Hackers Attack Qatar News Agency, Embroil Emirate in Controversy
According to Qatari officials, the country’s official news agency has been hacked, with fake statements and news attributed to the emirate’s ruler published on it. Qatar’s news agency has asked media outlets not to use the hacked content from the agency.
On Wednesday (May 24), the official Twitter page of Qatar’s news agency asked media not to use statements attributed to the emirate’s ruler that had previously appeared in the news agency. The official Qatari news agency published fabricated statements attributed to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, regarding sensitive political issues including Qatar’s relations with Iran, Israel, and the United States.
In these statements, Hamas was referred to as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian state, and Hezbollah was also mentioned as a representative of the resistance. In the fake news attributed to Qatar’s emir, it was also stated that no one has the right to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists and accuse Qatar of terrorism, while denying the role of Hamas and Hezbollah’s resistance.
Fabricated Statements Attributed to Qatar’s Emir
Despite the denial by Qatar’s official news agency and officials, the publication of fabricated statements by Qatar’s emir continues in many Arab media outlets.
In statements attributed to Qatar’s emir, it was claimed that the country has good relations with Israel and that Qatar hopes to play a positive role in establishing peace between Palestine and Israel.
The news network “Al Arabiya,” a media outlet close to Saudi Arabia, reported that Qatar’s emir made these remarks at the graduation ceremony of the eighth batch of national service military personnel. However, it is now clear that Qatar’s emir did not speak there at all.
Fabricated statements attributed to Qatar’s emir on social networks in the Persian Gulf region and their denial have caused considerable uproar. Despite the denial by Qatari officials and the country’s official news agency, the fake news and statements attributed to Qatar’s emir have not yet been removed from Al Arabiya’s website.
Qatar’s Emir and Fabricated Statements About Iran
Al Arabiya noted in part of its report that Qatar’s emir called Iran “a key power for maintaining stability in the region.”
Qatar’s emir said about Iran: “Qatar has managed to simultaneously maintain strong relations with both the United States and Iran, because Iran has a regional and Islamic importance that cannot be ignored. Therefore, escalating differences with this country is not wise. Iran is a great power and cooperation with it will ensure stability in the region, and Qatar is working towards the stability of neighboring countries.”
Qatar has announced it will investigate the hacking of its official news agency by unknown actors.
Source: DW
