Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Editor-in-Chief
Days are passing while Qatar is moving smoothly with confidence towards the future and better world glowing with spirit of innovation and success. Seventeen months have passed since the imposition of the siege on Qatar by four countries, three of them are members of the so-called GCC organization and the fourth one is an Arab country that hosts the headquarter of the League.
They tried and did the impossible to subjugate Qatar and control its sovereign decision and national capabilities but they failed miserably and are still failing to achieve what they were seeking through conspiracy, deceit and lies.
The conspiratorial act was not coincidental but was an extension of years of deliberate intentions against Qatar. While, Qatar spared no effort to unite and support all in order to elevate the status and prestige of the GCC in all dimensions.
Back to the blockade which has become a blessing for Qatar and its people and thanks to Allah that we are living in accordance to our convictions and the supreme interests of our nation. Attempts to arbitrarily level allegations against Qatar have increased the country's determination and has made its stance clear and solid before the world which looks at this fabricated issue of siege with shock and astonishment.
The world today is witnessing what is happening to one of the countries that imposed siege on Qatar and how it is facing threats of consequences, same to what Qatar faced in June 2017. Injustice does not last and lying rope is short, as one of their media prominent figure said in light of the criticism and threats his country facing, "our country has many options and will be open, including readiness to establish Russian military base in Tabuk and change the currency by selling oil in Chinese Yuan, in addition to have rapprochement with Iran to restore strong relations”.
Now Iran is not a terrorist state according to their perspective? Qatar was blamed for having relations with it! I am not gloating, but my gloating is on the status nation has reached, and how it has descended to such level of weakness.
All these threats and intimidation came as everyone knows only after the case of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who disappeared after he entered his country’s consulate in Istanbul. More than two weeks have passed and no one knows his fate and the truth is still absent and investigations are still underway while news analysis and leaks by the Turkish security are confirming his death inside the consulate and the dismemberment of his body.
The information on the case is contradictory and has become close to the evidence of murder, according to the current data, which is being discussed by all Turkish, US and Saudi circles to some extent.
Jamal Khashoggi, I knew him very closely, was a professional writer and columnist of The Peninsula before the imposition of the current siege on the State of Qatar. I always found him decent, modest, with integrity of ethics and good treatment, and as a professional journalist.
Following the crisis, he left Saudi Arabia, and I did not find him opposing the Saudi government rather whenever he mentioned the King or the Crown Prince he showed full respect without undermining their positions.
Even when he started writing for 'The Washington Post', the paper nobody doubts for its status, credibility and its role in global media, Khashoggi’s most of writings contained kinds of advices to the rulers of his country with a heart vibrant of patriotism. He repeatedly said in his interviews that he wanted to go home in peace and safe and after writing any article, he did not want to land in jail.
We do not want to go too far in explaining the dimensions of Khashoggi, which is not our topic now and now we need to defend him because his journalistic record can itself respond to sceptics who question his loyalty to his country. His case has become the burning issue now in the region and unfolding developments after his disappearance and killing have become a core issue.
We here in Qatar relying on Allah and then on ourselves in the formulation of our present and future as the siege has no longer occupied our minds, but at the same time we believe in the importance of preserving the security of the region and how to distance from any regional differences intended to fragment it.
Unfortunately, this disunity has been paved by a number of those people having interest in it and war traders. We wish only the good for all in the region, where everyone is required to stay united and show solidarity in order to face all challenges, all dangers being faced today. Allah save Qatar, its Amir and people and protect them from all evils.
