LONDON: Qatar is allegedly trying to scuttle a conference planned in London today by opposition groups, it was claimed yesterday.
A spokesman for the Qatari opposition groups, Khaled Al Hail, said Doha was attempting to sabotage the conference, titled Qatar in the perspective of international security and stability, and pressuring British members of parliament to boycott it.
The conference is being organised by a group of Qatari dissidents to find a solution to the current crisis, and discuss stability and security of their country, he said.
It will be attended by a number of Qatari political leaders, academics and citizens to discuss the deteriorating situation of democracy, human rights, freedoms and combating terrorism in Qatar.
Discussions will focus on five topics:
1. Political Islam and the Support of Terrorism: relationship between Qatar and Iran; a major source of regional instability.
2. The absent role: Qatar’s aspirations towards an international influence in lieu of democracy and human rights. This theme will cover the violations of the international human rights. There will be a focus on Qatar’s organisation of the football World Cup in 2022.
4. Al Jazeerah news channel: a voice of free media or a trumpet for terrorism?
5. The empty circle: economy, geopolitics and the security of the world energy.
The conference, the first of its kind, will bring together a number of decision makers, world politicians, academicians and Qatari citizens to discuss democracy, human rights, freedom and fighting terrorism in Qatar, Mr Al Hail said.