Qatar’s encroachments on Gulf neighbors

The Qatari systematic and hostile policy against Bahrain and its people represent an act of political blackmail and provocation by targeting fishermen inside the Kingdom’s territorial waters, detaining them without trial and confiscating their boats which harms their livelihoods. 

A group of Bahraini lawmakers are mulling action in light of the Qatari systematic targeting of Bahraini fishermen inside the Kingdom’s territorial waters. 

The parliamentary move comes in the wake of the documentary “Arrows of Treachery” which was aired on Sky News Arabia, exposing Qatar’s violations and aggression. 

The action aims to defend Bahraini fishermen’s rights and support their call to put an end to the dangerous provocative acts perpetrated by the Qatari authorities inside Bahrain’s territorial waters.

The fishermen said that Qatari patrols regularly cross into Bahraini territorial waters to arrest them arbitrarily and seize their fishing boats, which represent their lifeline to support their family.

They added that Doha regime violates Qatari court verdicts to make their situation worse, calling on Bahrain’s government to find a solution to this problem by demarcating maritime borders.

Galali Fishermen’s Society chairman Mohammed Jassim Al Dhakhil said that he received complaints from heavily-indebted fishermen who were arrested by Qatar, stressing their difficult conditions after losing their livelihoods.

Noukhadas Adel Al Tawil, Isa Isa Al Allan, Mohammed Al Khairani Habib Abbas, Mohammed Kharfoush and Abbas Ali recalled their ordeals with Qatari patrols firing at them, arresting them arbitrarily and confiscating their boats.

Isa Al Allan said that Bahraini fisherman cannot resist Qatari patrols who are armed, adding that several fishermen have been killed in such aggressions.

Mohammed Al Khairani said that the GPS tools fitted in their boats show their total compliance with the fishing zones inside Bahrain’s territorial waters.

According to the documentary, the Qatari authorities have arrested arbitrarily 2,153 Bahraini fishermen and confiscated 2,153 Bahraini fishing boats from 2010 till this year.