister
It’s worth noting that the Al Jazeera Forum has a history of adding speakers as the event date approaches, suggesting the final lineup may expand further.
Addittional Speakers
On Day Two, Session Four, the program turns to “accountability and the rule of law” in a “multipolar world,” featuring Fatou Bensouda, the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Other speakers include Omar Makki, the Regional Legal Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross; Abdullah Al-Aryan, Professor of History at Georgetown University in Qatar; and Ghassan Abu Sittah, a prominent figure in conflict medicine and Gaza advocacy who also serves as the Rector of the University of Glasgow.
Not Hiding the Ball
Qatar can keep insisting it’s “moderate.” But the Al Jazeera Forum tells a simpler story. All we need to do is listen to them in their own words.
If you’re wondering what Qatar is selling here, don’t overthink it. The conference theme says “multipolar world.” The speaker list says “Khaybar khaybar, ya yahud.”
Thank you for raising this issue