Qatar is gateway for terrorists : FM

Manama : Qatar has become a gateway for terrorist organisations to enter the GCC region as it continues to facilitate entry to citizens of courtiers harbouring terrorists, Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said yesterday.

Referring to the recent announcement by the Qatari authorities allowing entry to citizens of certain countries that host terrorist organisations, such as Lebanon, Shaikh Khalid said that Qatar is facilitating entry of terrorists to Gulf countries.

Commenting on his official Twitter page, Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said: “Revoking entry visas for Lebanese citizens, with all due respect to the people of Lebanon, open the doors wide for members and followers of Hezbollah terrorist organisation to enter Qatar and the GCC”.

By the beginning of the year 2016, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE took several procedures to limit relations with Lebanon and ban  their citizens from travelling to Lebanese soil. This came as the Lebanese government failed to condemn the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic missions in Iran.

During the same period, Interior Ministry here announced that it has taken procedures to deport Lebanese citizens who had links with Hezbollah, which was declared by the states as a terrorist organisation in the same year.

“Qatar facilitated the granting of entry and residency visas in contravention of its obligations to GCC regulations that facilitate the movement of residents between the GCC countries and this is security risk,” the minister tweeted on Wednesday.

Referring to the Kingdom’s decision to impose entry visas on Qatar citizens and residents, the minister added: “The visas were not aimed at the people of Qatar, but were aimed at the facilitation of Qatar, granting visas and residency to citizens of countries sponsoring terrorism and extremism.”

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued directives to tighten entry and residence procedures in light of the current security requirements and to impose the visas on Qatar’s citizens and residents.

Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa announced on Tuesday that the visas will come into effect on November 19 this year.