As our inspiring leader, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Amir of Qatar, may God protect him, expressed in his speech at the opening of the fourth regular session of the first legislative term corresponding to the 53rd annual session of the esteemed Shura Council, on October 15, 2024, where he said: “Deliberate change is the reliable path to development, meeting the aspirations of peoples and achieving their interests.”
His Highness’s speech represented a true mirror of a bright Qatari future, constitutionally and developmentally. The speech included his proposal for constitutional amendments, and presented them to the Shura Council for discussion and then put them to a popular referendum. The amendments were the result of embodying the most important pillars of His Highness’s approach to dealing with internal and external affairs, which is, as he expressed it: “political realism and realistic estimation of what we can do.”
The constitutional amendments came after the Qatari elections experience was reviewed and evaluated, as the inspiring leader said: "We did that and extracted the results that led us to propose the constitutional amendments." In the movement of reliable development of nations, on the path of "deliberate change", the leaders and intellectuals of nations are concerned with recalling the specificity of the components of their nations, while rationally and realistically examining human heritage.
This is what HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed when he was hosted by Qatar TV to discuss the speech of His Highness the Amir with explanation, detail and clarification. HE the Prime Minister addressed the people of Qatar with transparency and political realism, as usual, discussing the constitutional amendments, the elections experience and comparing them to what is happening in the world.
He said: "Qatar is compared to Qatar. How was it in the past? How is it now? How will it be in the future?" He also recalled the legacy of the State of Qatar, reminding that the stability of Qatar provides an opportunity to build the future.
Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of the Qatar National Library, also expressed this meaning, saying: “Vibrant nations create their authentic constitutional experience,” in an article he wrote in 'Al-Sharq' newspaper, dated October 30, 2024.
I had expressed these meanings in my master’s thesis in constitutional law at the University of Lorraine, Faculty of Law, Economics and Management, France, which had the following topic in French: La séparation des pouvoirs "à la Qatarienne“: entre prudence et progression. The topic can be translated as: Separation of powers according to the Qatari approach between wisdom, gradualism and deliberation.
The topic revolved around comparing the Constitution of the State of Qatar with other constitutions, and my argument revolved around constitutional authenticity and the specificity of the State of Qatar, whether in terms of the cultural and intellectual reference of Qatari society, the historical experience, or the relationship of the people with the government.
In the introduction to my thesis, I raised a question guided by French wisdom, which says in its meaning: Are not wisdom and deliberation the basis of certainty and security? Therefore, creating the constitution and the development of the constitutional experience, as I indicated in my master's thesis, must take into account self-awareness, besides awareness of cultural, civilisational and historical specificity, in addition to taking into account the composition of Qatari society, as well as its values and patterns of thinking, the nature of its interconnectedness, and the specificity of the relationship between the ruler and his peoples.
Constitutional amendments guaranteeing national unity and equal citizenship
The draft constitutional amendments, which were approved by the Shura Council and unanimously ratified and submitted to His Highness the Amir, in its weekly session in its fourth regular session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the 53rd annual session, on October 28, are part of the development of the Qatari constitutional experience aimed at meeting the aspirations of the Qatari people and achieving their interests, in accordance with the deliberate change, as mentioned above.
The Shura Council’s approval of the draft constitutional amendments and its submission to His Highness the Amir came after reviewing the report of the special committee studying the amendment of some articles of the Constitution, and constructive and in-depth discussions characterised by keenness to strengthen national unity, consolidate the principle of justice and the rule of law, and achieve the supreme interest of the country.
Thus, the constitutional amendments project, which guarantees national unity, is a call for partnership in building the future of the nation according to the foundations of the modern state, which is included in the purpose of the constitutional amendments, as His Highness the Amir stated, saying: "Two goals unite the constitutional amendments and the legislation related to them: keenness on the unity of the people on the one hand, and equal citizenship in rights and duties on the other hand."
Popular referendum: A call for partnership in building Qatar's future
After the Shura Council members participated in discussing the draft constitutional amendments, and submitting its recommendations and proposals to His Highness the Amir, the Amir issued Decree No 87 of 2024, inviting all citizens who have reached the age of 18 to participate in a general referendum on the constitutional amendments, next Tuesday, November 5, 2024. To complete the partnership in building Qatar's future with popular participation, in the popular referendum.
Participation in the referendum is a title of responsible citizenship
Responsibility is a central theme in the concept of citizenship, even if it does not receive the discussion it deserves. The responsible citizenship, is above the commonly known rights and duties. It is the citizenship concerned in all its circumstances with responsibility towards the homeland, towards society, towards the family, and responsibility towards humanity as well. It is a responsibility that promotes the strengthening and protection of the edifice of national unity, through awareness of national duties, and therefore it necessitates participation in everything related to the present and future of the homeland.
Perhaps what confirms responsible citizenship in Qatar's legacy is the popular participation that was during the era of the His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the founder of the renaissance and the creator of the values of responsible citizenship, in the popular referendum on the constitution in 2003, where the participation rate in the referendum reached 96.64%.
This is what I discussed in my master's thesis, as an evidence and proof of the special relationship between the ruler and the nation, and the extent of citizens' interaction with the call of His Highness the Father Amir at that time, and certainly the response will be on next Tuesday to the call of our inspiring leader. In my estimation, the response to the call of our inspiring leader will definitely be same on next Tuesday.
In my opinion, responding to the call of our inspiring leader to participate in the popular referendum on the constitutional amendments, is the title of responsible citizenship, as participation is a national duty, and expresses responsibility towards national unity, it is imposed by the unity of common destiny, and urged by the desire for partnership in building the future of Qatar. I will return to discuss the responsible citizenship.
