Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Qatar, under heavy pressure from Arab states, has demanded the departure of seven leading members of the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood.

Brotherhood sources said the Gulf Cooperation Council emirate has informed seven MB operatives that they must leave Qatar in October 2014.

They said the notification was sent in mid-September to exiled politicians and clerics of the Brotherhood, expected to relocate to either Malaysia or Turkey.

“We appreciate the great role of the state of Qatar in supporting the Egyptian people in their revolution against the military junta,” Amir Darag, one of those asked to leave, said.

In a statement on Sept. 13, Darag, a member of the Brotherhood’s outlawed political party, Freedom and Justice Party, acknowledged that Brotherhood members were being forced out of Qatar. He said the Brotherhood
did not dispute Doha’s request.

“In order to avoid causing any embarrassment for the state of Qatar, which we found to be a very welcoming and supportive host, some symbols of the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing — the Freedom and Justice Party — who were asked by authorities to move their residence outside the state of Qatar, have now honored that request,” Darag said.

In addition to Darag, Qatar also submitted deportation orders to Brotherhood cleric Wagdi Ghaneim, Gamal Abdul Satar, Issam Teleima, Asharaf Bader Eddin, Mahmoud Hussein and Hamza Zawba.

“I have decided to move my mission to outside Qatar lest I should cause discomfort or embarrassment to the dear brethren in Qatar,” Ghaneim said.

Egypt has confirmed the Qatari deportation order. At a news conference on Sept. 14, Egyptian Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said Doha gave Brotherhood leaders one month to leave the emirate.

“We expect more to leave,” Ibrahim said.

The deportation of Brotherhood and other Islamic opposition members marked a key demand by the GCC and Egypt. Qatar has also been hosting members of Hamas and the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.

“We understand well the conditions it [Qatar] is facing in the region,” Darag, deported to Turkey, said.

  Amir Darag, Freedom and Justice Party, GCC, Qatar bows to heavy pressure from Arab neighbors against Muslim Brotherhood, Wagdi Ghaneim