Qatar pays millions of dollars to free royal family members

CAIRO – 28 April 2018: The Washington Post has revealed that Qatar had entered secret talks to free 25 of its citizens from Iraqi kidnappers.

Originally, Qatar’s ambassador to Iraq and chief negotiator in the hostage affair wanted to refuse making a payment, complaining, “The Syrians, Hezbollah-Lebanon, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Iraq all want money, and this is their chance,” adding that all of them are thieves. However, the payment was eventually made.

Qatari officials earlier consented to pay at least $275 million to free nine members of the royal family and 16 other Qatari nationals kidnapped during a hunting trip in southern Iraq.

The records have revealed that that the payment plan allocated an additional $150 million in cash for individuals and groups acting as intermediaries. These groups have long been regarded by U.S. officials as sponsors of international terrorism.

Qatar has been hit by its biggest diplomatic crisis in years after multiple Arab nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, cut ties with the emirate, accusing it of destabilizing the region with its support for Islamist groups.

The Arab quartet halted all land, air and sea traffic with Qatar, and withdrew their diplomats and ambassadors from the country. The Arab quartet issued 13 demands to Doha – then shortened to six principles – including closing Al-Jazeera television, curbing relations with Iran and shutting down a Turkish military base.