Qatar releases captive Bahraini bodybuilder captured at sea

Qatar has released a bodybuilding champion and two other Bahrainis who had been detained during fishing trips, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Manama on Sunday demanded Qatari authorities release bodybuilder Sami Al Haddad, who was arrested along with a compatriot on Friday in the third such incident in recent months and which occurred after Bahrain and its Arab allies agreed to end a political row with Doha.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that Qatari authorities had also released a Bahraini sailor arrested in December. It said their boats were still being held.

“Bahrain’s embassy in Oman confirmed that the Bahraini citizens have arrived there,” it said.

There was no immediate comment from Qatari authorities.

Manama on Sunday said it would reopen its airspace to Qatar as of Jan. 11 under a U.S.-backed deal earlier this month to end the dispute in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in mid-2017.

All four nations have resumed air links with Qatar. A senior Emirati official has said that restoring diplomatic ties would take more time as parties rebuild trust.

The states imposed the boycott over accusations that Qatar supports terrorism. Doha denies that and says the embargo aims to curtail its sovereignty.

Source: Reuters

 

The Liberum

The subtitle of The Liberum ("the voice of the people is the voice of God") reflects the concept that the collective opinions and will of the people carry divine importance. They embody truth and wisdom, particularly in a non-partisan arena that profiles itself as a marketplace of free ideas and thoughts.
See full bio >
The Liberum runs on your donation. Fight with us for a free society.
Donation Form (#6)

More articles you might like

Hotels in Heaven – Reviewing ‘Islamic Theology and Extraterrestrial Life’

This is a long-overdue book review, to my considerable shame, since I’m an actual contributor […]

What if the May 17 1983 Agreement between Lebanon and Israel was ratified?

On May 17 1983, under Lebanese President Amine Pierre Gemayel, Lebanon signed a treaty with […]

The Iranian protests are an uprising against the true face of Islam

The imminent fall of the ayatollah's regime in Iran is about much more than the […]
- by The Liberum on 14/01/2026

Why Jordan Peterson is wrong

The famous Canadian psychologist Jordan B. Peterson gave a speech in Amsterdam, attended by thousands […]
- by Emad Aysha on 13/01/2026

Saying farewell to Erich von Däniken, the man who put ancient astronauts on the map

Erich von Däniken (14 April 1935 – 10 January 2026) was almost born a rebel. […]

The new American Order: Ending the illusion of multipolarity

“You are either with us or against us,” words spoken by George W. Bush in […]