– We demand the dispatch of an international fact-finding mission on the disappearance of the Qatari citizens

– We call on the working group on Arbitrary Detention and the working group on Enforced Disappearance to conduct a joint field visit to Saudi Arabia

– Three Qatari victims of enforced disappearances and another detained arbitrarily

– Acts of Saudi authorities is considered a disgraceful act that will leave its psychological effects on future generations

– Provide all international organizations and the United Nations with information and data on the disappeared and forcibly detained

– We are in constant contact with the UN working group on Enforced Disappearances and the UN working group on Arbitrary Detention

– We call on the international community and international organizations to urge Saudi Arabia to comply with international law

– We call on the Saudi human rights organizations to take courageous and firm positions towards the violations of their country against the Qataris

– We have strong fears of the fate of Qataris detained by the Saudi authorities for a long time

– The National Human Rights Committee and the families of the four citizens have not received any information about them

– The National Human Rights Committee cannot find out whereabouts of Qatari citizens or communicate with them and know their fate

LONDON:

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Committee for Human Rights in Qatar, called on the Saudi authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the four Qatari nationals; victims of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, calling for dispatching a UN fact-finding mission relating to the whereabouts of three Qatari victims of enforced disappearances and another citizen who was arbitrarily detained. The fate of the four citizens remains unknown since they were arbitrarily and unfairly arrested by the Saudi authorities.

Al Marri also urged the Special Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Group on Enforced Disappearances to undertake a joint field visit to Saudi Arabia to reveal the situation of arrested citizens. On the sidelines of his visit to the United Kingdom, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh stressed that the NHRC has “serious concerns” about the fate of the Qatari citizens held by the Saudi authorities for a long time. We call upon the Saudi authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the four Qatari nationals and hold the Kingdom fully responsible for the safety of the Qatari detainees.

“So far, neither the National Human Rights Committee nor the families of the 4 Qatari citizens held in Saudi Arabia can know where they are being held, nor even communicate with them or know their fate,” Al Marri said.

While praising the cooperation of international organizations with the National Human Rights Committee, Al Marri called on them to exert more pressure to release Qatari citizens before it is too late and to face any threat to their lives. “We have provided all international organizations and the United Nations with information and we are in constant contact with the UN working group on Enforced Disappearances and the UN working group on Arbitrary Detention. We appreciate the efforts of international organizations and call on them to put more pressure on the Saudi authorities to uncover the fate of Qatari citizens before it is too late”, Al Marri added.

Saudi human rights organizations are required to perform their duties

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh called on the international community and international organizations to move and put more pressure on the KSA to respect international law and release the four Qatari citizens and called on Saudi human rights organizations to have courageous and resolute attitudes towards their country’s violations against the Qatari people, to triumph over human rights and to exercise their functions as human rights organizations.

Continuing movements of the National Human Rights Committee

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee has repeatedly called for extensive investigations into the gross and systematic violations and discriminatory measures by the Saudi authorities against Qatari citizens and residents in Qatar, while dispatching a mission to investigate the situation of Qatari detainees in Saudi Arabia. Al-Marri pointed out that the Saudi authorities have not released or allowed contact with Qatari detainees until now and called for dispatching a joint mission of the Committees on Arbitrary Detention and Forced Disappearance to Saudi Arabia to understand the root causes of arbitrary deprivation of liberty and enforced disappearance of Qatari nationals.

Al Marri:

– The intransigence of Saudi Arabia will introduce the politicization of the United Nations system of human rights

– The issue of politicizing feelings will be brought up soon before parliament and the European Union

– The NHRC continues its actions and procedures to determine the legal responsibility of Saudi Arabia

– We call for conducting international investigations of Saudi violations of the right to practice religious rites

– The need to address the Saudi authorities regarding violations of the right to perform religious rites

– We call for urgent appeals and recommendations to remove Saudi obstacles to pilgrims

– The NHRC will not allow repeated violations of Saudi Arabia in the future

– Saudi Arabia’s claim to establish mechanisms to facilitate the pilgrim is merely a maneuver to procrastinate and improve its image

– Racial discrimination because of political controversy is a critical precedent that must be proved in United Nations reports

London: October 13, 2018

The chairman of the NHRC in Qatar, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri, notes that the intransigence of Saudi Arabia will introduce the politicization of the United Nations system of human rights, stressing the need for the Saudi authorities to respect the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar to practice religious rites without restriction or condition, and to overcome all the obstacles placed by the Saudi authorities in front of pilgrims from the State of Qatar.

Al Marri called on The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to conduct international investigations of Saudi violations of the right to practice religious rites and to address the Kingdom’s authorities for violations resulting from the denial of their right to practice religious rites.

Mysterious disinformation to improve the image of the KSA

In his meeting with Mr. Ahmed Shahid, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief at the United Nations in London, the chairman of the National Human Rights Committee said that “after about a year and a half of the blockade crisis; there is no response by the Saudi authorities to remove violations and suffering of Victims of its arbitrary actions. As required by the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in the United Nations, we call for the need to address the Saudi authorities on the continuing violations of the right to practice religious rites and the obstacles impeding the exercise of this fundamental human right. The mechanisms that the Saudi Arabian authorities have claimed to establish to address the situation of victims affected by their violations remain misleading and ambiguous, lacking credibility, and not addressing the human rights and humanitarian situation of those affected by the violation of the right to practice religious rites. The mechanisms have not been activated in coordination with the National Human Rights Committee, despite its relentless efforts to do so.What the Kingdom’s authorities have done is not merely a maneuver to procrastinate and improve its image. It has resulted in the continued denial of Hajj and Umrah for Qatari citizens and residents for the second consecutive year.The National Human Rights Committee has also addressed national institutions and some civil society organizations concerned with human rights in Saudi Arabia; however, it has not received any response, and there has been no significant cooperation from the Saudi side, since the blockade began, to this day”.

Saudi Arabia ignores calls and international reports to stop violations

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh pointed out that the Saudi authorities ignored the reports and statements of the National Human Rights Committee and the international community’s appeals, particularly the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which demanded an end to the obstacles facing the performance of citizens and residents of Qatar for their religious rituals. Despite numerous statements by the National Human Rights Committee, the assertions of international reports and organizations and the urgent appeal made by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in the United Nations to the authorities of Saudi Arabia, it continues its policy of politicizing religious rites, and impose obstacles for Qataris and residents in the State of Qatar, and not enable them to exercise their right to worship and perform religious rites.”

Saudi Arabia ignores the danger of politicizing religious rites

The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee called on the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in the United Nations to inform the Saudi authorities and renew their address, to alert them to the danger of politicizing religious rites and violation of the right to practice. The National Human Rights Committee continues its actions and procedures to determine the legal responsibility of Saudi Arabia locally, regionally and internationally for the psychological damage caused to the pilgrims, and the material losses incurred by the Campaigns of Hajj and Umrah cited in reports of the NHRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports prepared by the campaigns of Hajj and Umrah, this caused Qatari nationals and residents to refrain from performing Hajj and Umrah, in the absence of adequate guarantees for their safety and security and facilitations of the performance of their religious rites”.

Racial discrimination on the pretext of political conflict

The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee concluded his meeting with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in the United Nations and stated that “The National Human Rights Committee continues its actions and procedures to determine the legal responsibility of Saudi Arabia for violating the right to practice religious rites. In this context, we will raise the issue of politicizing the feelings before the Parliament and the European Union and meet with the concerned bodies, soon.”

Qatar’s initiative to host an international conference to fight piracy and espionage is widely welcomed

A specialized unit is needed to combat the crime of piracy against human rights advocates and organizations in the world

officials in national human rights institutions are at risk and harassed

Marrakech: October 10, 2010

Dr. Ali bin Samih al-Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, called for the establishment of a special UN rapporteur on the crimes of electronic piracy and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights and placing these crimes on the permanent agenda of the Human Rights Council, as well as expanding the functions of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Al Marri also called on The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a specialized unit to combat the crime of piracy against human rights defenders and organizations in the world.

This came during his speech at the opening of the 13th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, from 10 to 12 of this month under the title “Expansion of civic space and the promoting and protecting of human rights defenders with a focus on women: the role of national institutions Human rights”. Under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh expressed his country’s readiness to host an international conference to combat piracy and espionage in order to participate in an international dialogue to develop national legislation, activate the relevant conventions and support the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to protect defenders. Al-Marri said: “The National Human Rights Committee in Qatar has been subjected to many attacks this year from external parties as a result of the crisis in Qatar, where the NHRC’s website has been subjected to more than 735 thousand attacks, along with campaigns and other distorting practices to disable Performing its functions as a national institution and human rights defender.

Al Marri pointed out in the same context that many civil society activists and Qatari media officials have been subjected to piracy and espionage from external parties, and said The National Human Rights Committee has addressed many United Nations special rapporteurs as well as concerned international governmental and non-governmental organizations. We propose to expand the functions of the Special Rapporteur on Defenders, in light of the violations against defenders and activists, and call for the establishment of a special rapporteur on the crimes of cyber piracy and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, and placing such crimes in the permanent agenda of the Human Rights Council. “We also call on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a specialized unit to combat piracy crimes against activists and human rights organizations in the world”, Al Marri said.

Al-Marri said there are many restrictions imposed on activists including violating rights of freedom of movement, and involving detention, unfair trials and harsh sentences, pointing out that the national institutions play a great role in spreading the declaration of human rights defenders and training the law officials; describing the experience of the State of Qatar and the proposal of the National Human Rights Committee to issue a law regulating political asylum.

Some governments are dealing with the crisis as an unwarranted political conflict of the grave humanitarian consequences of the blockade

Feeding hatred and disagreements as a result of the blockade threatens to break down the family fabric of Gulf societies

Washington: October 3, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Samih Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, warned that the international community’s failure to intervene to resolve the Gulf crisis and put an end to the suffering of thousands of families from the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar would affect the security and stability of the region, and would undermine international efforts to ensure security and combat terrorism.

His remarks came during a meeting in Washington with US Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee at the beginning of the meeting briefed the latest repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar for about a year and a half, pointing out that since June 5th, 2017, the situation in the Gulf has changed, and Qatar is facing new challenges because of the effects of the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt.

Al-Marri regretted that “some of the governments are still considering the Gulf crisis as a political dispute between countries only, and does not appreciate the seriousness of the humanitarian consequences of the violations resulting from the blockade, which daily causes weakening the social fabric of the Gulf society, and threatens the stability of social security and peace in the region as a whole. The invasion of the security and social stability of the Gulf states will undermine the international efforts of the United States and the world’s governments to ensure security and stability in the region, as the Middle East is witnessing enough crises and can no longer tolerate new hotbeds of tension and conflicts.

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh praised the repeated statements by US administration officials that the prolongation of the blockade imposed on Qatar has affected the United States’ efforts to combat terrorism, but criticized “the ineffectiveness of the actions taken by the White House administration to put an end to the crisis, And to stop serious violations of human rights. We hear a lot of political statements and positions, but they need resolutions that activate them. The United States, which is betting on the stability of the region, can take firmer decisions than just to force the blockading countries to stop their violations”.

The US administration is not exerting enough pressure to urge the countries of the blockade to stop their violations

Any initiative that does not solve the humanitarian crisis first will not succeed

The UAE has not yet fully complied with the ICJ’s decision

A report on the harassment and obstacles imposed by the UAE on Qatari citizens shall be published soon

The blockade crisis should be included in the annual report of the US State Department

The report on religious freedoms did not address the issue of politicizing religious rites (Hajj and Umrah)

10 Human Rights Council rapporteurs call on the countries of the blockade to stop their violations

Addressing violations needs to define responsibilities and hold perpetrators accountable

The highest priority for diplomacy is to stop the suffering of civilians

The blockading countries had no higher status than the above international law

There are no signs of a breakthrough in the humanitarian crisis in light of the intransigence of the blockading countries

Monday: 1 October 2018

Dr. Ali Bin Samih Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, called on the US administration to take a firm stand and urge the blockading countries to stop its grave violations against thousands of families in Qatar and the Gulf States, stressing that the United States does not exert enough pressure to put an end to the suffering of the victims of the blockade, although the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights explicitly condemns these violations, in addition to the advisory decision of the International Court of Justice against the United Arab Emirates.

Al Marri also strongly criticized the failure of the US State Department to include violations of the blockade in its annual report, and ignored the violations of the religious freedoms and the politicization of the religious rituals and prevent the Qataris from Hajj and Umrah, stressing at the same time that the United Arab Emirates is still not fully complied with the decision of the International Court of Justice, and that The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) will submit a full report on the complaints of Qatari citizens regarding the continuation of the UAE obstacles.

In his meeting with Mr. Tim Lenderking is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs in the Near East Bureau at the U.S. Department of State, and Mr. Michael Kozak, Senior bureau official of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor affairs, US Department of State, Al Marri addressed the latest repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar for about a year and a half.

Al Marri praised the efforts exerted by the United States to solve the Gulf crisis, while criticizing the US administration’s efforts to find political solutions to the crisis, as the suffering of the victims worsens and the social fabric of the Gulf society is increasingly torn. “We appreciate your efforts to find a political solution to the crisis, but we hope it will focus more and more on the violations of the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar and even the citizens of the blockading countries,” Al Marri said.

Al Marri added: “There is a clear disregard and insistence by the blockading countries to continue their violations, and with time their positions become more intransigent while rejecting all international calls to resolve the crisis, the latest of which is the position of the Saudi foreign minister who was not embarrassed to confirm his country’s readiness to prolong the crisis. We are not worried about the readiness of the countries of the blockade to reach a political solution to the crisis, as we regret the silence of the international community and the American administration in front of these statements that do not care about the suffering of the victims. Who bear the legal and moral responsibility for their arbitrary actions against those affected.”

Addressing violations needs to define responsibilities and hold perpetrators accountable

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri called for setting a priority to end the human suffering of the victims of the blockade in any political or diplomatic path, stressing that any initiative that does not solve the humanitarian crisis first will not succeed. In light of the continuing violations and suffering, there are no signs of a breakthrough in the humanitarian crisis. The US administration must be clear in its position towards the violations of the blockade, and we, the National Human Rights Committee, emphasize that the highest priority for diplomatic moves should be to stop the suffering of civilians, Blockade should be above international law. Al Marri added: “The demands go beyond the lifting of the blockade on Qatar; to not involve civilians in any future political conflicts, no matter how severe it is, we cannot allow people to be besieged regardless of disputes and conflicts.”

We call on the US State Department to correct its disregard of the violations of the embargo in its future reports

During his meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh, chairman of the National Human Rights Committee expressed his concern about the annual report of the American Foreign Ministry, which ignored the reference to the violations of the blockading countries. “We appreciate the keenness of the United States to monitor the human rights situation And issuing a report in this regard, at the same time we regret and express our concern that the annual report of the US State Department on the human rights situation in Qatar has not addressed the repercussions of the unjust blockade since June 2017, or politicization of the religious rites by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

10 special rapporteurs called on the countries of the blockade to stop their violations

On the other hand, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh stressed that 10 special rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council, together with the Panel on Arbitrary Detention, sent appeals to the countries of the blockade urging them to stop their violations and discriminatory measures against citizens and residents in Qatar.

The UAE has not fully complied with the ICJ’s decision

The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee called for the imposition of greater pressure on the UAE to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice on the cessation of the discriminatory measures against Qatari citizens. The UAE has not yet fully complied with the ICJ’s decision, and we have received many complaints about the prevention, harassment and obstacles faced by Qatari citizens, and the National Committee will issue a detailed report on these cases soon. The National Human Rights Committee is determined to take all legal and quasi-judicial measures to follow up the UAE’s implementation of the ICJ’s precautionary resolution and call upon the Security Council to address the UAE’s violations and its failure to comply with the ICJ’s decision.

Al-Marri in a meeting with a delegation from Human Rights Watch

We call on coordination between human rights organizations to address human rights violations

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, called on international human rights organizations to coordinate with each other to address violations of human rights, including violations of the blockade. During his meeting with a delegation of Human Rights Watch officials, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al-Marri gave a briefing on the latest developments in the blockade crisi imposed on Qatar, the moves taken by the National Committee in international forums and the latest developments following the decision of the International Court of Justice Qatari citizens.
Al Marri stressed that the National Human Rights Committee shall continue its efforts to protect human rights regionally and locally, in light of the continuing violations of human rights worldwide, calling on human rights organizations to coordinate to face the increasing challenges and violations of human rights across the world.

Dr. Al-Kuwari: The right to peace is (sacred) and is the path to justice and equality

The NHRC proposes the establishment of an Arab Observatory for Equality

Ben Hassan: The NHRC is a cherished partner

Growing manifestations of discrimination and exclusion in the world

The OHCHR: The emergence of right-wing European anti-immigrant parties

Al Nosour: Women in some Arab countries are still discriminated against

Al Jamali: The role of NHRIs in monitoring discrimination and inequality

Tunisia: 29 September 2018

Dr. Mohammed bin Saif al-Kuwari, member of the NHRC in Qatar, said that “the right to peace is a “sacred right” and that building a peaceful world requires taking steps towards achieving the economic and social development of all the world’s people and ensuring the protection of their rights. A peaceful society is a society in which justice and equality are enjoyed. Peace enables a sustainable environment that in turn helps to promote peace”. He added “The preservation and respect of human rights is the path to the advancement of any society, social and economic prosperity, protection and security. Justice cannot be achieved without respect for human rights, safeguarding freedoms, and achieving equity for all without discrimination”. Al-Kuwari affirmed that “A society that enjoys justice and equality is a society that enjoys peace. In this context, Qatar National Human Rights Committee calls for a meeting between the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Arab Institute for Human Rights and the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar to discuss ways of activating the outcomes of the two international symposia held in Tunisia on World Peace Day entitled “An overview on Migration”, and “Action for equality”. We also propose to establish an Arab mechanism for the prevention of conflicts with an early warning system in this regard along with several think tanks in the Arab world on issues of conflict and ways of resolving and prevent them”. Al Kuwari announced we also propose the creation of an Arab Observatory for Equality, which will provide periodic reports, develop plans and strategies, evaluate successful experiences and enhance their utilization, especially in the field of exchange of experiences, and finally provide the necessary advice in this regard.

In the same context, the President of the Arab Institute for Human Rights Abdel Basset Ben Hassan, said that the selection of equality is the theme for this symposium aimed at discussing a concern that has become a source of concern to all parties in light of the growing manifestations of discrimination and exclusion in the world. Despite the development of the world in the area of ​​discrimination and unfairness, in a number of subjects, such as discrimination against women, against people and economic discrimination, there are significant challenges that still exist in a number of countries. There are still significant challenges, including low standards of living and discrimination against minorities and other issues. “We must work with organizations, governments and the media to seek to meet these challenges through the development of public policies to respond to the aspirations of citizens and the development of legislation and the development of education in these areas”, said Ben Hassan.

On cooperation and partnership with the National Human Rights Committee, Ben Hassan said: “the NHRC is a cherished partner, pointing out that the outcomes of this cooperation will be the best tool for the development of human rights work at the international level. We look forward to developing this cooperation and to successful new partnerships such as the success of this conference.”

Mr. Mohamed El Nsour, head of the Middle East and North Africa Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), noted the growing “discriminatory policies” against minorities and vulnerable groups amid the growing rhetoric he described in some European countries of the emergence of right-wing currents and parties hostile to migrants. Al-Nosour considered that “these parties used the migration file as a way to access power in their countries, pointing out that the OHCHR makes efforts to apply the principle of equality among citizens and is working to activate all international conventions and stipulate them in the laws of different countries,” stressing that it has begun to complete an ambitious program to study the reality of religious minorities in Tunisia in terms of discriminatory policies and practices.

Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Assistant Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, chaired a session under the title “Action for Equality” (tools and perspectives). the second session was chaired by Mr. Mohamed Faeq, Chairman of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt, on the major challenges facing the realization of human rights and reflection on inequality. The third sessions was chaired by Dr. Hafitha Choucair, Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of the Arab Institute for Human Rights on “Promoting integration, equality and non-discrimination for all human beings” (public policy and legal protection).

Al-Jamali called for continued cooperation and expansion between the NHRC, the Arab Institute and UNESCO to include all national human rights institutions that are members of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions (based in Doha). Al-Jamali said that although the equality was addressed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Bill The human rights, the process is long and depends on changing ideas and cultures to secure human rights. national institutions can effectively work on Human rights in monitoring discrimination and inequality in all sectors.

Al-Jubeir’s statements are morally and legally implicated

We are not worried about cutting off diplomatic relations for years, as much as it is important to stop the suffering of our Gulf people

It is shameful for a state official to disregard the suffering of our Gulf people

This is not the first time that the officials of the blockading countries have challenged the calls of the international community

We received complaints from two Qataris who were denied access to Egyptian territory

Qatari officials at the Arab League have been denied visas contrary to the headquarters agreement

Egyptians filed complaints of harassment and insults at Cairo airport because they reside in Qatar

735 thousand attempts to hack the website of the National Human Rights Committee

We appreciate Qatar’s initiative to host a conference to combat piracy and espionage

The establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on the crimes of electronic piracy and its impact on human rights

The crimes of piracy and espionage should be placed on the permanent agenda of the Human Rights Council

Calls to the High Commission to establish a specialized unit against the crime of piracy

New York: 29/09/2018

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, strongly criticized the statements made by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir on his country’s readiness to prolong the blockade imposed on Qatar for another 15 years, similar to the blockade of Cuba, and the international community must hold those responsible accountable for their violations of human rights, especially since this is not the first time they have spoken out against human rights. They challenge the appeals of the international community, the reports of human rights organizations and the decisions of international judicial bodies, most recently the International Court of Justice against the decision of the UAE.

“We do not care about cutting off diplomatic relations for years, as long as we are concerned about stopping the suffering of our Gulf people, Saudi Arabia has the sovereign right to sever diplomatic relations, but it has no right to continue its human rights violations and deepen the suffering of peoples, completely ignoring international human rights law, and therefore we call upon the international community, human rights organizations and international parliaments to exert greater pressure to deter the governments of the blockading countries so as not to continue their violations. Again, Al-Jubeir’s statements are morally and legally implicated, and it is shameful for a state official to disregard the suffering of our Gulf people” Al-Marri said.

The seminar, entitled “blockade of Qatar: Challenges and Opportunities in the Field of Human Rights”, was organized by the National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar in New York, with the participation of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Dr. Luanis Canstadendes, Assistant professor of international law at the Faculty of Law, Qatar University, and Mr. Akshaya Kumar, deputy director of Human Rights Watch. While the session was moderated by Prof. Peter Kohares, senior American jurist, in the presence of a number of representatives of international diplomatic missions at the United Nations, as well as human rights advocates and representatives of international human rights organizations.

Dr. Al-Marri gave an overview of the latest repercussions and effects of the blockade imposed on Qatar for about a year and a half; the most prominent violations documented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and international human rights organizations; in view of the insistence of the blockade countries to ignore the calls of the international community to stop their violations, despite the calls on the quartet (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt) by international organizations, most recently the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ‘s decision against the UAE’ s violations.

Urgent action against Egyptian obstacles and the denial of visas for citizens and official delegations of Qatar

Commenting on the violations of the blockade, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri strongly condemned Egypt’s harassment of Qatari citizens and officials of Qatari official delegations, pointing out that the NHRC has received complaints to citizens who were denied entry visas to Egypt; stressing that the NHRC will move urgently with the international mechanisms to stop these violations and obstacles. Al Marri stated that “The harassment of the official Qatari delegation in the League of Arab States is contrary to the regional conventions and human rights and freedom of movement, in addition to being contrary to the headquarters agreement between Egypt and the League of Arab States which calls for facilitating the procedures and freedom of movement for all delegations of Arab countries without exception”. Al-Marri noted that “the harassment by the Egyptian authorities have not only affected the Qataris; we have recently received complaints from Egyptian residents in Qatar about the harassment and abuse they receive at Cairo airport”.

735 thousand attempts to penetrate the site of the National Human Rights Committee

On the other hand, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri praised the initiative of the State of Qatar and its readiness to host an international conference to fight piracy and espionage, pointing out that the National Human Rights Committee was the victim of 735,000 attempts to hack its website. Al Marri also called for the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on the crimes of electronic piracy and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights and placing these crimes on the permanent agenda of the Human Rights Council. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also called for the establishment of a specialized unit to combat the crime of piracy against human rights advocates and organizations across the world.

Dr. Lohanis: There is a need for an advanced system to protect Arab human rights

“The blockade imposed on Qatar since 5 June 2016 represents a violation of regional laws,” said Dr. Luanes Canandendenis, assistant professor of international law at the Faculty of Law at Qatar University. “The blockading countries have addressed clear messages that they refuse to negotiate with Qatar, All attempts to resolve the crisis failed because of the position of those four countries, pointing out that in view of the refusal of the countries of the blockade to negotiate and the absence of any prospect of resolution through the regional institutions in the GCC and the Arab countries, the NHRC has resorted to numerous international bodies, in compliance with international law.”

Dr. Luaneis gave a historical presentation on the establishment of Arab regional institutions to reach the conclusion that these institutions, despite the progress achieved, have shown their inability to resolve regional crises and conflicts. The citizens of the GCC countries and the Arab countries in general cannot hope or trust in the fairness of these institutions when they are exposed to human rights violations, as demonstrated by the experience of the GCC Secretariat and the League of Arab States. “In the light of the Gulf diplomatic crisis, I believe that this is an important moment to reconsider the Arab Human Rights Convention and to establish an advanced system to protect the rights of Arab citizens, because the mechanism Such as the Arab Human Rights Commission has the power to monitor the implementation of all laws, but individuals do not have the right to submit complaints” Dr. Luaneis said.

Human Rights Watch: Qatar is called upon to continue its important reforms

Akshaya Kumar is the Deputy United Nations Director at Human Rights Watch, said the abuses by the countries of the blockade against Qatar represent real violations because they are considered as an attack against the freedom and fundamental rights of people, especially families are dispersed and children are separated from their parents or mothers, pointing out that the reports of human rights organizations and those produced by the United Nations indicate that the expulsion of Qatari citizens from the countries of the blockade caused the displacement of labor, working for Qataris in those countries, who remained without shelter.

On the other hand, Akshaya Kumar presented a potentiation of the developments in Qatar in the field of human rights, especially since the beginning of the blockade, referring to the law to abolish the sponsorship system and described this step as an “important reform” which allowed the granting of basic rights to workers in Qatar, Followed by the commitment of the Qatari government to the adoption of a protection wage system, and issuance of the law of permanent residence and the abolition of the exit permit system. The representative of Freedom House called on the State of Qatar to take advantage of the opportunities and continue its reforms, and to enable the workers, residents and children of Qatari women to realize their basic rights.

The NHRC won a broad victory and the consensus of voters at the APF annual meeting in Hong Kong

The NHRC won four leadership positions in GANHRI and APF

Doha: Wednesday 19 September 2018

The NHRC has won a historic victory by winning the confidence of The Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), which unanimously decided to vote by giving its confidence and choice to the NHRC for four leadership positions in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and Asia Pacific Forum, Three of which were held by Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the NHRC, and a fourth position by Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif Al Kuwari, Member of the NHRC.

Another historic achievement in the march of Human Rights

The 23rd annual meeting of the APF, hosted by the Chinese city of Hong Kong during the period from 18 to 19 September, was a remarkable historic event, with new achievements added to the record of achievements of the NHRC so far, acknowledging its role in defending human rights issues in Qatar, the region and the world.

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), chaired by Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, participated in the annual meeting of the APF, the internationally recognized regional network of 25 national institutions in the Asia and Pacific region, Including the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, as well as other human rights institutions attending the annual meeting in Hong Kong.

During the annual meeting, APF members gave an overview of their current activities and priorities. The meeting witnessed an open dialogue with civil society organizations in the region on issues of mutual interest. Subsequently, the five-member Committee of Wise Men was opened for election, as well as a number of posts to represent the Asia-Pacific region in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.

Election of the NHRC to assume 4 leadership positions

The announcement of the results of the elections reflected the wide victory of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar by winning the confidence of the APF which decided to vote unanimously to select the National Human Rights Committee to take assume 4 leading positions in the GANHRI, and the APF. According to the election results, the members of the Forum voted unanimously to extend their confidence to Dr. Ali bin Samih Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, to serve as Vice President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Secretary of the Global Alliance and Executive Director of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. Members of the Forum also unanimously voted for Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif Al Kuwari, member of the NHRC, to serve as a member of the Advisory Council of Jurists of the Asia-Pacific Forum.

March of achievements

This victory also marks the culmination of the efforts of the NHRC and its vigorous movements in more than 40 countries in the world and its meetings with the largest international and human rights organizations to defend the rights of victims of the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar since 5 June 2017.

Success is not a precedent in the history of the National Human Rights Committee

The National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar is the only GCC country to be accredited status A by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions after a rigorous accreditation process under the supervision of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as the secretariat of the Accreditation Committee. Status (A) is granted only to national institutions that fully comply with the principles relating to the status of national institutions, known as the “Paris Principles”.

The National Human Rights Committee has once again received the confidence of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), which have earlier rejected complaints by the blockading countries, after they requested declassification of the NHRC and question its credibility and integrity. For its part, the Asia-Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions affirmed its solidarity with the NHRC.

The Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions affirmed its solidarity with the NHRC and commended the decision of the International Accreditation Committee of the Global Alliance of National Institutions to reject the complaints of the blockading countries. The Presidency of the Forum noted in an official report that the National Human Rights Committee is internationally recognized by the United Nations as a national human rights institution in the State of Qatar.

In recognition of its efforts and local and international efforts to defend the victims of the blockade imposed on Qatar, the NHRC chaired by Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri won the trust of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions through a communication addressed to the NHRC on behalf of all the member countries of the Global Alliance encouraging the NHRC to continue its efforts and actions to defend the victims of violations of the blockade. Over the course of more than a year since the blockade began, the efforts of the NHRC have been appreciated by the international community, first and foremost by the United Nations, which in its official report has valued the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee and confirmed the credibility of its reports on violations of the blockade.

The National Human Rights Committee, through its credibility and professionalism, has succeeded in resolving the human rights battle in international forums, providing moral and legal redress to the victims and rendering their suffering an issue of international public opinion. It also contributed to striking all attempts by the countries of the blockade to isolate the State of Qatar by organizing an international conference that attracted more than 250 international organizations and press unions, International human rights organizations and parliamentary figures who visited Qatar and praised the success of the NHRC in the defense of human rights locally, regionally and internationally.

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, met in his office today with HE William Grant, Head of Mission, Charge d’affaires of the United States Embassy in Doha. The meeting dealt with ways of cooperation in issues of common concern and exchanging experiences and expertise in the field of human rights.

Al-Marri calls on the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and the Working Group on arbitrary detention to dispatch a joint mission to Saudi Arabia to investigate the situation of the detained Qataris in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

We call on the UN to monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the International Court of Justice by the UAE

Diplomatic missions to the countries of the blockade insist on continued violations before the Human Rights Council

The report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions recognized the violations resulting from the blockade, but did not recognize the extent of the suffering of the victims

Geneva: 14 September 2018

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri, chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, called for conduct extensive investigations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE for gross and systematic violations, as well as discriminatory measures taken against Qatari citizens and residents of Qatar. Dr. Al-Marri stressed the importance of monitoring the implementation of the decision of the International Court of Justice by the UAE authorities to seek redress against acts of racial discrimination through UAE courts and institutions, take all necessary steps to ensure that families separated by the Discriminatory Measures are reunited and to allow Qatari students to complete their education at UAE universities or to obtain their educational records if they wish to continue their studies elsewhere. He stressed that the NHRC in Qatar is working to monitor the enforcement of the decision of the International Court of Justice through its mechanisms, pointing out that the discriminatory measures taken against the Qataris are not limited to the UAE only, but equally in other countries of the blockade. Commenting on the report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions reviewed before the Human Rights Council last Wednesday, Al-Marri said that despite the fact that the report acknowledged in paragraphs 9 and 10 the illegality of the measures taken by the blockading countries and endorsed the positions of the High Commissioner Human rights and recent decisions of the International Court of Justice, as well as its recognition of the persistence of the blockading States in their violations; however, it did not recognize the extent of the suffering of the victims and was not as strict as hoped. Al Marri added: We call on the Special Rapporteur to act urgently and take firmer positions against the countries of the blockade and to visit the State of Qatar and the blockading countries for the grave human rights-related repercussions resulting from the blockade.

This came during a series of intensive meetings held by the chairman of the National Human Rights Committee on the sidelines of the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where Al Marri met with members of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Working Group on Arbitrary Disappearance, and Committee on Enforced Disappearance. Al Marri also met with the head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director of the treaty mechanisms of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addition to a number of permanent delegates to the Human Rights Council and the head of the European mission to the HRC. Al-Marri explained during his meetings the provisional measures of the decision of the International Court of Justice, calling on the United Nations human rights mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the decision by the UAE. During his meeting with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Al-Marri said that the NHRC has been following up the UAE’s compliance with the ICJ’s decisions and called on The Committee on Racial Discrimination to undertake extensive investigations into the discriminatory violations of the United Arab Emirates and the monitoring of the enforcement of the decisions of the International Court of Justice. Al-Marri provided the Commission with reliable information and strong evidence for serious violations and systematic campaigns by Saudi Arabia and other blockading countries against Qatari citizens. Al-Marri called for urgent measures to be taken to investigate the discriminatory practices of the Saudi authorities against Qataris and residents of Qatar. Al Marri called on the United States to monitor violations of the UAE and Saudi Arabia in its report to the Human Rights Council and to appeal urgently to the countries of the blockade to urge them to respect human rights conventions and charters, particularly the recommendations and decisions contained in the six letters of appeal of the Special Rapporteurs of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Al-Marri briefed the cases of obstructing and preventing Qataris from resorting to the courts of the blockading countries, and called for an urgent investigation of the matter and attacks on the independence of the judiciary, lawyers and court officials in the countries of the blockade, especially with regard to resorting to national courts. He also called for the inclusion of such attacks in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary and lawyers before the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly, in addition to presenting a background to the decision of the International Court of Justice on the immediate right to litigation and demanding the monitoring of the UAE’s commitment to these decisions.

During his meeting with a number of members of the Committee on Arbitrary Detention and Forced Disappearance, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al-Marri extended thanks to the two Committees for their urgent actions regarding the Qatari nationals detained by the Saudi authorities. However, Al-Marri stressed that the Saudi authorities have not yet released the detainees or allowed to connect with them. Al-Marri called for the importance of dispatching a joint mission by the Committee for Arbitrary Detention and Forced Disappearance to Saudi Arabia to understand the root causes of arbitrary deprivation of liberty and forced disappearance of Qatari nationals. Al-Marri said that Qataris are subject to these illegal measures if they enter Saudi Arabia if they are allowed to enter. The findings of the UN technical mission report should be included in the Commission’s annual report to the Human Rights Council.

In the same context, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh met with a number of permanent delegates to some of the Member States of the Human Rights Council and met with the Head of the European Delegation to the Council. During these meetings, Al-Marri discussed the latest human rights violations resulting from the blockade on Qatar and gave them a background on the legal moves of the NNRC along with the decision of the International Court of Justice and demanded that they take strict positions in the Human Rights Council against the violations of the countries of the blockade. Al-Marri said such statements are evidence and proof of their rejection of all calls, statements and reports issued by the United Nations confirming the intention of the blockading countries to continue their violations and ignore the international human rights system.