A video of a Qatari man being insulted, questioned and beaten by a group of young people in Saudi Arabia has gone viral after being posted on social media. 

The man in the video, identified as Hamad al-Marri, appears to have been kidnapped and brought to a deserted place with his hands tied behind his back. 

He is shown kneeling on the ground as he is being questioned and finally thrown down on the sand. The  Arabic dialect of the interrogators is that of Saudi Arabia, and the nature of the questions seem to indicate that that is indeed where they are from. 

Al-Marri is interrogated, and asked if he had cursed Saudi Arabia, to which he answers that he is a Qatari and has nothing to do with politics, nor has he ever cursed Saudi Arabia. 

Hamad al-Marri could easily have been a target. According to a report by the Gulf Times, he had appeared in a newscast on Saudi official television Al-Ekhbariya during Hajj. He is shown holding a flower on the newscast, announced as part of the first batch of Qatari pilgrims. 

It is probable that the interrogation and assault happened after he was kidnapped following his arrival in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. The public nature of his presence in the country would have made him quickly identifiable and hence a likely victim to hate crime.

This incident comes as the blockade nears its 100 day mark, and instances of hate crime and death threats against Qataris have increased as the media war between Qatar and the siege countries continues.

As recently as Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir spoke to reporters in London, stating that if the rift with Qatar went on for two years then "so be it”.

Reconciliation will need to occur on many fronts, as this video proves.

PC: Gulf Times