It has been more than a year since the illegal blockade of Qatar began, and support for HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has not flagged among the country's citizens and residents.

As events like the 2017 Qatar National Day have come to show, the siege has only brought the people of Qatar closer, and induced a sense of patriotism and identity that was far more subtle before, but has now come into its own in full.

HH Sheikh Tamim’s statement that, “for every one of us, Qatar after June 2017 is not like Qatar before,” points to a new self awareness within the country that has grown from being in a position of adversity.

“We thank God that things are back to normal, and we want it to continue this way, and I assure you that this spirit will last for a very long time”—these words highlight the fact that the siege did indeed create upheaval. On the surface, things are indeed normal, yet if one digs deeper it becomes apparent just how hard the country and all its institutions have fought to preserve this normalcy and calm.

What is perhaps the most admirable quality of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s rhetoric throughout the blockade is his refusal to allow himself or his nation to play the role of victim. The spirit and determination that lie behind these statements are to be admired, and uphold a hope that Qatar will indeed weather the storm.

Content Writer - Mariam Mahsud

Cover image credit: EPA