Exclusive: Saudi Crown Prince 'Not Well Advised', Former Qatari PM Tells France 24

Former Qatari PM Tries to Use UK Diplomatic Immunity to Halt Torture Court Case

THE GUARDIAN: Qatari agents acting on behalf of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani alleged to have falsely imprisoned British national Fawaz al-Attiya in Doha

A former prime minister of Qatar is attempting to use his UK diplomatic immunity to halt a court case in London where he is accused of being responsible for the alleged torture of a British citizen.

Fawaz al-Attiya, a UK national born in London, claims that Qatari agents acting on behalf of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani falsely imprisoned him in Doha for 15 months and subjected him to conditions amounting to torture. Attiya claims he was kept in solitary confinement, deprived of sleep and only let out in handcuffs to be interrogated.

Hamad bin Jassim, sometimes known as “HBJ”, denies the allegations and court documents state that he plans to use diplomatic immunity to challenge the London high court’s jurisdiction at a hearing due to be held later this week. » | Randeep Ramesh and Rori Donaghy | Sunday, October 18, 2015

Inside Story: Qatar's Message to the World
As Qatar's emir has handed over power to his son in a peaceful transition, what lies ahead for the ambitious nation?

Qatar's Emir Transfers Power to Son
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani says he is handing over power to son and calls on countrymen to lend their support.

AL JAZEERA: Transcript: Emir's speech » | Tuesday, June 25, 2013

AL JAZEERA: A new ruler for a transformed country: Qatar's emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, turns over control of a transformed country 18 years after taking power. » | Monday, June 24, 2013

Thank God Somebody’s Got Some Balls! Harrods Owner Rejected by Co-operative Board of New York Building

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: He is the owner of Harrods and developed one of the most luxurious apartment blocks in the UK, but it seems that the Prime Minister of Qatar's money cannot buy a home in one of New York's most exclusive buildings.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani has seen his $31.5 million (£19.5m) bid for two apartments on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue rejected by the co-operative board of the building.

While the official reasons for the rejection has not been announced, suggestions in the New York media ranged from the number of children – he has 15 – and staff that would be using the apartments, to his diplomatic immunity status to the fact that the board were uncomfortable with one person having such a large share in the building.

Sheikh Hamad bid a combined total of $31.5 million for apartments 8E and 8W at an auction held by the estate of the reclusive millionaire Huguette Clark, the previous owner of the apartments.

But he was not even granted an interview by the buildings board which, according to various media reports, had concerns over allowing the prime minister of a foreign country to live in the building. » | Mark Hughes, New York | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Prince Charles Attacks Modern Housing Scheme Backed by Qatar Royal Family
THE TELEGRAPH: The Prince of Wales has intervened to try to block a £1 billion modern flats development which is backed by the Qatari royal family.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jaber Jasim al-Thani has been urged by the Prince to reconsider the Chelsea scheme. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
The Prince has written to the Prime Minister of Qatar appealing for him to scrap plans for a modern steel and glass luxury flats scheme, designed by Lord Rogers, at Chelsea barracks. He has proposed instead an alternative, more traditional scheme by one of his favourite architects.

The intervention has put the future King on collision course all over again with the architect Lord Rogers, whose proposed extension of London's National Gallery 25 years ago he memorably described as a "monstrous carbuncle".

Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, however has accused the Prince of trying to circumvent the lawful planning process.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jaber Jasim al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar - part of the ruling royal family, has been urged by the Prince to reconsider the Chelsea scheme. He has proposed instead, at a classical design by one of Quinlan Terry one of his favourite architects.

In the letter written last month, the Prince urged Qatari Diar, the development arm of the Qatar royal family, to involve him in discussions over the future of the site.

The Prince had already described the Rogers' scheme, headed by the developers Nick and Christian Candy, "unsympathetic" and "unsuitable" for the area. The brothers, with Qatari Diar, bought the site from the Ministry of Defence in May 2006 for almost £1 billion.

Lord Rogers drew up plans for 350 luxury flats on the barracks site. The original scheme was for the apartments to be housed in a series of ' pavilions' rising to ten storeys. But the plans were opposed by the local Belgravia Residents' Association. >>> By Andrew Pierce | Monday, April 6, 2009