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Qatari Al-Murra tribe protests against the election law

According to Al-Monitor, a controversy is unfolding in Qatar over one tribe’s anger at an election law.
A video of the Al-Murra tribe protesters in the state of Qatar has been published on social media.
They said, they were subjected to a security siege and a campaign of arrests due to their refusal and objection to the election law approved by Prince Tamim bin Hamad a few days ago.
The AL-Monitor reported that Qatar’s first-ever elections for its parliament, the Consultative Assembly, will take place in October following several years of delays.
It said, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, approved the laws governing the election last week. Anyone 18-years-old and over with a grandfather born in Qatar can vote. To run, candidates will need to be of Qatari origin and have turned 30.
زرعتم في الكويت فاحصدوا في الدوحة.. pic.twitter.com/f3QHZz8sOA
— عبد العزيز الخميس (@alkhames) August 9, 2021
The news website added that BBC Arabic reported Monday that the controversy stems from the Qatari origin requirement for candidates. This stipulation prohibits members of the Al-Murrah tribe from running in the election.
The Al-Murrah tribe lives in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and has historically had a fractious relationship with the Qatari state.
It should be noted that the security force arrested 7 members of the tribe who spoke out about their protests. This was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior, alleging that they conveyed inaccurate news.
The tribe demanded the state to release the protesters.
Read more: Lebanon’s Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi calls on Lebanese army to control the country’s south
It gave the state until Tuesday evening, warning against taking escalatory measures otherwise.
The video was tagged with the hashtag Qatar Rising Up, indicating that the Qatari regime deploys Turkish army patrols to suppress the protesters, and the members of the Al-Murra tribe defy them and give them half an hour to retreat.
Qatari tweets confirmed that the detainees belonged to the Al-Murra tribe, and that their arrest came against “their expression of their opinion rejecting the law issued to prevent them from running for elections.”
The Qatari regime deploys Turkish army patrols to suppress the protesters, and the members of the Al-Murra tribe defy them and give them ½ hour to retreat.#قطر_تنتفض pic.twitter.com/zvk4cDwLhL
— سالفة الهاشتاق (@SalefatHash) August 9, 2021
Another videotape showed large crowds from Al-Murra, during which they demanded the withdrawal of the patrols that are besieging them, saying: “Do not challenge us to an armed clash.”
Article 77 of Qatar’s constitution states that “the Shura Council consists of forty-five members. Thirty of them are elected by direct secret general ballot, and the Emir appoints the other fifteen members from ministers or others.
The membership of those appointed to the Shura Council ends with their resignation or their dismissal."
Article 78 stipulates that “the election system shall be issued by a law, in which the conditions and procedures for nomination and election shall be determined.”
Source: news agencies
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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