Leading Qatari opposition figure urges Doha to stop funding terrorism

CAIRO – 5 June 2017: Qatar’s leading opposition figure and member of the ruling family Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani headed to Doha Friday for mediation talks to ease tensions between Qatar and its neighboring Arab and Gulf states.

In remarks to London-based Al Hayat newspaper, Sheikh Saud said he had been invited by brother of the emir of Qatar Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

"My visit to Doha will discuss a compromise formula to break the current crisis that will strain the relationship between Qatar and its sister countries from the Gulf states and the Arab countries," Saud told Al Hayat newspaper.

"The mediation would address several points," Saud said, adding it would discuss the suspension of of the executive office of Qatar's First Lady Sheikha Mozah Al-Misnad, freezing the alliance between Doha and Tehran, ceasing all support to operations in Libya, Egypt, North Africa and Sudan. "The expulsion of all extremist elements hosted by Qatar is to be negotiated as well," according to Saud.

On Twitter, Saud wrote: "We hoped that foreign policy would change and our hopes were disappointed after you [Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani] joined forces with Iran against your brothers and set up terrorist groups and published electronic battalions to beat your opponents. Sheikh Tamim, Qatar has become a source of financing terrorism and an export port of extremist thought."

Earlier on Thursday, Saud announced he was preparing to form a political party in opposition to the ruling regime of Emir Tamim.

“We have long been silent about the irrational practices of the regime in Qatar,” Sheikh Saud said in remarks to Youm7 on Thursday, noting that some royal members are not satisfied with Tamim’s foreign policy with the Arab and Gulf states.

Bin Nasser also announced that the headquarters of the new party would locate to London; Qatar is one of the countries that banned political parties and has no electoral system.

Leaders from the family, headed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Tamim’s uncle, who is currently residing in Geneva, will form the opposition front against Tamim, declaring that they are the legitimate rulers.