HH Sheikha Moza attends AL Jazeera's 20th Anniversary celebration

HH the Father Emir said that Al Jazeera strengthened ties between Arab people regardless of their sects and entrenched the belief in a common destiny, highlighting that the network chose the classical Arabic language because it is understood all over the Arab World.

His Highness highlighted that the network's rise to glory was done over a very short period of time. It also adapted to the changes by launching its very special digital service (AJ+) and focused on involving the youth in dialogue. HH the Father Emir stressed that the adulation Al Jazeera receives from Arab people was unmatched by any other media outlet, even internationally.

On Al Jazeera English, HH the Father Emir said that it succeeded in imposing itself as a strong competitor with high credibility. His Highness added that Al Jazeera English also freed the international public opinion from media monopoly, allowing people of the world to listen to different narratives and opinions.

HH the Father Emir maintained that the network took objective criticism on board in its constant bid to improve its performance. His Highness stressed however that the channel never wavered from its independent editorial policy which is committed to the truth and human beings wherever they are. HH the Father Emir highlighted that not all criticism aimed at Al Jazeera was objective, adding that in cases it was prejudiced against Al Jazeera and the State of Qatar. Despite that, His Highness added, Qatar never crumbled under pressure and continued offering Al Jazeera everything it needed to develop its performance.

HH the Father Emir said that the network paid a heavy price for its commitment to the truth, represented in the death and imprisonment of many of its reporters. His Highness commented on that saying that those who were prejudiced against Al Jazeera should have been more fair, rather than push to change the network's editorial policy.

HH the Father Emir concluded the speech by highlighting the destruction taking place today in a number of Arab and Islamic cities that saw the birth of human civilization thousands of years ago. His Highness called on the network to remain committed to humanity and life in their coverage of those agonizing tales in Aleppo, Hama and Mosul which the world turned a blind eye to.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser had visited the exhibition that accompanied the 20th anniversary celebration. It included some of the belongings of Al Jazeera journalists as well as a number of documentary films covering the network's milestones.