DOHA: Qatar will not shun any foreign writer or intellectual even if they hold views contrary to that of Qataris and their leadership, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari has said. The Minister was commenting on the furore over some of the names that have been invited to the 25th Doha International Book Fair being held at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Dr Al Kuwari said: “We do not stop someone just because his opinion is different from ours as we are confident about our country, its wise leadership and its achievements in the cultural, economic, sports and other fields.”
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to the book fair, the Minister said that “Qatar believes in freedom of expression unless it offends Islamic values”.
Reports that a woman Egyptian writer Fatima Naoot, a vehement critic of Qatar, has been invited to deliver a lecture at the book fair drew criticism from citizens who launched a campaign on the social media. Fair organisers said that they cancelled the scheduled speech after Fatima failed to respond to the invitation.
“We are keen to invite our opponents before we invite our supporters because we believe in freedom of thought. Taking a position against us by a certain person could be the result of ignorance and lack of information. So we are calling him to understand our country and see the remarkable achievements we have made in all fields,” said Dr Al Kuwari, without giving names.
He pointed out that there were some Western and American writers who had negative impressions about Qatar and changed them when they visited and witnessed the social, economic and cultural reality of Qataris.
The Minister said that Qatar’s positions will not be influenced by any contrary opinion here and there, pointing that the Ministry of Culture accepts any positive criticism stemming from the love of the homeland.
“This is the freedom that we enjoy,” he said.
He added that participation of writers and intellectuals in the book fair was based on an objective and scientific choice, regardless of their previous positions.
On the Ministry of Culture’s pavilion at the book fair, Dr Al-Kuwari said that it was made up according to an art design which reflects the Qatari culture, architecture, heritage and is attracting visitors, publishers and writers from Qatar and abroad.
The book fair celebrates as well the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy, where the audience can watch calligraphy demonstrations. It also hosts an exhibition of currency notes by Qatari banknote collector Hassan bin Ali Al Naimi.
The Peninsula
