Hundreds and thousands of workers remain engaged in enviably ambitious mega development projects in the country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the influx continues.
Some in the Western media are trying to demonise Qatar and paint it as a financer of terror, while there are others accusing it of providing shelter to undesirable elements.
Within the GCC, Qatar is also a victim of a propaganda war reportedly waged by a neighbour for its political views and alleged support for a movement many in the region do not approve of.
The Qatari media has remained somewhat unresponsive as the sinister campaign rages but experts say it is not fair to blame the local media as it cannot act in absence of relevant information which should be coming in from official sources in Qatar.
There are questions that need answers. Is the anti-Qatar campaign a result of jealousies of some influential countries that lost out to Qatar in their bid to host the 2022 FIFA event? Or, is it being targeted because being a small country, Qatar has suddenly emerged as an influential player on world stage and the world’s wealthiest nation and is hogging the limelight internationally for its big-time role in international diplomacy?
Or, is it being targeted so it can be simply silenced and prevented from punching above its weight as many of its critics say?
Whatever the reason behind the propaganda war against Qatar, the country’s citizenry and supporters find it surprising that its response to the sinister campaign has been lacklustre.
Qatar boasts influential media, with experts suggesting the country use it to counter the campaign and expose the vested interests behind it and their sinister motto.
