'Bomb Al Jazeera,' says Dubai's head of security

“The alliance must bomb the machine for terrorism… the channel of IS, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra front, Al Jazeera the terrorists,” Dhahi Khalfan tweeted.
2 min read
25 November, 2017
Dhahi Khalafan is no stranger to inflammatory comments [AFP]

Dubai's head of security has called for the bombing of Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, accusing the network of provoking Friday's mosque attack in Egypt’s Sinai region. 

"The alliance must bomb the machine for terrorism… the channel of IS, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra front, Al Jazeera the terrorists," Dhahi Khalfan, who is no stranger to advocating war and violence on Twitter, tweeted.

In a series of tweets, he blamed Al Jazeera for advocating terrorism, claiming that the media outlet is "tampering with national security". 

"For how long will they [Al Jazeera] continue to tamper with the security of Egypt and the Arab world," he said

Khalfan then posted a picture of the Al Jazeera logo together with Hizballah leaader Hassan Nasrallah, slain al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State group. 

Egyptian theologian Yusuf al-Qaradawi was also featured.

Translation: Al Jazeera the terorrists

The inconsistent standpoint of accusing Qatar and its media affiliates of funding militant groups that are at war with each other is something that the countries besieging Qatar have maintained since the start of the Gulf crisis.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on June 5 severed ties with Qatar over accusations of supporting extremism and being too close to rival Iran, charges Doha has denied. 

They have reiterated that Qatar is sponsoring both al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Houthis, two groups that are at war with each other in Yemen.

Riyadh and its allies in June issued Qatar with a list of demands, which included shutting down Al Jazeera as well as the London-based The New Arab, curbing relations with Iran and closing a Turkish military base in the emirate.

After severing ties with Doha, Riyadh and its allies closed land and maritime borders, suspended air links and expelled Qatari citizens.

Last month, Bahrain called for Qatar's membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepts the demands of its neighbours and said Manama would not attend GCC meetings alongside Doha.

Bahrain has since decided to impose visas on travellers from Qatar.