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President Japarov Sends Condolences to Qatar's Emir After Passing of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani
Bishara said the former emir’s investments in gas and Education City helped reshape Qatar’s global standing, while his foreign policy backed Arab causes.
On Sunday, leading Arab intellectual Azmi Bishara paid tribute to the late Emir Sheikh Hamad, describing him as a "distinguished Arab figure and a historic leader" whose legacy transformed Qatar.
Recalling his own forced exile from Palestine, Bishara said Sheikh Hamad "opened his arms completely", welcoming him to Doha to pursue media and cultural work when few Arab leaders would receive him.
Describing the former leader as an "Arab nationalist", Bishara noted his steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause. "He stood with the oppressed," Bishara said, identifying the Gaza summit as a defining moment.
Qatar's regional influence grew through "soft power", Bishara argued, as Sheikh Hamad allowed independent media and cultural institutions to flourish despite potential political costs.
Concluding his tribute, Bishara noted that Sheikh Hamad introduced a new model of Arab governance by voluntarily handing over power, fundamentally altering Qatar's modern trajectory through his vision and independent decision-making.