Middle Eastern media is reporting that Qatar has no plans to abandon its support of the Muslim Brotherhood despite the recall of its ambassadors. According to a report in Al Arabiya, Qatar will continue to host Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi:
Qatar
March 6 2014 Qatar will not bow to demands from three Gulf states to alter its foreign policy, sources close to its government said, suggesting Doha is unlikely to abandon support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Syrian Islamists.
In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar on Wednesday, saying Doha had failed to abide by an accord not to interfere in each others’ internal affairs.
Hours later Qatar’s cabinet voiced ‘regret and surprise’ at the decision by the fellow-members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), but said Doha would not pull out its own envoys and that it remained committed to GCC security.
On Thursday, a source close to the Qatari government suggested Qatar would not comply.
‘Qatar will not let go of its foreign policy, no matter what the pressures are. This is a matter of principles which we will stick to, no matter the price,’ the source said.
The source also suggested Qatar would not stop its practice of playing host to members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Youssef al-Qaradawi, an influential Sunni cleric and a vocal critic of authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The GMBDW reported yesterday that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had recalled their envoys to Qatar, accusing the Qataris of not living up to their security agreements in connection with the prosecution of a Qatari citizen. The GMBDW reported on Monday that a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had sentenced thee individuals, including the Qatari citizen mentioned above, to prison terms of up to seven years on various charges relating to aiding and abetting the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE.
The GMBDW has been comprehensively covering the increasing pressure faced by the Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf countries including:
The troubles of Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi who has been antagonizing Gulf rulers with his increasingly strident criticisms.
The trials of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and cadre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The actions taken by Saudi Arabia of late against the Muslim Brotherhood.
The increasingly difficult situation faced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait.
The Gulf countries have long been significant sources of funding for the Global Muslim Brotherhood in the West so the increasing pressure on the Brotherhood in the Gulf will no doubt have a significant impact in the West as well.
