Dubai security chief delivers a stinging attack over Al Jazeera and fake news that leads to terrorist acts
Dubai’s security chief has launched an attack on Qatar’s Al Jazeera network, accusing the broadcaster of spreading misleading news that has contributed to terrorist acts.
Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, head of General Security for Dubai, said Doha had “aligned itself with terrorists and provided them with five-star hotel accommodation”, referring to senior Hamas officials.
The outspoken former Dubai Police chief was addressing a conference on countering extremism and fake news.
“What we see today in the Arab world is concrete evidence of the role played by misleading and biased media,” Gen Khalfan said.
“This fake news and misleading information has led to escalation in violence that turned into dangerous security crises, adding a greater burden on the security services.”
Gen Khalfan said the crisis continued to dominate the agenda in the region.
“We arranged for this event before the Qatar crisis, but it takes place today while the GCC region is going through this,” he said. “The media is crucial element in shaping and changing the course of events during crises.
“We are facing destructive media. The Arab world is facing armies of social media users who spread rumours and baseless news that lead to escalating violence and create a grave security crisis.”
Gen Khalfan spoke as mediation by the US and European nations have failed to ease the crisis, which began last month when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt boycotted Qatar over its links to terrorism.
Yesterday, it was announced that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait next week.
Ankara will try to balance conflicting interests in the region, including its military base in Qatar, which the quartet has demanded be closed.
And Egypt put an end to visafree travel for Qataris, although it listed exceptions including students.
As the crisis between Qatar and its GCC neighbours continues to loom over the Arabian Gulf, analysts say the European Union could play a vital role in finding a solution.
In a talk on the “Gulf diplomatic Crisis and its Relevance for Europe” in Brussels yesterday, they spoke of co-operation among states in dealing with terrorism, Qatar’s “poor record” in this regard and using the European example to assist in resolving the matter.
“We are primarily looking at Qatar’s extensive practice in supporting terrorism and extremism,” said Dr Richard Burchill, a speaker and director of engagement and research at Abu Dhabi think tank Trends Research and Advisory.
“This is important because the global and regional efforts to counter and overcome terrorism and extremism cannot tolerate one state acting contrary to collective efforts.
“The 2013-2014 agreements with Qatar attempted to put in place a collective stance on stopping support for terrorism and extremism and Qatar chose to disregard this.
“Qatar needs to co-operate with its neighbours and the wider world in stopping support for terrorism and extremism,” Dr Burchill said.
“Where there are designated terrorists in its territory it needs to act and it needs to co-operate with the GCC.”
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain imposed sanctions on Qatar on June 5, accusing it of financing terrorist and extremist groups. Egypt announced on Monday that Qatari nationals, with some exceptions, will as of July 20 be required to apply for a visa to enter the country.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister for Foreign Affairs, also said on Monday a solution must be found within the region but that it must be guaranteed from outside.
Experts say Europe has a role to play in showing how states with different views can co-operate. “There is an opportunity for the institutions of Europe to step in and take a more direct role in the matter,” said Dr Ahmed Al Hamli, president and founder of Trends Research and Advisory. “European co-operation is built on the foundations of ideological and political differences. The region has been successful in building institutions that instil confidence and co-operation among states. Europe needs to bring these experiences to the Gulf to support global security.”
Marc Martinez, a senior associate at the Delma Institute, an Abu Dhabi think tank, said the question of terrorism is crucial in Europe.
“After the recent attacks in London and Manchester, British citizens have been more assertive in their demands for concrete answers to the evergrowing terrorist threat,” he said. “The EU is divided on counterterrorism and although its members will all pledge on the necessity to co-operate, they continue to develop their own national counterterrorism strategies.”
There is an opportunity for European institutions to step in and take a direct role in the matter
He said the concept of sovereignty in the age of transnational terrorism was in question.
“Because there is no unified European strategy to combat terrorism, Gulf countries cannot expect any form of assistance from the EU itself, although there is most likely a lot of experience to gain from studying the difficulties European countries faced in their attempt to mutualise the fight against terror,” Mr Martinez said.
“Co-operation is an absolute necessity.”
Mr Martinez said increasing counterterrorism co-operation between the EU and the GCC will most likely have to wait for the peaceful resolution of the current tensions with Qatar.
Meanwhile, according to Dr Burchill, “to have a GCC member not co-operating but also supporting the forces one is trying to overcome is detrimental to the national efforts”.
Dr Burchill added: “The main challenges in tackling terrorism and extremism is getting agreement on who is a terrorist and the extent of threats from extremism. But the UN has a designated terrorist list, the US has one as well, and it is clear that co-operation in these situations is needed, but then states need the political will to cooperate.
“So far, Qatar is inclined to pursue its own policies, but this is becoming destabilising when the region needs more stability, not less.”