Documents revealed for the first time on Saturday detailed the rule of the Al-Khalifa family of the Qatari Peninsula throughout history.
This history was traced during a conference, entitled “Al-Khalifa’s Rule in the Qatari Peninsula … History and Sovereignty.” The event was organized by the Bahrain Institute for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT) and held in the Bahraini capital Manama.
The conference focused on Al-Zubarah, capital of Al-Khalifa in the Qatari Peninsula and the islands of Bahrain, the rebellion against the Al-Khalifa’s legitimate rule of the peninsula and the Qatari invasion of the al-Dibal in 1986.
The conference highlighted the significant historical period of the Al-Khalifa’s rule and sovereignty on the peninsula since the establishment of the Al-Khalifa State in the Al-Zubarah in 1762, reported the Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
“The Al-Khalifa State, with Al-Zubarah as its capital, fulfilled crucial internal and international duties and made history whose echoes still reverberate now and will always be present”, said DERASAT board of trustees’ chairman Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa.
Al-Khalifa’s emergence in 1762 was a changing point in the modern history of the region. They presented an exemplary model of trade, marine navigation, rule of law and security.
They also respected international treaties on the Qatari Peninsula and Bahrain islands.
As a result of Al-Khalifa’s just rule, Al-Zubarah was transformed into a prosperous political and trade hub.
Al-Zubarah’s rule by Al-Khalifa represented the unity of the peninsula and Bahrain islands.
This was underlined by Bahrain King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa when he declared: “The people of Qatar are our own and they were part of us before the Al-Thani’s rule.”
Sheikh Abdullah stressed that Bahrain never abandoned Al-Zubarah and it and other Bahraini regions, have long been at the heart of demands at the International Criminal Court.
The current borders were drawn up by foreign powers to reap energy resources, he explained.
Bahrain has also been a victim of a series of conspiracies, he added.
The Al-Thani rule, on the other hand, has long been a symbol of rebellion and conspiracies, he continued.
He accused it of stoking strife and division to achieve expansionist goals through all illegitimate means, including resorting to force and forced displacement as demonstrated in the military invasion of Al-Zubarah in 1937.
The same scenario was repeated in 1986 with the invasion of al-Dibal.
Qatar’s hostile acts have continued, with its meddling in Bahrain’s internal affairs through its support of terrorist groups and fueling of media incitement, said Sheikh Abdullah.
The conference presented before the gatherers documents on Al-Zubarah’s history and the Al-Khalifa’s ties to the region.
They explain the demographics that existed at the time, as well as the political and historical geography of the Gulf region.
