Citizens,

      Nations and peoples pass through important and crucial phases in their history. Today, we in Qatar witness a historical stage in the march of our beloved homeland towards progress and the building of the state of law and institutions.

      Since my accession and shouldering the responsibilities and burdens of rule, my goal and aim has been to realize what I have vowed to God and to you to do my best for the progress and advancement of our country, and to start with you a new era in which we pursue working with all the strength and capabilities we have, to achieve our noble aim of building a prosperous and stable state based on religion and morals, its pillars are science and knowledge and the foundation of its governance is justice and constitution.

      As the Qatari citizen and his welfare are the focus of our attention and keen concern, we concentrated on education which is the principal means to bring up the individual who takes pride in his values, his homeland, and the heritage of his forefathers; who is capable of dealing with the requirements of his era, who participates in the advancement of its sciences, and deals flexibly and efficiently with its issues. Thanks be to God, we have made significant steps in this respect. With God’s benevolence and your support and effort, we have also achieved a lot of what we aspired to in other fields, especially in the field of economic development which is the pillar of every progress and welfare.

Citizens,

      The glory, prosperity, security, safety of our homeland as well as its present and future are the joint responsibility of all of us. This necessarily requires creating a favourable environment characterized by responsible freedom of expression and adoption of the principle of popular participation in the process of decision making.

      Hence, and years ago, we embarked upon taking the necessary steps to achieve that. The Ministry of Information was abolished; censorship on publications was lifted; a law on the election of the Central Municipal Council was enacted and the Council members were elected by direct secret ballot.

      In continuation of this approach, we issued a decision to set up a committee of qualified fellow citizens with sound opinion and experience to draft a permanent constitution for the country.

      As you know, the Committee has crowned our legislative efforts to establish the state of law and institutions. After three years of continuous work and commendable effort, with the help and support of God, the Committee has completed the drafting of a permanent constitution for the State of Qatar, which lays down the foundations of the society, regulates the affairs of the State, embodies popular participation, establishes democratic institutions and consolidates the sense of belonging to the homeland, underlines duties and guarantees rights and freedoms.

Citizens,

      “Shura” has always been one of the basic vital factors constituting the nature of Arab and Muslim society and the kind of political, social and cultural relations that characterized that society and contributed throughout the ages to consolidating its fabric. In fact, Shura was known to, and practiced by the Arabs in Pre-Islamic times, as was the case with “Dar Al-Nadwa’ or the meeting place – in Mecca, which was a venue for dialogue, consultation and deliberation between the tribes and influential people and men of thought and poetry which was not confined to praise and defamation, but dealt with all aspects of life and living conditions of the Arab. If an issue got complicated, tribal chiefs would meet, hold consultations and settle it.

      This historical tradition lived on after the Arabs were blessed with Islam, especially during the era of Prophet Mohammad (God’s blessings and peace be upon him), and during the reign of the wise Caliphs. Islam has laid ‘Shura’ down as a mandatory principle of rule and an indispensable basic element of good governance in managing and running the affairs of the nation. In fact it is one of the most important principles on which the political system is based.

      Hence, commitment to ‘Shura’ and stressing on its proper application as a base of rule and a guarantee for the relation between the ruler and the society, is in fact a confirmation of the commitment to the principles of good governance which Islam advocated and taught us their fundamentals. By means of these principles, responsible popular participation in the decision taking process and the running of communities becomes a tangible reality on the path to building the modern state on the basis of the rule of law and constitution, institutions, and political and social justice; a state capable of dealing and interacting effectively with the world we live in, politically, economically, culturally, scientifically and civilizationally.

      There is no doubt that the need in our Arab and Muslim Ummah to practice these principles is considered to be vital and urgent. Had popular participation, constitutional institutions, democracy and the principles of social and political justice been prevalent, conditions of the Ummah would not have arrived at what they are now; our states and societies would have been able to practice their influential and natural role in the international community with credibility and effectiveness, which emanate from the citizen’s pride in belonging to his homeland and his aspiration for a better future he partakes in planning and forming it.

      In compliance with the Almighty God saying: “Counsel with them in the matter” and “Theirs is counseling amongst themselves”, and out of our belief in the importance of your opinion, and in pursuit of a better present and future for our homeland, and citizens and the future generations, we have issued a decree inviting you to a referendum on the Draft Constitution.

Citizens,

      I urge you to vote on it tomorrow as you wish. It is by you and for you. So say your word. We on our part are content that it is in the interest and stability of the country and the benefit of the homeland and the citizens, God Willing.