Qatar funds riots in peaceful Bahrain, exploits minorities

CAIRO – 8 August 2017: Bahrain participated in an alliance to counter Qatar's support for terror many years after Doha formed its own alliance with Iran and the Bahraini opposition to bring down the government in Manama.

Most recently, a Monday meeting was held in Tehran between a Qatari delegation and Qatar-backed Bahraini opposition leaders.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of re-elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran in the presence of the country’s high-ranking officials.

Amgad Taha, regional manager of the British Middle East Center for Studies and Research (BMCSR), told Dotmsr that a British diplomat disclosed that the Qatari delegation in Iran has pledged to provide media support for the Bahraini opposition and Al-Ashtar Brigades, labeled as terrorist by the Arab quartet of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The main reason behind the Doha-Manama disputes is the Hawar Island ownership that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) approved its property to Bahrain in 2001.

Qatar asserted that its ambassadors to London and Geneva will coordinate with the Bahraini opposition’s representatives to mobilize the European public opinion in their favor, he added.

Taha also said all the protests took place in front of the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt in London were in coordination with Yousef bin Ali Al-Khater, Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Hamid Baeidinejad , Iran's Ambassador to the U.K.

In that context, Saudi journalist Mohamed Al-Khalid said that Qatar has supported and funded the Bahraini opposition movements at home and abroad for 20 years.

He noted that the demonstrations held by the so-called Bahraini opposition in front of Saudi embassies are actually staged by the Qatari authorities, with the aim to defame the Saudi kingdom and its allies who fight terrorism.

History of treason

It has been clear that Qatar supports opposition groups in the region with the help of Iran to destabilize the area and spread chaos. Since the four anti-terrorism countries have cut their diplomatic ties with Qatar, they have provided documents, recordings and evidence that showed Qatar's involvement in supporting terrorism in the region, opening the door for Tehran to intervene in the internal affairs of Arab and Gulf nations.

Since 2011, Bahrain has suffered a lot from Qatari interference in its internal affairs. Over the past few months, Bahrain has broadcasted tapes and leaked calls proving Qatar's involvement in stirring chaos inside the Gulf state.

Hamad bin Jassem

According to media reports, the former Qatari PM Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani shared close relations with Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society’s Secretary-General Ali Salman, where both leaders cooperated with the aim of creating chaos in Bahrain to force the government to accept a Qatari initiative at that time.

The initiative included four demands: the closure of Bahrain TV channel, release of those arrested in the riots in Bahrain, the formation of a transitional government within two months, and ensure the right of Bahraini citizens to demonstrate.

Tamim’s advisor

The Bahraini television broadcasted a leaked call on June 16 between Emir Tamim’s advisor Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah and the fugitive leader of the Dawa Party in Lebanon, Hassan Ali, in which they agreed to incite chaos in Bahrain and withdraw Qatari forces participating in the Shield of the Gulf alliance from Manama, during the riots.

Mohamed Hayder

On Monday, a documentary was released showing the results of the investigation into the bombing that took place in Manama on July 28, 2015, which revealed that a Qatari businessman called Mohamed Sulaiman Haidar had funded the terrorist act.

The investigations also showed that the Qatari businessman has offered huge funds for militants in Bahrain since 2010.

Bahrain Opposition Bloc

The Doha-funded Bahrain Opposition Bloc in London (BOBL) announced via its official account on Twitter on Sunday organizing a forum in London coinciding with the anniversary of the independence of Bahrain on Aug. 14, demanding the overthrow of the current Bahraini regime.

The forum’s programs will last for five days. The first day will include a seminar in Dar Al Hekma, titled “British political legacy and Gulf crises,” on Aug. 11.

On Aug. 12, a sit-in will be held outside the Cabinet headquarters. On Aug. 13, there will be a photo gallery in Marble Arch, and a press conference on Aug. 14. The last day will include a sit-in outside the Saudi embassy in London.

Qatar’s support to terrorist groups in the region continues despite the Arab demands to stop supporting and funding terrorists and extremists in Arab countries, the Arab sources added under the condition of anonymity.

Doha provides outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and Shiite opposition leaders with Iranian funds, aiming at tarnishing the image of Saudi Arabia over false allegations that it backs violations against the Shiites in Bahrain in coincidence of Bahrain’s Independence Day on Aug. 14.

The main reason behind the Doha-Manama disputes is the Hawar Island ownership that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) approved its property to Bahrain in 2001.