Bahrain Mirror: Qatar's Al-Jazeera journalists have been circulating news that their former colleague, Saudi journalist Ali al-Dhufairi, presenter of "In Depth" and the "Interview", could be under arrest or restrained movement, or even house arrest.

His colleagues suggest that he has been subject to severe pressure even after he announced his resignation from the channel, amid the ongoing Gulf diplomatic crisis.

On his twitter account, Egyptian journalist Asaad Taha, wondered "Where is Ali al-Dhufairi?" in reference that nothing was heard of him since his resignation.

A twitter account revealed that the day Ali al-Dhufairi resigned (June 20, 2017), he was "banned from traveling when he was on route to Morocco to finish shooting a documentary episode for his Al-Jazeera "Interview" programs. He was forced to return from Jeddah airport."

The same account said that "Ali al-Dhufairi tried to contact the competent authorities and did not receive any response, and even the airport chief refused to talk to him."

"Al-Dhufairi returned to the house of journalist (N. A.) to try to solve the issue (...) but to no avail," the account said, adding that "Finally, after consulting with the Al-Jazeera crew and some journalists, Ali al-Dhufairi had to declare his resignation through twitter, out of fear of an arrest warrant against him."

"Bahrain Mirror" cannot confirm the accuracy of information circulated through social media websites. One day after his resignation, Ali al-Dhufairi tweeted on Wednesday (June 21, 2017), pledging allegiance to Prince Mohammad bin Salman as Crown Prince.

His Tweet read, "The Saudi banner from a knight to another. I pledge allegiance to Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and ask Allah to grant him success. Thanks to Prince Mohammad bin Nayef."

The 41-year-old joined the Qatari broadcaster in 2004 and became well-known around the Arab world for presenting the political program "In Depth", in which he interviewed key regional players.

"Out of obedience to God and our rulers... out of favour to the nation and in accordance with its policies and laws, I resign from Al Jazeera," Dhufairi, who worked at the channel for 13 years, tweeted.

"I wish success to all my family and colleagues there," he added.

Dhufairi then re-tweeted a link by a Saudi journalist to an anti-Qatar opinion article reportedly written by Dhufairi under the titled, "The Kingdom First, the Kingdom Last", in the Saudi daily al-Watan.

The newspaper later changed the byline on the article from Dhufairi's name to another Saudi journalist, Hadi al-Yami, under the title, "The Siege, a Qatari Lie to Avoid Boycott Repercussions."

Arabic Version