Kawczynski was paid more than $20,000 to help organise a conference criticising Qatar [File: Wikimedia Commons]
Kawczynski was paid more than $20,000 to help organise a conference criticising Qatar [File: Wikimedia Commons]

A British parliamentarian was paid Ā£15,000 ($20,700) to help organise an anti-Qatar conference in London, according to a Buzzfeed report.

Daniel Kawczynski, a conservative politician, pocketed the sum, despite telling reporters he was only attending the conference to learn about the Qatari opposition, Buzzfeed said in aĀ reportĀ on Sunday.

The Qatar, Global Security and Stability Conference was held in September, amid a diplomaticĀ boycottĀ of Qatar by a Saudi-Arabia-ledĀ group of countries.

qatar airways

The boycotting countries, which include theĀ United Arab EmiratesĀ (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt, severed ties withĀ QatarĀ after accusing it of supporting “terrorism” and having links to their regional foe,Ā Iran. Doha strongly denies the allegations.

Qatar’s alleged sponsorship of “terrorist groups” was one of the main subjects at the London conference.

It was hosted by Khalid al-Hail, a 29-year-old Qatari national, the founder of the Qatar National Democratic Party, which supports regime change in the Gulf nation, according to theĀ Middle East Eye.

At the time, analystsĀ describedĀ the conference as an attempt to gather support for a coup in Qatar, andĀ accusedĀ Saudi Arabia and the UAE of funding it.

Kawczynski, dubbed the “honourable member for Saudi Arabia” for his support of the monarchy, declared receivingĀ two payments ofĀ 7,500Ā pounds ($10,370) from aĀ company linked to Hail’s wife, Tatiana Gisca, according to Buzzfeed.

The declarations, however, did not mention which conference the fees relate to or its subject matter.Ā 

Kawczynski told Buzzfeed he did not believeĀ Saudi ArabiaĀ or UAE financed the conference.

“I am very concerned about what you are doing,” he said, responding to questions from Buzzfeed.

“As long as I live, I will never get to grips with you journalists. I spoke at a conference, a very interesting, exciting conference, I registered [the payment] within the time scheduled,” he said.

He added: “Your conduct is wrong, you’re trying to make something an issue where there isn’t an issue.”

Hail also denied receiving funding from Qatar’s regional rivals.

Counting the cost of the Qatar-Gulf crisis

COUNTING THE COST

Counting the cost of the Qatar-Gulf crisis

SOURCE:Ā AL JAZEERA NEWS

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