First Qatari convicted in coup attempt arrested
Qatar, Politics, 7/26/1999

The Qatari minister of the interior announced on Sunday that the security forces in Qatar have arrested Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani, the first person convicted in the failed coup attempt which took place in 1996, who is a member of the ruling family in the country. The Ministry said in a statement, that Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani will be brought before the court immediately.

The convict is the cousin of Prince Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani. He was the minister of the economy at the beginning of the 1990s and the police director in the 1980s.

The trial for the 121 persons who are accused in being involved in the coup attempt that started in Doha on October 26, 1997. Some 36 suspects are being tried in absentia. On July 13, the representative of the higher criminal court in Doha called for the death penalty for the accused.

Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Hamad al-Thani is the only member of the ruling family who is officially involved in the coup attempt. Other members of the ruling family suspected of being involved in the attempt were put under house arrest but were not brought before the court.

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