Qatar, accused by a German minister of financing ISIL "jihadists", condemned on Thursday the group’s beheading of US journalist James Foley as a "crime against the principles of Islam".

Qatar, accused by a German minister of financing ISIL "jihadists", condemned on Thursday the group's beheading of US journalist James Foley as a "crime against the principles of Islam".

The gas-rich nation's foreign ministry "expressed in strongest terms its condemnation of the killing of US journalist James Foley at the hands of a criminal group," in a statement published by the official QNA news agency.

A video of Foley's beheading was posted online on Tuesday by the ISIL, a "jihadist" group operating in Iraq and Syria, prompting global condemnation.

In the nearly five-minute video, the group declares that Foley was condemned to die in retaliation for US President Barack Obama's ordering of air strikes against ISIL positions in northern Iraq.

"This despicable crime is against the principles of Islam and humanity, and violates human values and international law," said the Qatari statement, lamenting the loss of a journalist "known for his courage in covering events" in danger zones including Syria.

Doha's reaction comes a day after Germany's development aid minister, Gerd Mueller, accused Qatar of financing ISIL "jihadists".

"A story like this always has a history," Mueller said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF. "Who is financing these troops? Hint: Qatar."