Countries boycotting Qatar condemn hate speech

Information ministers from Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain met today to coordinate their efforts to deny those promoting extremism a media platform.

The quartet’s ministers of information stressed the importance of confronting hate speech and extremist rhetoric promoted by Qatar, after a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The ministers from Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain met today to coordinate their efforts to deny those promoting extremism a media platform.

The four Arab countries have accused Qatar of inciting hate, and providing a conducive environment for extremists to promote their agenda via funding networks in Qatar and the Al Jazeera news agency.

They also rejected the “politicisation of Hajj” and attempts to use the religious event to progress a political agenda.

The meeting in Jeddah concluded with a joint statement about the pivotal role that Saudi Arabia played in managing pilgrims performing Hajj and ensuring access for all Muslims to the holy site.

The four countries cut diplomatic relations with Doha on June 5 in what has become the worst diplomatic crisis for the GCC since its foundations more than thirty years ago.

Thirteen demands were issued to Qatar, which if agreed upon, would restore ties between the countries and Doha –the demands included ending their support of extremists groups and shutting down Al Jazeera news network.

Qatar has denied the accusations and say that the countries are attempting to undermine its sovereignty.

The Arab states accuse Qatar of funding terrorism in an attempt to meddle in their domestic affairs and thus destabilising the region while increasing ties with Iran.