Filed on September 13, 2017 | Last updated on September 13, 2017 at 07.01 am

The move has triggered retribution from Qatar government with punitive measures.

Qatar has stripped Al Murrah clan's senior leader of his citizenship and seized his assets.

The Qatari government's action to revoke the citizenship of chief of Al Murrah tribe, Talib bin Lahoom bin Shuraim, along with 50 people of his family and clan, has sparked widespread anger across GCC states.

Media reports, quoting members of Al Murrah tribe, confirmed that Doha had revoked the citizenship of Talib and seized his assets and money last week because of his stand against Qatar's policy.

The action triggered resentment in the other GCC states as people set up a Twitter hashtag under the name of Shaikh Talib, slamming the Qatar government's move.

Speaking about the withdrawal of Shaikh Talib's citizenship, Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said: "Shaikh Talib bin Lahoom bin Shuraim is a Shaikh of the Arabs and his family and people are the best of them. Those, who dared, abused and offended him and seized his money are not as prestigious as him."

In a series of tweets posted on his Twitter page, the Bahraini minister said: "Targeting Shaikh Talib bin Shuraim is a desperate attempt to cut off the bonds of the Arabian Qatar from its surrounding and span of its clans in the entire Gulf region."

Shaikh Talib recently met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accompanied by a number of Al Murrah Shaikhs, and affirmed his support to Riyadh against the policies of the present Qatari leadership.

A section of Qataris, including some of its ruling family members as well as senior leaders and Shaikhs of tribes, sided with Riyadh in the current Gulf crisis. The move has triggered retribution from Qatar government with punitive measures.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com