Qatari lobbyist takes legal action after revelations of alleged UAE meddling in France
Former French police officer Sihem Souid, who now lobbies on behalf of Qatar, has made a formal legal complaint to the prosecution authorities in Paris after revelations by Mediapart and 'The New Yorker' magazine over alleged intelligence-gathering operations and attempts to gain influence in France carried out on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. As Mediapart has revealed, these operations were carried out for Qatar's regional rivals the UAE by a private Swiss agency called Alp Services. The legal complaint made by the lobbyist centres on photographs which suggest that her family home may have been the target of surveillance. Yann Philippin reports.
ClaimsClaims that the United Arab Emirates has sought to meddle in French affairs are now being examined by prosecution authorities in Paris. According to information received by Mediapart and Le Monde, Sihem Souid, who is a lobbyist for the UAE's regional rival Qatar, has deposed an official complaint with prosecutors in the French capital. The former French police officer claims she is the victim of a campaign to spy on her and to disrupt her life and has filed complaints alleging “breach of privacy”, “trespass”, “interfering with confidential correspondence” and “theft”.
