Al-Murrah tribe elders discuss Qatar’s actions against them

Al-Murrah tribe elders have met on Saturday in Saudi Arabia's Ahsa region to discuss Qatar’s recent measures against them and which included revoking some of their families’ citizenship.

Qatari authorities had revoked the citizenship of Sheikh Taleb bin Lahom bin Shreim and 54 of his relatives, including 18 women and children, because he refused to follow their orders to criticize Saudi Arabia.

Al-Murrah tribe constitutes the majority of around 60 percent of the Qatari people.

Sources told Al Arabiya that the meeting will address the recent measures and the detention of Hajj pilgrim Hamad al-Marri.

Significant role 

The Al-Murrah tribe played a significant role throughout Qatar’s history as it contributed to strengthening the state ever since its establishment.

In 2004, however, Qatari authorities revoked the citizenship of over 6,000 of the tribe’s families, suspended them from their jobs, demanded they evacuate their residences and threatened to detain some of them. Qatar even raided some of their houses.

Qatar thus violated Article 18 of its constitution which stipulates that the society is based on the pillars on justice, freedom, equality and high morals.

The measures also violated Article 19 which stipulates that the state must protect these pillars, guarantee security and stability and provide equal opportunities to all citizens and Article 20 which confirms enhancing the spirit of patriotism and brotherhood among all citizens.

As a result of these measures, many of the tribe’s members became stateless and had to reside in a desert area between the cities of Hofuf and Dammam.

source: Alarabiya