Two UAE journalists have resigned from the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera in what appears to be in relation to a diplomatic fallout between the two countries.
Sports journalists Fares Awad and Ali Al Kaabi announced their resignations on Saturday via social media, according to Arabic media.
“Ten years of work in a professional environment with you will remain in my heart for ever. Goodbye colleagues,” Al Kaabi was quoted as saying in a post on his Twitter account.
According to Qatari Arabic daily, Al Sharq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are pressuring their citizens to resign from positions in Qatari media following the significant breakdown in relations between the GCC nations.
The three states recalled their ambassadors from Doha last week in an unprecedented split between the Gulf Arab allies who have fallen out over foreign policies following the Arab Spring.
Qatar has used its increasing influence in the region to support the Muslim Brotherhood, in steep contrast to the other GCC members, which out rightly oppose the group.
Saudi Arabia on Saturday declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.
Qatar’s cabinet voiced “regret and surprise” at the decision by its GCC counterparts but said Doha would not pull out its own envoys in response and that it remained committed to “the security and stability” of the GCC.
The six GCC members, including Oman and Kuwait, are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Kuwait later this month to discuss the dispute, Kuwait Times reported.
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