Qatar History Ch 8

Shiekh Ahmed Bin Ali Al Thani: fifth ruler of Qatar and first to have the title “Amir”

o   Born 1920 in Doha

o   Became the ruler 24 October 1960 after his father

§  Same date Shiekh Khalifa Bin Hamad was appointed Heir Apparent and Deputy ruler

o   His rule witnessed great economic growth

§  January 1964 à full scale production in Idd al Shargi Field à offshore facility

§  1963 à Maydan Mahzam was discovered

§  1965 à oil terminal set up on Halul

§  1965 to 1977 à exploration of Bul Hannein

§  November 1960 à established Ministry of Finance à Shiekh Khalifa as its head

·       Foreign Affairs:

o   1969 à decree law No 11 for 1969 à establishment of a department for foreign affairs was

o   1970 à the sections of the department were set up by the decision No 8 for 1970.

§  The first council of Ministers consisted of the following miniseries:

·       Ministry of Finance and Oil.

·       Ministry of Education.

·       Ministry of Interior.

·       Ministry of Justice.

·       Ministry of Public Health.

·       Ministry of General Works.

·       Ministry of Work and Social Affairs.

·       Ministry of Industry and Agriculture.

·       Ministry of Transport.

·       Ministry of Electricity and Water

o   1971 à a law was issued to establish the ministry of foreign affairs in which the department of foreign affairs was to be incorporated.

§  The issue of law No 26 followed it in December

o   1971 à on the diplomatic and consular corps system, and on designating the diplomatic missions to include embassies, commissions, consulates, and the offices of the permanent delegation of the State of Qatar abroad.

o   HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad the first Minister of Foreign Affairs

§  He was succeeded by his brother Sheikh Suhaim Bin Hamad in 1972.

·       Legal System:

o   Dual Law: existed prior to 1971

§  Shariah courts had the jurisdiction, in addition to personal status matters, to decide on civil and criminal matters.

§  the civil courts received. miscellaneous summary disputes in accordance with equitable principles of justice

o   Jurisdiction of civil courts: Upon the application of the Qatari Civil and Penal Codes in 1971

§  the jurisdiction of civil courts was extended to civil disputes and criminal matters.

§  there are now two main divisions of courts:

·       Shariah with jurisdiction for personal status matters

·       civil courts with jurisdiction for civil and criminal matters.

o   Two Levels of adjunction: The judicial system in Qatar is divided into two divisions

§  courts of first instance

§  courts of appeal with plans to establish a higher appeal division similar to the courts of cassation in other Arab countries.

·       External causes of Independence of Qatar in 1971:

o   WWII à gradual decline of British influence in the Gulf

o   Independence of India à 1947 India and Pakistan gained independence

o   Withdrawal from east Suez à 1968 Britain announced its withdrawing from military commitments east of Suez, including those in force with Qatar, by 1971

o   Withdrawal from Aden à The closure of the British base at the Gulf of Eden in 1967.

·       For independence:

o   Shiekh Khalifa Bin Hamad appointed as prime minister

o   April 1970 à Ahmad ibn Ali promulgated a provisional constitution, which declared Qatar an independent, Arab, Islamic state with the sharia (Islamic law) as its basic law.

§  In his statement, Sheikh Khalifa confirmed

·       the Arabic and Islamic identity of Qatar.

·       Its good relations with the neighbouring countries.

·       Its support to the Palestinians’ cause and their struggle for liberating their land from the Israeli occupation.

·       The significance of the Emirate Union.

·       The appreciation of the principles and objectives of the Arab League and the United Nations.

o   January 1, 1970, à The first Council of Ministers was sworn in

§  seven of its ten members were Al Thani.

o   Results:

§  September 1971 àThe Establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by the Crown Prince.

§  The change of the head of the state’s title from governor to Emir (Prince).

§  11th September à Qatar is a member of Arab League

§  16th November à Qatar a member of United Nations

§  3rd September 1971 à Geneva à ten-year treaty that would strengthen the bilateral relationship between Qatar and Britain.

·       The treaty was singed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, then prince of Qatar, and Sir Geoffrey Arthur, then British Political Resident in the Gulf