Qatari opposition refutes claims of Saudi funding

CAIRO – 9 September 2017: The Organizers of Qatar, Global Security & Stability Conference, scheduled on September 14 in London, have demanded on Friday the London Centre for Public Affairs (LCPA) to withdraw a letter and blog post falsely claiming the event is part of a Saudi-led campaign against the Gulf state.

The Britain-based LCPA released a statement on Tuesday, accusing the meeting of being funded by Arab countries boycotting Doha. It urged members of the British parliament to avoid taking part in the event.

“This attempt at fake news by a public affairs agency clearly in the pay of the Qatari government is a desperate attempt to try and undermine the opposition and reform movement supported by the Qatari people,” said Khalid Al-Hail, Official Spokesperson of the Qatari Opposition and the main organiser of the Conference.

“This Conference is an independent initiative fully funded by Qatari exiles, with no links or support from any of the GC3+1 countries which are currently blockading Qatar.”

The opposition conference comes three months after Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar and imposed a land, air and sea blockade against the emirate.

The Saudi-led bloc has accused Doha of supporting Islamist extremism and being too close to Iran - Qatar has categorically denied the charges.