After 9 years of in exile, former ruler of Qatar returns back for his wife's funeral

After nine years in exile after he was toppled by his son, the current ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani in the Summer of 1995, the former ruler of Qatar Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Hamad al-Thani returned back to his country yesterday to take part in the funeral ceremony of his wife, according to the Qatari news agency statements.

In a brief news, the agency said "his highness the father Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Hamad al-Thani had returned to Doha and was welcomed at the airport by Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani and the crown prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad and several members of the ruling family. "

The Qatari dailies yesterday issued the news on its front pages on the death of "Sheikha Mouza Bint Ali Bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani, wife of the father Sheikh Khaliefa Bin Hamad al-Thani." Sheikh Hamad toppled his father Sheikh Khaleifa in June 1995. The son visited the father several times since then in European capitals following Gulf mediations. Doha authorities announced it foiled in February 1996 a coupe aimed at toppling prince Hamad at the directives of his father. In February 2000, the higher criminal court in Doha attributed this failed coupe to the cousin of the head of the state and other 32 suspects sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. The same court found other persons 85 as not guilty.

In may, 2001 the court of cassation sentenced 19 persons to death including the cousin of the prince and former ministers of the economy and finance Hamad Bi Jasem Bin Hamad al-Thani, involved in this failed coupe stressed the sanctions issued in the first criminal court.

The former prince returned back to Europe since toppling him especially in France. It is not clear how long he will be staying in Qatar. N.