'Transparent media' helped communicate Qatar stand to global audience

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5 last year by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt is aimed at undermining Qatar's sovereignty, usurping the fortunes of the Qatari people and bringing about a change in the regime, Gulf Times' sister Arabic daily Arrayah's Editor-in-Chief Saleh bin Afsan al-Kuwari has said.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Qatar's dignity and victory after nine months of siege' hosted by Arrayah on Sunday, he observed that the siege nations wanted to usurp Qatari wealth after draining the wealth of their own people by implementing policies that created havoc in various Arab countries and also through supporting certain parties there.
Al-Kuwari, who moderated the event, noted that all the plans and measures of the blockading countries eventually failed due to the strong position of Qatar across different areas, including a transparent Qatari media and its major role in explaining facts to the international community.
All government departments concerned have also made instant as well as extensive efforts to address the crisis at various levels and won the praise of the entire world due to their high ethical stands and approach.
Al-Kuwari praised the role of the National Human Rights Committee in highlighting the various human rights violations committed by the siege countries against the people of Qatar.
He pointed out that the blockading countries have politicised sport and attempted to impede the implementation of projects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
They have also politicised arts and tried to use it to falsely defame Qatar.
Even education and health were politicised and Qatari patients and students in the blockading countries before June 5, 2017 were expelled without any humanitarian considerations, while Qatar continues to open its doors to welcome all.
Al-Kuwari said they went so far in their aggression against the Qatari people that they even expelled Qataris who were performing their religious rites in Makkah, and issued laws to ban and criminalise any show of sympathy with Qatar and its people. In this way, they suppressed the rights of their own people to express their feelings, he explained.
The Arrayah Editor-in-Chief gave a brief summary of the events that led to the blockade and how it was preplanned based on fabricated news. He said while the other countries insulted and tried to abuse the symbols of Qatar, Doha maintained its ethical integrity and overcame the situation, never resorting to such unethical practices.

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