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There has been no serious challenge to Al Thani rule. As the most visible sign of the move toward openness, the Al Jazeera satellite television station based in Qatar is considered the most free and unfettered broadcast source in the Arab world. In practice, however, Al Jazeera rarely criticizes the ruling Al Thani family.
There has been no serious challenge to Al Thani rule. As the most visible sign of the move toward openness, the Al Jazeera satellite television station based in Qatar is considered the most free and unfettered broadcast source in the Arab world. In practice, however, Al Jazeera rarely criticizes the ruling Al Thani family.
== Democracy ==
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, one of the richest man in the world, is the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar since 1995. He rose to that position on June 26, 1995, after deposing his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani who was on vacation in Switzerland at the time. [http://www.nationmaster.com/country/qa-qatar/dem-democracy]
At present there is not direct election in the electoral system. Since 1992, Sheikh Hamad has selected Qatar's cabinet as in an absolute monarchy.
An editorial in a Qatari newspaper published said:
<blockquote>
U.S. President Barack Obama should refrain from sending U.S.-style democracy to the Middle East, "Mr. President, we have often written about U.S. foreign policy having double standards and being unmindful of the process of change in the Middle East. We do not want U.S. to export democracy to us because we do not want to repeat the Iraq experience," the editorial in the Doha daily The Peninsula said.
[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/04/19/Editorial-Qatar-passes-on-US-democracy/UPI-80331303219157/#ixzz1KXWgdFv3]
</blockquote>
Obama: "No big move toward democracy in Qatar" [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/04/obama-no-big-move-toward-democracy-in-qatar/1] but
<blockquote>
Qatari women started to assume their leading role in the march of democracy; then in 2003 the first Qatari woman was appointed to the post of minister. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, '''the spouse of His Highness the Emir''', played an active role in empowering and activating the role of women in all fields. [http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=142359]
</blockquote>
===Principal Government Officials===
===Principal Government Officials===