Libyan protest against Qatar in France

CAIRO - 1 July 2017: A number of Libyan protesters organized a demonstration against Doha’s policy against their country at the Qatari Embassy in France on Friday.

The protesters held signs written in English, French and Arabic along with several caricatures mocking Doha. As reported by Youm7 and Libyan sources, the protest accused Qatar of backing terrorism in Libya and, as a result, is considered a direct reason for the country’s current socio-political situation.

On June 26, another protest was organized outside the Qatari embassy in France refusing Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s visit to discuss efforts to defuse the dispute in the Gulf with newly elected President Emmanuel Macron. Protesters urged the French government not to receive the Qatari Emir.

The demonstration demanded the Qatari government to offer a formal apology to countries that had been attacked by terrorism especially the French people, according to Sky News.

Qatar’s relations with several Arab and Gulf States have been strained since May 24, when the Qatari state-run news agency reported Sheikh Tamim al-Thani’s statements regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise.”

On Monday, June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar for its “continuous support for terrorism,” closing their airspace and seaports to Qatari transportation.