Qatar is one of the Gulf State countries that is located in the Arabian Peninsula. The country shares her border with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Qatar was formerly a British Protectorate which gained independence in 1971. Since then, it has been a monarch ruled by the Al-Thani family.
Qatar is well endowed with natural resources such as oil and natural oil fields. The only problem is that it is alleged that it supports Islamist groups around Middle East.
Qatar royal family is accused of having been bankrolling terrorist groups for the past decades especially in the Middle East.
Right now Qatar is isolated from the her neighbors such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates. Kuwait is playing the role of a mediator.
Sample of demands made by Saudi Arabia:
- Close Al-Jazeera Television and other affiliated media companies
- Server relationships with Iran
- Remove Turkish Troops from Qatar soil
- End contacts with terror organizations such as Muslim Brotherhood, ISS, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Al Qaeda.
- Submit to monthly compliance audits for the first two years, then quarterly checks and annual checks for the next 10 years.
Qatar is expected to comply with the 13 demands in 10 days.
It is like being in between a rock and a hard place for Qatar. This is the case considering that the country depends on Iran and Turkey for food imports.
Meanwhile, United Kingdom has voiced her concerns by saying that the demands are quite unreasonable.
“Gulf Unity can only be restored when all countries involved are willing to discuss terms that are realistic.”
– Boris Johnson, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary
In the United States President Donald Trump through his prolific tweets seems to be taking all the credit for the embargo slapped on Qatar by the Gulf States led by Saudi Arabia.
Qatar’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thain did not mince her words on this matter.
She said that the 13 demands on her country are focused on
“sabotaging our relationship with the world and tarnishing our reputation in a way by using the terrorism card.”
Political analysts have pointed out that the 13 demands are violating international law because they are interfering with Qatar’s sovereignty.
This is a developing story. We will keep you updated on this developing story.
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