Doha – 18 March 2018

The National Human Rights Committee signed a cooperation agreement with the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of the Interior to enhance the prospects for cooperation and exchange of information, in order to achieve greater coordination and cooperation in monitoring and addressing public complaints. The agreement was signed by Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, and Brigadier Abdullah Saqr Al Mohannadi, Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.
The terms of the agreement include areas and prospects for cooperation between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of the Interior and the National Human Rights Committee, exchange of expertise and experiences, and the handling of complaints and petitions received from the public. The terms of the agreement also include cooperation in the field of knowledge production and capacity building, and legislative harmonization with international human rights standards. The agreement signed between the National Human Rights committee and the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior is very important not only for enhancing cooperation and coordination between the two sides, but also for allowing the parties to coordinate their efforts to deal with public complaints more effectively to protect the rights and respond to the concerns, and this is one of the most important objectives of the National Human Rights committee.

Campaigns against Qatari humanitarian action have hit the regional and international humanitarian system

Calling on the UN Secretary-General to record the violations of the blockade in the annual report and to present it to the General Assembly

Al-Marri calls on the United Nations mechanisms to address the parties to the crisis to address violations before any settlement of the solution

New York: March 16, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National human rights committee of the State of Qatar stressed that the blockade imposed on the Qatari humanitarian organizations and the accusations of the countries of the blockade that they carry out terrorist activities is considered a part of the distortion campaigns that target Qatari organizations in general and the humanitarian developmental work carried out by charitable organizations in Qatar. Al-Marri called on the United Nations to take firmer positions on violations of human rights committed by the blockading states and to refer to the consequences of the blockade in the annual report of the Secretary-General to the United Nations General Assembly.

This came during a series of intensive meetings held in New York with Mrs. Ursula Mueller is the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Khao Pedro Valle, Head of the Permanent Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and senior officials of Human Rights Watch and representatives of a number of European delegations. Dr. Al-Marri said that listing national humanitarian organizations in the terrorism list by the countries of the blockade is a dangerous precedent in the Gulf region in attempts to impede the development work carried out by the national organizations, thus depriving venerable groups receiving support from Qatari organizations.

Al Marri said: “These criminal charges are a serious violation of the right to development and target not only Qatari humanitarian organizations, but also vulnerable groups that need support. Qatari humanitarian organizations are one of the components of civil society and it is important in promoting and protecting human rights. The development of communities and the performance of various voluntary actions constitute a direct and distinct contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in general, and economic and social rights in particular, including the right to decent life.

Al-Marri added that the accusations of the countries of the blockade against the Qatari humanitarian organizations are hindering efforts to combat and eradicate poverty, and provide aid and relief to those in need, is a flagrant violation of the right to comprehensive and sustainable development.

Dr. Ali briefed Ms. Mueller on all the reports documented by the National Human Rights Committee against the humanitarian organizations in Qatar, calling for the activation of cooperation between the National Human Rights Committee and the United Nations in the field of giving humanitarian action a human rights dimension in terms of the economic, social and developmental rights of the peoples and based on the important principle adopted by the United Nations (fight against poverty). Al Marri stressed the readiness of the NHRC in Qatar to engage in partnership with the United Nations to develop this dimension. Al-Marri said that the United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000 included combating poverty as one of the main goals of the United Nations. In the same context, Dr. Al-Marri called on the United Nations to take firmer positions on the violations of the basic principles of human rights and to move urgently to address the parties to the crisis to immediately lift these violations and compensate the victims before any settlement of the political solution. Al Marri called on further moves by the United Nations mechanisms to redress the victims of the blockade. Al-Marri called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the address countries of the blockade for an immediate lifting of the humanitarian violations caused by its arbitrary unilateral measures and the consequences of the blockade in the annual report to the United Nations General Assembly. Furthermore, Al-Marri gave the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs a background on the movements of the National Human Rights Committee, both at the level of the United Nations and its mechanisms or before specialized international agencies.

In his meeting with Mr. Khao Pedro Valle, the President of the National Human Rights Committee praised the role played by the European Union in this crisis and the great understanding of the violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar, stressing that the countries of the blockade has continued in the violations in violation of all international norms and all calls of the United Nations and international organizations for the need to neutralize the humanitarian file.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ali in a meeting with senior officials of Human Rights Watch, stressed the necessity of exerting human rights pressure to put an immediate end to the arbitrary and unilateral measures imposed by the countries of blockade on citizens and residents of Qatar, compensate those affected by the blockade, refrain from dropping the file of human violations in any political settlements, and addressThe humanitarian issue in the pre-Camp David consultations.

Despite the reports issued by Human Rights Watch and the reports of the International Organization and the National Human Rights Committee, which proved beyond any doubt the serious human rights violations resulting from the blockade of Qatar, the leaders of the blockading countries are occasionally informed of their unwillingness to lift the injustice suffered by the victims. During the meeting, Al-Marri renewed his total rejection of any solutions to the crisis that go beyond the immediate lifting of the suffering of urgent humanitarian cases including mixed families from any procedures and property owners.
In the same context, Al-Marri held separate meetings with representatives of a number of European delegations to the United Nations. During the meetings, Al-Marri gave a detailed explanation of the latest humanitarian violations resulting from the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar, and called on representatives of the delegations to address their countries with the need to place the humanitarian file as a priority in all stages of resolving the crisis.

Any consultations to resolve the situation should anticipate actions that take into account urgent humanitarian situations

Files of the victims of the blockade was presented in preparatory meetings to leaders of the parties to the crisis in Washington

Dispersing families and striking investments does not ensure an environment conducive to a unified cooperation council

The blockade of Qatar has left a growing sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in the economic, social and economic aspects

Washington, March 14, 2018

President of the National Human Rights Committee called on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress and a number of members of Congress and the US President Donald Trump to raise the human rights issue as a priority in the Camp David consultations to resolve the Gulf crisis. This came during a hearing by Dr. Ali bin Smaikh in the US capital, Washington, before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress; the hearing was attended by a group of members of the commission headed by Republican Party Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Randy Haltgren. A series of meetings held yesterday by Al Marri with a number of senators, including Karen Bass, a member of Congress, who is active in the subcommittee on global human rights, Republican Representative of the Party, Mr. Francis Rooney, Representative of the Party to the Foreign Affairs Committee and Congress Representative, Mr. Tom Garrett who is a member of the Sub-Committee on Universal Human Rights. And Congressman Brad Shermin, the highest representative of Democrats in the Foreign Relations Committee. The meeting discussed the importance of the file of violations caused by the blockade and not to exceed in any negotiations to resolve the current political crisis, immediate lifting of unilateral arbitrary measures and compensation of the victims including affected citizens of the State of Qatar and residents on its territory and citizens of the Gulf cooperation Council. “We will continue to follow closely all the Camp David arrangements so that we can see the necessary guarantees that the humanitarian issue will not be floated in any political settlement,” Al Marri said, stressing that without redressing the victims and the reparation of any damage, any dialogue is subject to failure. Al Marri added: “From our perspective, we see that the current Gulf crisis has cast a shadow over the human rights situation.

In his meetings, Dr. Al-Marri gave a detailed explanation about the violations resulted of the blockade, pointing out that these countries still reject the calls of international organizations and the National Human Rights Committee to neutralize the humanitarian file from the political disputes and promote calls to end the unjust measures that hit the social fabric of the Gulf States. “The unity and cohesion of the Gulf Cooperation Council depends on a cohesive social fabric, the Gulf families and the discourse of hatred, incitement and violence is growing. Therefore, one of the most important steps to resolve the crisis is the immediate end to the suffering of families, and compensation of right holders.
In the same context, Al Marri stressed that the blockade crisis may disrupt the development efforts not only in the region but in many countries of the world, pointing out that the blockade has left a growing sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in the economic, social and economic aspects, especially after the large violations and the heavy losses incurred by individuals and major international companies operating in the Gulf region. Al Marri said that the insistence of the blockading countries to continue the violations is a clear message from those countries that hit the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The hearing before the Tom Lantos Committee is the second of its kind of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh, where the first was in October 2017. Tom Lantos followed the first meeting with a public hearing at the Congress, during which they discussed the repercussions of the humanitarian blockade imposed on Qatar and its negative impacts on citizens and residents of Qatar.

Washington, March 13, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar met today with Mr. Tim Linder King, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Gulf Affairs. Dr. Al-Marri discussed the repercussions of the blockade on human rights and humanitarian situation after more than nine months of blockade.

Any negotiations should be preceded by an immediate lifting of arbitrary measures as a gesture of goodwill

We welcome any initiatives towards a quick resolution of the blockade crisis on Qatar with the priority of the humanitarian situation

Demanding the extradition of dissidents violates human rights conventions and the principles and values of American society

Dr. Al Marri holds a seminar at the Qatar American Center in the presence of the US Assistant Secretary of State

Dr. Al-Marri rejects any restrictions on satellite channels

President of the National Human Rights Committee: Al-Jazeera stands accused since its inception

Washington, March 13, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, welcomed initiatives to resolve the blockade crisis on Qatar and return life to its natural course in the Gulf region, stressing the importance of any settlement of the issue and the immediate lifting of unilateral arbitrary measures as a gesture of goodwill, calling for the establishment of a comprehensive compensation mechanism, including the establishment of a fund for this purpose. This came during meetings held today by Dr. A Marri with members of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and at the Qatar American institute in the presence of Tim Linder King, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arab Gulf Affairs, as well as a number of experts on Middle East issues, academics and media professionals. Al-Marri stressed the importance of considering the situation of the urgent cases and work to reunite the families who were dispersed during this crisis, which exceeded nine months, as well as the immediate lifting of obstacles that limit the performance of rituals and religious rites for citizens and residents of Qatar, in addition to allowing owners to dispose of their properties. Al-Marri warned that prolonging the crisis will deepen the social fabric and leads to the loss of confidence and security, especially after the irresponsible statements of some leaders of the blockading countries, which went so far as to threaten the continuation of the crisis for years.

On the blockade crisis on the State of Qatar, Al-Marri said that the blockading countries targeted innocent civilians, affecting families, patients, students and migrant workers in Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, noting that there are thousands of mixed families involving citizens of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. Moreover, more than 3,000 students studying outside their home countries are affected, this is in addition to preventing Qatari citizens and residents by the Saudi authorities from entering Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Umrah.
The President of the National Human Rights Committee said that since the first day of the blockade, the committee has moved on wide ranges to explain the damage caused by the blockade at the international and tribal levels.
Al Marri added: “We have found a great response by officials in European governments and parliaments as well as the great response of the US administration, the US Senate, think tanks and academics in the United States, apart from the great role played by international organizations, especially the United Nations, and we are confident that when it comes to human rights, the free world will serve as a Trojan horse to lift the flagrant abuses that people can face anywhere, anytime.
Regarding Al-Jazeera, Al-Marri stressed his total rejection of all attempts to put restrictions on satellite channels. Al Marri added “this is unacceptable and contrary to the freedom of expression, the right to receive information, this will support one of the demands of the countries of the blockade calling for the closure of Al-Jazeera, which was rejected by the international community; Al-Jazeera has been receiving various accusations since its establishment. The question of freedom of opinion and expression was a matter of principle. It could not be argued that if a channel conducted interviews with armed groups, it would promote or adopt the ideas of those groups”. Dr. Ali reviewed the situation of the repercussions of the blockade on Qatar, calling for the need to move quickly to urge the parties to the crisis to resolve the humanitarian consequences of the Gulf citizen and residents in the region, pointing out that the continuation of this crisis will not only affect the citizens of the GCC countries, but also the millions of residents and workers, which will affect the economic and social conditions and foreign investment in the region, where it will push the region into a state of instability.

At the same context, Al-Marri said that the measures taken against the State of Qatar, which led to its blockade, are based on demands that violate international law, especially those relating to the closure of channels and the demand to extradite opponents, noting that such demands not only violate human rights conventions but also violate the principles and values of American society. “International law does not allow the extradition of people to countries where they believe they will be subjected to torture or unfair trials,” Al Marri said. The demand for the closure of satellite channels is also a violation of the right to freedom of expression and a clear violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the protection of the press and journalists.

Prolongation of the crisis does not serve the peoples of the blockading countries themselves, the highest priority is to lift violations, compensate the victims and hold perpetrators to account

The countries of the blockade have violated human rights in a manner that is unacceptable to law and morality

Brussels : 9 March 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, stressed that through the National Human Rights Commission’s moves and meetings with human rights officials and international organizations. This came during the meetings held with minister and officials of the ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belgium, and Mr. Roberto Storce, Chairman of the Working Group on the Middle East and North Africa in the External Affairs Commission, and Mr. Colin Siklina, Deputy Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa at the External Action Service of the European Union.

Dr. Al-Marri discussed the repercussions of the blockade on human rights during the meetings, and stated that “There is no loser in this crisis except the people in the Gulf region. People have been suffering for 10 months from the violations of their human rights and their hope is to regain their legitimate rights and return to their normal life as before the blockade”. The unjust continuation of the blockade even after 10 months does not serve anybody, rather it breaks the social fabric of peaceful coexistence of people in the region. It’s very clear that the blockade imposed on Qatar on June 5 last year lacks international legitimacy and is based on demands that violate conventions and charters of international law, human rights and freedom of opinion and expression. It affected civil, economic, social and cultural rights of people.

The worst case of human rights violations are in the fields of family dispersal as well as the disruption of education of students. When the blockading countries cut ties and imposed air, land and sea blockade, they also asked Qatari citizens in their countries and their citizens in Qatar to leave within 14 days, including students, patients, businessmen, mixed family members and owners of livestock.

It’s unfair and a gross violation of human rights that universities and other educational institutions are involved into these matters. It’s against all kinds of respect of international laws guaranteeing the rights of students. “Education is one of the basic human rights granted by laws to all people regardless of any political, economic, social or cultural differences or disputes,” said the QNHRC in a report. The report reveals that 213 Qatari students were forced to discontinue their education including (130 students from United Arab Emirates), (55 students from Saudi Arabia) and (28 students from Bahrain), as well 706 students were forced by their countries to leave Qatar and Qatar University

The statements by some Gulf leaders to prolong the crisis are not recognition of Kuwaiti mediation

Call for a European and International Declaration on Arbitrary and Unilateral Measures

We are studying the organization of an international event on unilateral measures in Doha

Dr. Al-Marri: Victory for the legitimate gains of peoples is an irrevocable humanitarian imperative

Brussels, 8 March 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, said: “The countries of the blockade wish to prolong the crisis; this is reflected in their intention not to lift the blockade and not refrain from unilateral arbitrary measures against the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar; specially following the statements of its leaders that the isolation of Qatar by Saudi Arabia and its allies has a similarity with the way the US had blockaded Cuba, which lasted for fifty years. Al Marri added that the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar is considered as a collective punishment of the people after the current Gulf crisis is compared to the blockade of Cuba, which is the longest blockade in modern times and this gives an indication of their determination to punish the Gulf people and residents in the region in a clear violation of human rights conventions and charters.

This came during a series of meetings conducted by Dr. Ali with Mr. Marc Giacomini, Deputy Managing Director Human Rights, Global and Multilateral Issues of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Chair of the EU’s Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM), Ms Ciara O’Brien, Ms. Michel Al-Yumari, Head of the Delegation of Relations With the Arab Peninsula in the European Parliament, Mr. Ondi Christia, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, and Mr. Antonio Benzari, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the European Parliament.
Al Marri said “We call on the international community to intervene to address the humanitarian violations resulting from this crisis”, adding that they would close the horizon to political solutions in the short term. Al Marri called on the European Parliament to issue a European and international declaration to prevent unilateral arbitrary measures and the development of an international mechanism in this respect, pointing out that the NHRC is currently studying the organization of an international event on unilateral arbitrary measures.
The President of the NHRC recommended the importance of carrying out responsible actions to put an end to what is described as a series of systematic violations of international organizations, pointing out that the Parliament and the European Union have a great legacy in the defense and promotion of human rights and protection in the world. He said: “If the European Parliament is moving to repel violations on individuals, so we demand actions to take decisive action to stop the suffering of the Gulf people resulting from this crisis, which lasted for about 10 months”.

Al-Marri said during his meetings: “We expect more decisive steps than before, there are thousands of affected people waiting for remedies, redress, compensatory and other measures. Al Marri added: “The violations of the blockade crisis on Qatar have stood against many organizations and international monitoring missions”. At the same time, Dr. Ali attended a working lunch with the Qatari – European Friendship Association, with the participation of a number of ambassadors and officials of the European Parliament. Dr. Al-Marri during the working lunch gave a brief on the repercussions of the continued blockade imposed on Qatar and its effects on human rights. “The violations continue and the people of the Gulf are still suffering from the loss of their rights guaranteed by the international human rights instruments. the international community is responsible to history for the continuation of this crisis, in which families are dispersed and human rights have been violated in all areas, including health, education, property, religious practices and other violations.

Doha: Tuesday 6 March 2018

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) honored its staff of various services in recognition of their efforts and dedication over the past period, in the presence of representatives of communities living in Qatar. The National Human Rights Committee organized a ceremony honoring all the staff of the Committee, the ceremony was attended by Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, Ms. Maryam Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the Committee, and all directors of department of the NHRC, in recognition of the efforts of cleaners, security workers, and drivers over the past period.

Dr. Ali Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, said: “We are delighted to meet you today, to honor the staff of the Committee, including cleaners, drivers and the representatives of the communities residing in Qatar. We have been thinking about organizing this ceremony to thank you for all the efforts you make every day that contribute to the success of the National Human Rights Committee to achieve its mission. The workers and staff of the Committee have been hand in hand and have made tremendous efforts, especially during this period of blockade.”

Doha :Monday 5 March 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, President of the National Human Rights Committee, received Mr. Fikret Ozer, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the state, at the Committee’s headquarters.
During the meeting, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh reviewed the objectives of the National Human Rights Committee and its terms of reference and means of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise and experiences between the two sides on human rights issues.

Includes lectures and educational activities during March 2018

9 prizes for the best articles for the secondary stage and drawings for primary and preparatory schools reflect the message and objectives of the campaign

Doha: Sunday 4 March 2018

The National Human Rights Committee will launch tomorrow the “Education as a right and a duty” campaign, which will continue throughout March, and aims to spread the culture of the rights and duties of students in the field of education to school children, their parents and educational staff. Mr. Abdullah Al Mahmoud, head of Media and Public Relations at the National Human Rights Committee, stated that: “as part of the efforts of the Committee and its keenness to spread the culture of human rights in various segments of society, we launch “Education as a right and a duty” campaign”.

* The idea behind the campaign and its objectives

The campaign aims at raising awareness about the rights and duties of students in education, the rights and duties of teachers in schools, and urging students to understand their rights, and respect for the rights of others. Through the campaign, we seek to instill the concept of the rights and duties of students in education by educating them about the importance of their rights in society and school, developing their basic culture on the concept of human rights and duties, as well as instilling the values of empathy and tolerance in the treatment of others, and urging school students to do good and guide friends to the right way, and to do good collectively, including affection, respect and appreciation.

* Purpose of involving parents

This reflects the National Human Rights Committee’s keenness to spread the culture of parents’ rights and duties through awareness messages and educational posters that the students will transfer to the home. It is the duty of the school to guide parents. The goal of the campaign is to guide parents to be partners in the educational process in general and in behavioral and moral control, in addition to helping the school to effectively build an environment and to adhere to and respect the policies of the school, as well as to encourage students to attain educational and behavioral discipline.

* Campaign program

The National Human Rights Committee has set up a enriched program targeting students in 12 primary schools in Qatar. The students will benefit from lectures and educational activities to raise awareness of their rights and duties in the field of education and human rights.

* Activities within schools

Al-Mahmoud pointed out that the committee will visit a number of schools to give a series of awareness lectures on the right to education and other rights, as well as educational recreational activities, drawing competitions and distribution of awareness posters for school students. A wall chart will also be posted at the entrance to the schools, which will include targeted awareness messages about students’ rights and duties for students and parents.

* Educational and awareness lectures

The awareness campaign will be supervised by a dedicated cadre of specialists in the National Human Rights Committee, who will present a series of lectures and organize targeted events.
The lectures will address issues related to the rights of the child, such as a lecture on the right to identity, the right to citizenship, the right to health, the rights of persons with disabilities, the right to a healthy environment, the right to education, the right to an environment, The right to work, the right to build a family, the importance of women’s rights to development, the right to health, and the right to education. The lecture series will be organized in Abu Hanifa Model School, Maria Coptic Preparatory School for Girls, Al Wakra Preparatory School for Girls, Sakina Preparatory School for Girls, Al Israa Primary School for Girls, Rufaida Bent Ka’ab Preparatory School for Girls, Umm Ayman Secondary School for Girls, Saad bin Abi Waqas Model and Umm Salamah Primary School for Girls.

* Intensive competitions to motivate students

A competition entitled “Know Your Rights” will be organized on the best Arabic essay for high school students and a competition for the best drawing that reflects the campaign’s slogan and mission for primary and middle school students. 9 valuable prizes shall be distributed at the end of the campaign for the best works presented. The jury will select three winners for the best essay, three winners for the best drawings for primary school students, and three other prizes for best drawings for middle school students. The nine winners will receive valuable prizes that will be a positive incentive for them in their educational path. The proposed works will be presented in mid-April.