OFEDH urges Macron to press Qatar to stop terrorism support

PARIS - 15 September 2017: The Franco-Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (OFEDH) Friday called on French President Emmanuel Macron to press the Qatari regime to stop supporting terrorism around the world.

The request comes as Macron receives Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Élysée Palace today.

A number of French political parties and human rights groups have participated in a rally organized in front of the Eiffel Tower in protest at the Qatari emir visit.

The march called for the French leader to honor his pledge to dry up the sources of terrorism and stand firmly against those who support it, the head of the OFEDH John Maher told MENA.

Also, Maher denounced tax concessions, which allow Qatar to pump investments in the European country, appealing to Paris to cut off its diplomatic ties with Doha, if the Gulf state continues to finance terrorist groups.

The economic ties with Qatar should not affect the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, Maher said.

Furthermore, he asserted the necessity of giving a high priority to fighting terrorism and its sponsoring states.

In June, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Doha, accusing it of funding and supporting terrorism, in addition to interfering in their internal affairs.