Qatar National Unity Front
The Qatar National Unity Front (Arabic: أمام الوحدة قطر الوطني) was a nationalist labor group formed in Qatar in April 1963. It was established as a response to the murder of a protester by a member of the ruling family during a Pan-Arabism demonstration. The movement's establishment took place during a period of popular dissent with the ruling family's extravagant lifestyles, and increasing support of Pan-Arabism.
| National Unity Front | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Arab Cold War | |||
| Date | April – May 1963 | ||
| Location | |||
| Goals | Less authority for the ruling family; protection for oil workers; voting rights for citizens and the Arabization of the leadership | ||
| Methods | Strikes Demonstrations | ||
| Resulted in | Fifty National Unity Front members arrested Thousands emigrate from Qatar Mass reforms made by Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani | ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Lead figures | |||
Hamad Al Attiya and Abdulla Al Missned | |||
| Number | |||
| |||
| Casualties and losses | |||
| 4 civilians killed | |||
The group's main demands were centered on decreasing royal privilege; ending employment of foreigners; establishing social welfare facilities; legalizing labor unions and instituting municipal councils composed of at least partly elected members. The group became inactive in May 1963 after the government arrested and detained many of its most prominent members.