Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Editor-in-Chief
On this day last year, the website of the Qatar News Agency (QNA) was hacked and hackers published false statements attributed to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which was an incident for launching a series of false facts and fake news, which was aimed at tarnishing the image of the State of Qatar and try to undermine its sovereignty.
The repeated denials by Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, the CEO of Qatar Media Corporation, Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani, Director of the Government Communication Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were not heard. Because the siege countries were working on the implementation of a plan prepared in advance of the hacking. This was confirmed by the investigations carried out by our government since the first day of the hacking with support of the FBI and the British National Anti-Crime Agency.
According to the Washington Post, which quoted US intelligence officials saying that the UAE was behind the hacking of the agency’s website. The US intelligence did not say whether the UAE had directly hacked it or assigned the job to other agency. Anyway, the crime was committed and it was found out who was behind it.
In light of this, the rest of the plan was completed and relations with the State of Qatar severed and land, air and sea blockade was imposed on Qatar, but all this did not lead to the planned results.
Once Qatar realised that there was a plan to undermine it sovereignty, and control its national decision, it began in record time to create alternative sources of supply and trade routes so that the daily life of the residents of Qatar was not affected. Qatar has a strong economy and significant investments in various sectors, and it is not difficult for it to open up new markets.
Even the most pessimists did not think of what the blockading countries have done to harm the State of Qatar, preaching principals of the brotherhood, religion and family interference and other things which cannot be plunged in the inter-relations and differences of the GCC countries.
Qatar has stood firm since the crime of cyber hacking, calling and wondering where the voice of wisdom and trying to preserve (as always stood for the right), the ties of the Gulf brothers has gone, but the goals set for this blockade was greater than the Gulf system and things in common as it has become clear.
This cyber hacking and the subsequent measures did not discourage Qatar from its march towards the future and can not in any way surrender its sovereign decision. Qatar has assumed its position among the developed countries of the world. This is the best proof that our country is subject to envy from countries that were once like brothers and neighbour. There is no competition between us and them. On the contrary, we supported these countries through the GCC. We in Qatar are the most interested country in this Gulf organisation. We continue to welcome all ideas that lead to unity in the face of the threats to the region.
Qatar will remain the (Castle of the Oppressed) and we will continue the journey of building for the future. We have surpassed the rhetoric of these countries and it has become part of the past, our markets are open, our economy is diversified, our investments are great and our leadership is wise and conscious. Thanks to Allah for these blessings.
