DOHA: Qatar’s ruler announced on Wednesday that the Gulf state will call off its National Day celebrations next week out of solidarity with the people of Syria’s war-ravaged Aleppo.
The decision to scrap the celebrations came directly from the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said a statement carried on state media.
It was taken “in solidarity with our people in the city of Aleppo, who are subjected to the worst kind of repression and torture, displacement and genocide,” said the Qatar News Agency.
Qatar’s national day falls on Dec. 18, to mark the founding of the state in 1878. The celebrations usually involve a parade in the center of the capital Doha, dancing and a huge firework display.
The 2022 World Cup final, being hosted by Qatar, will be played on Dec. 18.
Qatar has armed rebel Sunni groups during Syria’s five-year conflict and houses a Syrian opposition “embassy” in Doha.
Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Tuesday that the war in Syria would not end if the regime recaptured the country’s second city Aleppo.
The decision to scrap the celebrations came directly from the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said a statement carried on state media.
It was taken “in solidarity with our people in the city of Aleppo, who are subjected to the worst kind of repression and torture, displacement and genocide,” said the Qatar News Agency.
Qatar’s national day falls on Dec. 18, to mark the founding of the state in 1878. The celebrations usually involve a parade in the center of the capital Doha, dancing and a huge firework display.
The 2022 World Cup final, being hosted by Qatar, will be played on Dec. 18.
Qatar has armed rebel Sunni groups during Syria’s five-year conflict and houses a Syrian opposition “embassy” in Doha.
Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Tuesday that the war in Syria would not end if the regime recaptured the country’s second city Aleppo.
