Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup should depend on its rejection of terrorist and extremist groups, according to UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Gargash said that “Qatar’s hosting of World Cup 2022 should include a repudiation of policies supporting extremism and terrorism. Doha should review is record.”
“Hosting World Cup 2022 should not be tainted by support of extremist individuals [and] orgs/terrorist figures,” he added. “Review of Qatar’s policies a must.”
In June, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain severed diplomatic, trade and travel links with Qatar, accusing of it sponsoring and having ties with a number of hardline Islamist groups in the region. Egypt – the Arab world’s most populous state – later joined the boycott as well.
Last month, Saudi, UAE and Bahraini officials did not turn up to the draw for December’s Gulf Nations Cup – which is to be held in Doha – and said that they wanted to delay the tournament.
On Twitter, Gargash said that Qatar’s launching of an English-language website criticising the countries the UAE and its allies as “a futile way of dealing with its crisis.”
“Qatar should refocus its efforts on changing its policy of supporting extremism and terrorism,” he added.
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