Former Qatar emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died. He was known as a moderniser of the country and seized power from his father in 1995. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Reuters.
Sheikh Hamad seized power in 1995, overthrowing his father Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, and ruled Qatar until 2013. Under his leadership, Qatar began to play a significant role on the world stage, implementing economic and social reforms. He abdicated in 2013 in favor of his son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Sheikh Hamad's death is a great loss for Qatar. He made a huge contribution to the modern development of the country and was active in international relations. No official statement has been made yet, but Reuters has confirmed the information.