Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad has not made any public appearance in the media for the past few days, leading to speculation as to the true state of the regime's stability. It also confirms that his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, is still holding the reins of government and running the country from behind the scenes. Foreign websites and media have reported disagreements between the father and son. There is also discord among the ruling family members as to the policies adopted by the father and son, particularly their support for extremists and terrorists against the Arab Gulf states, photographs published in the local media reveal. Jowan bin Hamad, a brother of Sheikh Tamim, posted pictures on his Twitter account last Friday, showing him and another brother visiting their father Sheikh Hamad in hospital, where he has been purportedly admitted for a surgery on a broken leg. A few hours later he posted another a picture, supposedly of Sheikh Tamim visiting his father in hospital the day before. But the picture was a sham as it actually dated back to September 14, 2016. The Qatari regime publishes old photos whenever there are reports of a tense relationship between Tamim and his father. The authorities resort to such deception to cover up differences between the two men. When Jowan did not provide details about the surgery, the Qatari opposition said that the differences within the ruling family in Qatar had widened considerably. It revealed that there was widespread resentment within the corridors of power and among the family, amid questions as to who is actually running the country.
