''Al Arab'' () was the first Arabic daily following the independence of Qatar. It was printed between 1972 and 1995 and was relaunched on 18 November 2007 as an
e-newspaper which is based in
Doha
Doha ( ) is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor (city), Al Khor and Lusail, it is home to most of the country's population. It ...
, Qatar.
History and profile
''Al Arab'' was established in 1972. The paper was first published on 6 March 1972 as a weekly tabloid and became Qatar's first post-independence Arabic publication.
The paper is also the first political paper of the country.
The founder and the first
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...
of the daily was Qatari intellectual Abdullah Hussein Nemma,
known as "Dean" of the Qatari press.
[ The publisher was Dar Al Orouba.][ ''Al Arab'' was converted into a broadsheet daily on 22 February 1974.][ It was closed down in 1995.][
It was relaunched on 18 November 2007 as online newspaper. Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud who also contributed to the foundation of the daily was named as editor-in-chief and served in the post until November 2009.]
Political stance and content
''Al Arab'' in its first period has an independent political stance.[ In 2013, '']BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
'' describes it as a pro-government paper.
In 2009, ''Al Arab'' contributor Samar Al Mogren, a Saudi Arabian novelist and feminist
Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
, received death threats due to her article in which she criticized Saudi cleric Mohammed Al Arifi for vilifying Shiites
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
and calling Iraqi Ayatollah Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
"an Infidel".[ The criticism also indirectly targeted Al Mayassa Al Thani, chairperson of the authority and caused reaction by the Qatari officials.][
]
Activities
The daily was one of the media sponsors for the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) in March 2013.[
]
See also
* List of newspapers in Qatar
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arab
1972 establishments in Qatar
1995 disestablishments in Qatar
2007 establishments in Qatar
Arabic-language websites
Arabic-language newspapers
Defunct newspapers published in Qatar
Defunct weekly newspapers
Mass media in Doha
Middle Eastern news websites
Newspapers established in 1972
Online newspapers with defunct print editions
Publications disestablished in 1995
Newspapers established in 2007
Qatari news websites