Qatar seeks sympathy from world, leading Emirati writer says

CAIRO – 5 June 2017: Qatar has apparently failed to convince the world of its preposterous media strategy of “hacking and faking,” claimed Mohamed Al-Hammadi, editor in chief of the UAE-based Itthadia newspaper, in his latest editorial.

After confirming that Qatari embassies across the world received an official state message titled “The malignant media campaign against Qatar,” Al-Hammadi blasted Qatar’s media tactics. “Instead of reconsidering its close ties to Iran and standing alongside the Arab countries of the GCC, it keeps weeping to the world over the banning of their media outlets and broadcasters in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.”

In May, the UAE and Saudi Arabia blocked Qatari state-run media outlets over provocative statements allegedly made by Qatari’s Emir Tamim bin Hammad, in which he lashed out against the US and Saudi Arabia along with UAE.

Qatar later reported that the Qatari news agency had been hacked and that the statements were fake.

In its message to its embassies, Qatar reiterated the significance of stability and peace in the Gulf Area, its keenness to defuse any regional crisis and willingness to preserve achievements made by the GCC, Al-Hammadi said.

“What’s happening now is an attempt to undermine the Qatari government’s efforts to preserve peace and security of the region,” the message argued.

The message ended with a “warning” of serious consequences if Arab countries do not proceed to end “the escalation,” Al-Hammadi said, adding that what Qatar perceives as a “campaign” Arab countries see as an attempt to raise the alarm over Qatar’s current stand in hopes the country would correct its course.

In May, the UAE and Saudi Arabia blocked Qatari state-run media outlets over provocative statements allegedly made by Qatari’s Emir Tamim bin Hamamad, in which he lashed out against the US and Saudi Arabia, as well as the UAE.