Social media campaign launched against Qatar

CAIRO – 6 July 2017: Social media users launched a social media campaign against Qatar’s alleged practices of funding and supporting terrorism in the region, following another terror attack that occurred in Egypt against a security checkpoint in Al-Ayat, Giza governorate early on Wednesday.

The attack, which left three army personnel killed, came a few hours before a scheduled meeting in Cairo of the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt to discuss the development of the Qatar crisis.

The hashtag #Egyptian_blood_Is_Precious went viral on social media platforms, condemning Qatari support for terrorist groups committing crimes inside Egypt and expressing solidarity with victims killed in terror attacks.

Over the past two years, Egypt has been suffering a number of terror attacks against security personnel, as well as churches.

The campaign pledges to not forget the Egyptian spilled blood and sacrifices to contain the terrorism provoked by individuals sheltered in Qatar, such as the leaders of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group.

In his previous statements about terrorism, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has repeatedly called on the international community to cooperate to dry up sources of funding and training terrorist groups.

On Tuesday, three security personnel were killed and another ten injured in an armored explosion south of Arish city, North Sinai, according to sources interviewed by Egypt Today.

In May, at least six police personnel were killed and others injured in a gun attack on a police checkpoint on the Ring Road between Nasr City and Moqattam. One day after the attack, the Hamas movement claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed for more attacks.

Meanwhile, on April 9, a suicide attack occurred against Mar Girgis’ Church in Tanta and St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, leaving dozens killed and injured.

On December 11, about twenty-eight people were killed in an explosion inside the St. Peter and St. Paul's Church caused by a suicide bomber.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Testimonies have been circulating on media outlets by officials reporting that the aforementioned groups are being trained and funded by Qatar.

Hafez Abu Saada, member of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) told Egypt Today, “It is certain that the Egyptian government has information about Qatar’s support for some armed organizations, which conduct operations in Egypt.

This is why Egypt added some demands to the list provided by the KSA, Bahrain and the UAE, and one of them is cutting support for these organizations and handing over terrorists involved in these operations.”

However, the list of demands did not include providing compensation for the victims of terrorist operations in Egypt. We have tens of families whose children passed away in martyrdom or who were severely injured.

If the Egyptian government proves that the governments of certain countries are involved in committing terrorist crimes in Egypt, these countries are then responsible for compensating the victims of these crimes committed by organizations supported by said countries, Abu Saada added.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with the state of Qatar on June 5 on charges of supporting terrorism and extremist groups in the region.

The Qatari regime is responsible for the lives of victims who have been killed by terrorist operations supported by Qatar in Egypt and other Arab countries, Egyptian Parliamentarian Mohamed Abou Hamed announced on several occasions recently.

Egyptian parliamentarians called on Arab countries that boycotted Qatar to demand huge financial compensation for the victims, injuries and losses caused in their lands due to the terrorism and extremist organizations supported by the Gulf nation.

Previously, a number of parliamentarians and experts expected that Qatar will not agree to the demands, urging that this would cause the Gulf nation to face further diplomatic and economic deterioration, and that it will continue terrorism threats on the region.