The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar is currently investigating an incident involving its Charge d’affaires at Qatar’s Embassy in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly known as the Kingdom of Swaziland) and two journalists from the Times of Swaziland. 

Pursuant to that investigation, the Government of the State of Qatar is now in receipt of a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Kingdom of Eswatini that states, “We have investigated the allegations that the Charge d’affaires held journalists hostage at the Embassy of Qatar and found these to be untrue.” 

The report concludes: “Based on this evidence it is clear that the Charge d’affaires has been subjected to unprofessional conduct on the part of the reporters, who have made false allegations against the Charge d’affaires at the Embassy of Qatar in Eswatini, and sensationalized events.”

While the Eswatini report indicates that the journalists violated their own code of conduct in their attempt to interview the Charge d’affaires, the Government of the State of Qatar will continue to investigate the incident to determine whether any of Qatar’s own rules and protocols regarding media engagement were violated. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar takes press freedom very seriously and if we determine that such violations have occurred, we will take appropriate action.