Pre-Crisis Phase (September 3, 1971-June 26, 1995): Qatar formally achieved its independence from Britain on September 3, 1971. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, who was the prime minister of Qatar, deposed Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, in a bloodless coup on February 22, 1972. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, issued an amended provisional constitution on April 19, 1972. Some 54 Qatar citizens submitted a petition to Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, calling for constitutional and political reforms. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, named a new cabinet with himself as prime minister on September 1, 1992.
Crisis Phase (June 27, 1995-February 29, 2000): Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani deposed his father, Khalifa bin Hamad al Thani, in a bloodless coup on June 27, 1995. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Yemen expressed support for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on June 28, 1995. The government suppressed an attempted coup led by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani on February 20, 1996. Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani was appointed as prime minister on October 29, 1996. Elections for the 29-member Central Municipal Council were held on March 8, 1999. On February 29, 2000, thirty-three individuals, including Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani, were convicted of treason and sentenced to life-imprisonment for their involvement in the 1996 attempted coup.
Post-Crisis Phase (March 1, 2000-present): An appeals court overturned the sentences of life-imprisonment for Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani and 18 other individuals convicted for their involvement in a 1996 attempted coup, and sentenced the individuals to death on May 21, 2001. A new constitution was approved in a referendum with 97 percent of the vote on April 29, 2003, and the Emir approved the constitution on June 8, 2004. The new constitution went into effect on June 9, 2005. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, pardoned and ordered the release of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani from prison in September 2005. Municipal elections were held on April 1, 2007. Prime Minister Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani resigned, and Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani was appointed as prime minister on April 3, 2007. Municipal elections were held on May 10, 2011. Muhammad ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami, a Qatari poet, was arrested by government police in Doha on November 16, 2011. Muhammad ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami, a Qatari poet, was sentence to life imprisonment for “inciting to overthrow the ruling system” on November 29, 2012. The prison sentence for Muhammad ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami was reduced to 15 years on February 25, 2013. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, abdicated in favor of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on June 25, 2013. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, appointed Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani as prime minister on June 26, 2013. A court in Qatar upheld the 15 year prison sentence for Muhammad ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami on October 21, 2013.
[Sources: Associated Press (AP), February 29, 2000, April 29, 2003; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), October 3, 1998, November 16, 1998, March 8, 1999, March 9, 1999, February 29, 2000, May 21, 2001, June 9, 2004, November 29, 2012, February 25, 2013, June 25, 2013, June 26, 2013; Cable News Network (CNN), March 8, 1999; Keesing’s Record of World Events, June 1995, February 1996; New York Times, September 1, 1971, February 23, 1972, May 13, 1992, November 30, 2012, June 24, 2013, June 27, 2013; Reuters, April 29, 2003, June 26, 2013.]