Qatar tried to oust regime

Manama : A new proof exposing Qatar’s role in funding violent protests in the Kingdom was released yesterday by Bahrain’s state television. 

The report of a “leaked conversation” aired by the State-run Bahrain Television reveals that Qatar was behind the failed coup and the violent events took place in the Kingdom in February and March, 2011.

It reported that, former Qatari Foreign Minister Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, in 2011 had contacted Ali Salman —then General Secretary of the dissolved Al Wefaq Islamic Society -- and asked him to urge protesters to flood the streets and ramp up pressure on the state. A 2016 court order dissolved Al-Wefaq for “harbouring terrorism”, while its Salman has been behind bars since 2014.

In the calls, Shaikh Hamad and Salman had allegedly agreed to “work together to escalate unrest so as to harm the interests of the nation and undermine its stability, which are tantamount to the crime of communicating with a foreign state with the intention of harming national interests”.

Al Thani can be heard explaining to Salman in the tape that Qatar is trying to convince GCC states to “avoid using Peninsula Shield Force in Bahrain.”

“This is our prime objective,” Al Thani told Salman saying: “Please trust us, you know that we have always been honest with you.”

Salman, who is behind bars since 2014 for “harbouring terrorism” told Al Thani,  “Any use of force, I believe, will worsen the situation and will not solve it.”

“We trust in you,” Salman said adding; “There are people shooting bullets in some areas and this is not a method proving any intention for dialogue.” “We don’t want any threatening speech, or else the youth will be angry.”

“We hardly convinced them,” Salman told Al Thani, while hinting that he could arrange a meeting between Al Thani and the US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman back then.

Salman can be heard assuring Al Thani that he recently had a conversation with Mr. Feltman and that they are “trying to find solutions”. Salman also told Shaikh Hamad that “Mr. Feltman also likes to talk to you”. A court order, carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA), said Public Prosecutor Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain  had launched an investigation into a series of phone calls.

Confirming the actions taken by the Public Prosecution, Al Buainain said, “Exchanging intelligence information with a foreign country to jeopardise the Kingdom’s national interests is a crime.”

The Public Prosecution will announce the outcome of the investigation as soon as it is completed,” Al Buainain added. Along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in June on accusations that the emirate supports terrorism.