Updated with comments from the German government
Qatar has joined the chorus of voices worldwide condemning the beheading of American journalist James Foley, who was killed in a video message posted by self-proclaimed Islamic State militants on Tuesday.
Yesterday, QNA reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying it condemned Foley’s murder “at the hand of a criminal group.” The statement continued:
“The ministry described the incident as a heinous crime that goes against all Islamic and humanitarian principles, as well as international laws and conventions.
The ministry expressed its deep sorrow at the loss of Foley, who showed courage in conveying the truth from the most dangerous spots in the world, including the suffering of Syrians. The ministry also expressed its condolences to his family and peers.”
The remarks came a day after German Development Minister Gerd Mueller accused Qatar of funding IS members.
Reuters reports Mueller as saying:
“You have to ask who is arming, who is financing ISIS troops. The keyword there is Qatar – and how do we deal with these people and states politically?”
On Friday, the German government said it “regretted” any misunderstanding caused by the remarks and added that it had found no evidence to support Mueller’s comments.
Qatar did not respond to the accusation publicly, but has in the past denied any support for insurgents in Syria and Iraq.
However, the country is widely believed to have been sending arms to opposition groups in Syria to help fight President Bashar Al Assad.
And last June, Qatar’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, said with regards to the Syrian conflict that “arms may be the only way to achieve peace.”
Also on Thursday, the Arab League condemned Foley’s murder. And earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority branded IS and al Qaeda as “enemy number one of Islam.”
In a statement, Grand Mufti Sheik Abdulaziz Al al-Sheik said:
“Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilisation, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims.”
Foley ransom note
Foley went missing in Syria in 2012. After his death, his parents revealed that they had received a ransom note last November from IS militants, asking for $132 million.
According to the LA Times, the family worked to raise the money, but lost contact with IS until this month, when they received a new note threatening to kill Foley in retaliation for US airstrikes against its positions in northern Iraq.
Following Foley’s death, the US government has reiterated its position that it does not negotiate with terrorists, though many have questioned this policy amid a recent decision to release five Guantanamo Bay prisoners into Qatar’s custody, in exchange for an American soldier held captive in Afghanistan.
Officials responded by saying the deal, which involved five senior Taliban officials, was made through intermediaries in Qatar, and thus involved no direct negotiations with “terrorists,” the LA Times added.
Thoughts?
Of course Qatar will condemn the killing. Is there any legitimate sovereign state that has gone on record supporting it?
And a lot of countries sent arms into Syria in the early days. The real question now is “who’s still doing it?”. Now that ISIS is in the oil business and undercutting Saudi and other GCC countries by as much as 40 percent a barrel, I suspect we’ll see some much more vigorous condemnations and aggressive efforts to combat ISIS by the GCC in the near future.
Well that is very nice of Qatar. As America is responsible for the breaking of Iraq, Qatar is responsible for breaking of Syria so are indirectly responsible for this mans murder, by creating the conditions for the Islamic State to thrive.
Well done, you worry about westernisation but you follow the same path as the Americans. Qatar, Saudi and Iran should not get involved in other states in the Middle East to fight their religious proxy wars. This region has been scarred by religious fighting since the 7th century, how about trying to live together for a change?
Killing one person is like as if you killed the whole of mankind…i condemn this beheading act too
So many have been killed, not in war but execution style after they surrender. Yazidis being forced to convert otherwise they will be killed, Shias don’t get the option to convert they just get killed. I think it is shameful it takes the public murder of a westerner before action will be taken.
“I think it is shameful it takes the public murder of a westerner before action will be taken.”
What about all of the airstrikes, missions to rescue Yazidis and arms being shifted the Iraqi gov and Kurds? And wasn’t he murdered in retaliation for US action?
Dont divert the topic. Stick to the news posted. Every single person to politicians are to blamed for this incident. Humanity is lost. Peace khallas.
This beheading is so devastating, I am so shocked by the sheer evil that is exhibited by this group. My heart breaks for how scared he must have been and how he suffered, and my heart breaks for all who are exposed to this evil. I’m sad for all humanity at the moment.
It would be nice to remember that what goes around comes around and what comes around might be very messy
The chickens will always come back home to roost : for USA, for Saudi, and for Qatar.
I don’t believe for a second that Qatar funds IS(IS), but they did fund the rebels fighting Assad and allowed ISIS to jump on the bandwagon. If IS does establish itself then Iran, KSA, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait will be firmly in it’s sights. What then?