JUNE | #Qatar

Qatar was a top trending hashtag both regionally and worldwide in June 2017 after a group of Arab Countries, namely Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut off diplomatic relations with the Gulf state, citing its alleged support for terrorism as the main reason behind their decision. The diplomatic crisis (or Qatarstrophe as some funny Twitter users pointed out) imposed strict measures on Qatar, from wide-ranging sanctions and trade/travel bans to the withdrawing of ambassadors, and eventually went on to received international attention from the world’s biggest political leaders, resulting in an extended online debate on the underlying motives and potential political/practical repercussions it entails.