Protests in France refusing Qatari Emir’s visit

CAIRO - 26 June 2017: Expressing their refusal of Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani’s visit to France scheduled this week; number of protesters organized a demonstration calling for 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.

During the visit, Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani was supposed to discuss the Gulf dispute with the newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron.

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.

On Tuesday, June 6, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.

No official details were published about the results of the meetings; however, according to Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa’s statements to Saudi newspaper Makkah on June 8, Kuwait’s attempts at reconciliation had “failed.”

On June 23, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain have sent a list of 13 demands to the Qatari government, including closing Al Jazeera television, reducing ties with Iran and closing of a Turkish military base in Qatar.