Washington DC (CNN Business) The Justice Department ordered an Al Jazeera online news platform based in the US to register as a foreign agent on Monday, declaring that the outlet is "an agent of the Government of Qatar," according to a letter from the Justice Department obtained by CNN. Since then they have collected information, including from Al Jazeera itself. CNN has reached out to the embassies of the UAE and Qatar for comment. The letter said that AJ+ has about 80 employees in the US whose salaries "are paid by funds originating with the Government of Qatar" and whose work is carried out "at the direction and control" of Qatari leadership. AJ+ publishes current events on its own website and on various social media platforms.

Source: The Nation September 16, 2020 16:18 UTC