Lawfare Project warns InterContinental Hotels Group of potential liability under U.S. “material support” law

April 30, 2017

Today, The Lawfare Project (LP) sent a letter to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), warning that IHG may risk violating U.S. federal law prohibiting material support for terrorism. The potential violation relates to a meeting of representatives of Hamas—a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO)—reportedly scheduled to take place tomorrow at the InterContinental Doha – The City hotel, in Qatar.

Forbidden forms of “material support or resources” include lodging and facilities. Should IHG host members of Hamas, the company and its employees may expose themselves to criminal and civil liability, with penalties including substantial fines and up to 20 years imprisonment.

The LP strongly urges IHG against hosting Hamas, or any other terrorist group.

The Weekly Standard covered this matter, quoting LP Director Brooke Goldstein: “You can’t do business in [the United States] if you’re also doing business with a designated terror organization.”