Qatari politics?

[qatarperegrine]

There's an interesting juxtaposition of articles in today's Peninsula (one of the two English-language newspapers in Qatar.)

The first article is Emir outlines his Mideast vision, featuring another speech by H.H. Sheikh Hamad during his visit to the United States. As in many of these speeches he is reaffirming Qatar's interest in increasing relations with the U.S.:

"We in Qatar appreciate and and are proud of our strategic partnership as well as your support and cooperation, and we are looking forward to boosting these relations in all domains, which would turn would benefit the peoples of the two countries, and we hope that new chances would be available for you through our several annual activities in order to get well acquainted with development that our country was experiencing in various walks of life."

(fellow Sheikha Mouzah fans, check out her suit in the picure! She and the emir both wear Western clothes in the West)

The second article is Qaradawi renews call to boycott US, Israeli goods. Qaradawi is an Egyptian Islamic scholar who lives here in Qatar, and who has become famous through his religious talk show on Al Jazeera. He's often called a moderate but has been getting more radical in the last year or two; last month, for example. he issued a fatwah arguing that all Americans in Iraq, even civilians, are combatants and ought to be fought. On Friday, commemorating the 4th anniversary of the beginning of the Intifada, he urged followers to boycott American & Israeli goods.

That didn't really surprised me. What surprised me was this statement in the article:

"Qaradawi was severely critical of some Arab countries and said they were cultivating relations with Israel and its ally, the US. 'Shame on them,' he said."

The Peninsula does not, of course, mention which countries Qaradawi criticized. However, there is only one Arab country with relations with Israel: Qatar. And there is one emir currently in the U.S., making speeches on the importance of cultivating relations: Sheikh Hamad. This is the closest I have seen to criticism of the government since I've been here. I have to admit it makes me a little uneasy that it is coming from such quarters.

Comments

[materjibrail.livejournal.com]

I agree that when "moderates" talk this way it is worrying. I did note that he referred to those who "cultivate" relations with Israel and the US. Do you think this includes a warning to other countries that might move that way? Cut off a development he sees but would disapprove of?
It is a concern that Qatar is isolated in its stance, even though I heartily approve of the education and development planned by the Sheikh and Sheikha.
Did you see the news that Bahrain has closed down its human rights offices? I forget the details, but it's a step away from human rights.

[qatar.livejournal.com]

I'm really not sure how listened-to Qaradawi is; it's hard to get a good feel for that kind of thing. Certainly he's in The Peninsula more frequently than other local religious scholars. Last week, though, he was saying that the media has misrepresented his views, so he is at least not feeling as listened-to as he would like.

I hadn't heard about Bahrain's human rights offices, but it's starting to hit the news now. The human rights group (it's an NGO, not a government commission) says that it was shut down and its leader arrested because he held the prime minister responsible for the poverty of the majority of Bahrainis. The government says the group was shut down & leader arrested because they have been inciting people to violence. It's a rather grim situation.

Qatar's National Human Rights Commission seems to be doing OK. We keep accidentally ending up in their parking lot when trying to turn onto the D ring from Salwa Road. There is road construction going on everywhere in Doha, and often the "Diversions" (detours) don't actually work!

[nikki-nana.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to be too worried as that is probably not very productive. However, I think it is very wise to keep track of what people like Qaradawi are saying so you can make informed decisions. And that's for keeping us informed, too.

[nikki-nana.livejournal.com]

Am I doing this right? Am I in the "friends" mode so that I can speak more freely?

[qatar.livejournal.com]

If there's a lock symbol at the top of my post, then it can only be read by people on my friends list. So if you reply to one of THOSE posts, then only my family & friends will be able to read it. Here in the comments section of a public post, anybody can read what we say. (Hi, anybody!)

[nikki-nana.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up!