The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar condemned the detention of the Qatari citizen arbitrarily by the Saudi authorities and the denial of contact with his family or lawyer since 21 April. In addition to the inability of his family and his relatives to determine the place of his detention, or the charges made against him, as well as being at risk of torture and other ill-treatment in violation of international human rights conventions. In a statement issued today, the NHRC called on all international human rights bodies and organizations and the Special rapporteur on Arbitrary Detention to intervene to release him.

Text of the Statement
In continuation of the series of human rights violations committed by the countries of the blockade against the State of Qatar and its citizens, and practices that violate all international human rights conventions, instruments and norms, Qatar National Human Rights Committee condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Mohsen Saleh Saadoun Al-Karbi, Qatari citizen who has been arrested in the Republic of Yemen by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen at Shahn border crossing point with Sultanate of Oman on April 21st 2018, during his visit to his family and relatives, and without any charges made against him.

Qatar National Human Rights Committee also condemns the arbitrary detention of the aforesaid citizen by the Saudi authorities and the denial of contact with his family or lawyer since then. His family does not know the place of his detention specifically, nor the charges made against him; in addition to being at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in violation of relevant international human rights conventions.

Accordingly, Qatar National Human Rights Committee calls upon all international human rights bodies and organizations and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to promptly intervene to release the aforesaid citizen, and calls upon the Saudi authorities to disclose his legal status and to immediately allow him to communicate with his family and lawyers. The NHRC also calls on the Saudi authorities to ensure that he is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, receive any medical care he may need, and speed his release. The NHRC holds the Saudi authorities fully responsible for his security and safety.

16 Shaban 1439, 2nd May 2018
Doha, Qatar

 To read the full statement Click Here

The agreement is the first of its kind for the European Parliament with a national institution for human rights in the Gulf and Arab countries

Brussels : 28 April 2018

The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar signed a consultative agreement to exchange experiences and consultations with the European Parliament; it is considered the first of its kind with a national institution for human rights in the Gulf and Arab countries, reflecting the credibility of the NHRC at the global level. The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the European Parliament last week, on the sidelines of the hearing of the Sub-Commission on Human Rights, in a prominent presence of members of the European Parliament.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the NHRC and Mr. Antonio Panziri, Chairman of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament. The signed agreement is one of the most important mechanisms through which the human rights developments in Qatar are implemented and monitored. The agreement will pave the way for close cooperation between the NHRC and the European Parliament to carry out many joint human rights programs. It will also allow the European Parliament to identify and learn more about the repercussions of the blockade and discuss how to address these violations.

“The signing of the agreement will strengthen the partnership and cooperation between the NHRC and the European Parliament to address all the challenges resulting from the human rights situation, and address the violations and repercussions of the blockade,” Dr. Ali Bin Smeikh Al Marri said.

The signing of the agreement follows recent meetings and exchange of views between the NHRC and the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament (DROIT). The two sides decided to continue bilateral activities in the form of a memorandum of cooperation aimed at regulating their relationship, Exchange of experience, information and bilateral contacts in the field of human rights.

The agreement includes the exchange of experiences with a view to enhancing the work of members and staff in various disciplines; sharing experiences on international human rights conventions, including ILO conventions, an annual work plan with regular evaluation to monitor their implementation, To the needs dictated by projects between the two sides. The signing by the European Parliament of an agreement with the NHRC for the first time in the history of the human rights institutions in the Gulf and the Arab States reflects the status and credibility of the NHRC with international organizations and international partners and marks the efforts and work of the NHRC for more than 16 years.

The countries of the blockade exercise disinformation, their claims to form committees to stop violations and allow the prosecution prove to be unfounded

The Saudi obstacles to Hajj and Umrah will be raised in the agendas of the human rights mechanisms and bodies

we call on the inclusion of the issue of the blockade in the annual report of the European Parliament on the human rights situation

we call on the inclusion of the “politicization of religious rites” in the United Nations human rights system until Saudi Arabia stops the violations

we invite the EU envoy to visit Qatar and the countries of the blockade

the countries of the blockade- contrary to what they claim – did not take any action to stop violations

The blockading countries mislead international public opinion

Victims demand justice, determination of responsibilities and accountability of those involved

Brussels: 28 April 2018

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the NHRC in the State of Qatar, called on the European Parliament to adopt urgent and effective mechanisms and procedures to end the suffering of those affected by the blockade imposed on Qatar, such as issuing a recommendation on the serious repercussions of the blockade on human rights, dispatching a parliamentary committee to investigate the negative effects of the crisis, and including the issue of the repercussions of the blockade in the annual report of the European Parliament on the human rights situation, hoping that the violations resulting from the blockade of Qatar are considered as a priority in the discussions at the European Parliament in the coming period.

At a hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels, Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh, the European Union invited the envoy to visit Qatar and the countries of the blockade to come close to the human rights violations committed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing that “after nearly a year of the blockade, the victims no longer trust the statements of condemnation, demand concrete and effective measures to redress them, and to identify responsibilities and accountability of those involved in the violations, noting that contrary to the claims of the blockading countries, they have not taken any action to stop its violations, and continue to practice political misinformation.

Al-Marri presents the results of the achievements of the NHRC

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri started his intervention at the hearing by presenting a brief about the establishment of the NHRC and the achievements it has made over 16 years in the course of human rights inside and outside the State of Qatar, as well as the international partnerships that the NHRC has achieved, in particular with OHCHR and the most prominent international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, to the international support of the Office of National Institutions of the OHCHR and the GANHRI, and APF. Al Marri also gave an overview of the human rights situation in Qatar and the contributions of the NHRC to the reforms undertaken by the Qatari Government to promote the rights of workers. In response to questions from members of the European Parliament, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh presented the most important challenges, opportunities and developments related to the rights of women and workers, freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the agreements signed with several international human rights organizations and Qatar’s accession to international human rights conventions.

What’s next after 1 year under the blockade!

The President of the NHRC talked about the blockade crisis imposed on Qatar since 5 June and its repercussions on human rights, and gave a brief explanation, supported by statistics and figures, about the violations of the rights of citizens and residents of the State of Qatar and the blockading countries themselves, to the actions taken by the NHRC to expose these violations and their success in gaining the confidence and support of the international community and international human rights organizations, Parliamentary and human rights organizations. In this regard, Al Marri referred to the visit of the delegation of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its comprehensive report on the violations of the blockade, the statements and appeals of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the statement of 220 international organizations and trade unions during The Conference on Freedom of Expression condemning in the strongest terms the 13 demands of the countries of the blockade, including the closure of Al-Jazeera and all the media belonging to Qatar, and finally the letters addressed by six special rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council to the Governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, to call for immediate action to stop discriminatory and arbitrary measures, and to prosecute those responsible for violations.

Mechanisms of the blockading countries to address the violations are vague and ineffective

The President of the NHRC was keen to draw the attention of the European Parliamentarians, and the European and international governments, to the continuation of the blockading countries in their violations, expressing the shock at the false claims announced by the countries of the blockade that they had taken action to address the violations monitored by the six Special Rapporteurs in the individual letters addressed to the three Governments including opening hotlines to receive complaints and appeals, and granted the right of litigation to those affected by violations, and allowed them to exercise their rights in full, including the right to practice religious rites for citizens and residents of the State of Qatar!

“It has become clear that hotlines are useless, with the testimony of the OHCHR, and have become a mechanism for the authorities to monitor their citizens and punish those who dare to complain, while the delusional committees they talk about are not transparent,” Al Marri said. Noting that, the countries of the blockade have not provided to the United Nations any evidence of the cases they have dealt with. They also argue that victims can resort to the local jurisdiction of the blockading countries and that lawyers can lodge complaints with them, whereas since the beginning of the crisis, the right to litigation has been violated and the doors of the courts in these countries are completely closed to victims and their lawyers. We have been in contact with many lawyers in the countries of the blockade, and they have assured us that they cannot file any suits in this regard because of the indirect prohibition practiced by those countries to reach the judiciary, in addition to the law criminalizing the sympathy with Qatar and its people.

Raising the issue of “Hajj and Umrah” in the United Nations system until relevant obstacles are eliminated

In response to a question on the extent of the commitment of the blockading countries to lift the restrictions on the right to practice religious rites for citizens and residents in Qatar, the President of the National Human Rights Committee said: “About a year ago the blockade, the two holy mosques are closed to pilgrims from Qatar! That the pilgrimage campaigns incurred heavy losses, resulting in the forced dismissal of workers.” Al Marri added: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to cover up the international community and make baseless allegations in response to the letter of the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteurs who claim to allow Qataris to perform Hajj and Umrah and to take measures to address the grievances of those affected. In the same context, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh stated that “The NHRC intends to invite the Special Rapporteur to freedom of belief to issue an urgent appeal to the Saudi authorities for continuing to violate the right to practice religious rites and to invite him to visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia to discuss the extent of suffering and politicization of religious rites, Obstacles to their right to Hajj and Umrah without restrictions. We also invite the Special Rapporteur on freedom of belief to include in his annual report to the Human Rights Council the issue, we consider this as a very important step, and we assure you that as long as the Kingdom’s authorities continue to politicize rites and put obstacles and difficulties for pilgrims from Qatar, the violations shall be raised before the United Nations system of human rights.”

Saudi Arabia must be aware of the danger of politicizing religious rites and its image in the Muslim world

Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh stated before the European Parliamentarians: “I assure you that the NHRC in Qatar will spare no effort until the obstacles for the citizens and residents of Qatar are lifted and the right to practice religious rites are regained, especially after the failure of all attempts at dialogue which was between the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in the State of Qatar and Saudi Arabia counterpart. Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri stressed the continuation of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar to contact several organizations in the countries of the blockade to find a way out of the crisis to no avail, pointing out in this regard to “Saudi Arabia and the UAE Human Rights Society which received all cases from the NHRC with no response.

Recommendations to the European Parliament

The President of the NHRC concluded by presenting a number of recommendations to the members of the European Parliament, and called on the Parliamentary Subcommittee to take a position on the violations by including the repercussions of the blockade in the annual report of the European Parliament on the human rights situation. He also called on the Sub-Committee on Human Rights to visit the State of Qatar to learn more about the repercussions of the blockade, in parallel with a similar call to the European Union’s human rights envoy.

Fruitful discussions of members of the European Parliament

The hearing by Antonio Panzieri, chairman of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament, amidst a remarkable presence of the European Parliamentarians, witnessed hot debates. The deputies raised a number of questions that focused on the human rights situation in Qatar and the efforts exerted by the committee to develop the rights of workers, women and people with disabilities, to the repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar and the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee to stop the violations caused by the blockade. In response to questions from members of the European Parliament, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh briefed the most important challenges, opportunities and developments related to the rights of women and workers, freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the agreements signed with several international human rights organizations and Qatar’s accession to international human rights conventions.

The Commission on Human Rights wins the confidence of the European Parliament

The European Parliament’s invitation to the President of the National Human Rights Committee to a public hearing reflects the Parliament’s understanding of the extent of the suffering of the victims as a result of the unjust blockade. It also reflects the success of the NHRC in convincing international public opinion of the credibility of its reports that monitored the violations since the first day of the blockade, beginning with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United States Congress, the European, British and French Parliament and major international human rights organizations.

The NHRC shall sign an agreement to share and exchange experiences tomorrow with the parliament

Brussels : Wednesday 25 April 2018

The first official hearing for the NHRC before the European Parliament shall be on Thursday, at the invitation of the European Parliament and in the presence of the members of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, a number of other committees of the Parliament and a number of heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the European Union. Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, held a series of important meetings with officials in Parliament and the European Union.

The President of the NHRC started his official visit to the European Parliament with a series of meetings with the assistants of Mrs. Federica Mugreni, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Gabrielle Vicenteini, and Ms. Federica Mugreni, EU High Representatives for External Relations at the Parliament, as well as Mr. Ytru Duchi, Head of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) and Ms. Rosamaria Jelle, EU External Action Service (EEAS), Mr. Salvatore Chico, Vice-Chairman of the Delegation of the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament.

During the meetings, Al Marri gave an overview of the repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar and the violations that have affected thousands of citizens and residents in Qatar and the GCC countries, pointing out that the efforts made by the National Human Rights Committee since the first day of the crisis are dedicated to defend the rights of the affected people and international movements at the level of human rights organizations and international parliaments. Dr. Al Marri holds a hearing in the European Parliament, led by the head of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Antonio Panzari, on the repercussions of the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar.

Dr. Ali Bin Samih Al Marri will sign a consultative agreement to exchange experiences and consultations between the National Human Rights Committee and the European Parliament, and it is considered the first of its kind with a national human rights institution in the Arab region and worldwide. There shall also be a hearing for the NHRC at the European Parliament that comes after a recent visit by a delegation of the European Parliament to Doha, as well as the visit of Mr. Antonio Panziri, Chairman of the Human Rights Sub-Committee on human rights of the European Parliament at the beginning of April.

 Doha : 22 April 2018

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Doha:17 April 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, met in his office at the NHRC’s headquarters with Mrs. Yvonne Laila Khoies Aboul Baki, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to the State of Qatar. The two sides discussed means of cooperation on issues of mutual concern and activating communication mechanisms to exchange experiences and expertise in human rights issues.

Just talking about the committees to be established by the countries of the blockade to resolve the violations is a recognition of what was denied at the beginning of the crisis

The NHRC reveals the falsity of the claims of the blockading countries to address violations

The suffering of the Gulf families requires long-term treatments

Geneva: 12 April 2018

In the framework of the follow-up with the international mechanisms on the issues raised regarding the violations resulting of the blockade imposed on Qatar, Dr. Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee met in Geneva with Mr. Mohamed El Nsour, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division in the OHCHR, As well as Ms. Patrin Bablin, Chairperson of the Special Procedures Committee of the Human Rights Council, and Mr. Jacob Schneider, Chairperson of Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Dr. Al Marri considered the claims of the blockading countries to establish committees to investigate the violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar, as a procrastination, this is evidenced by their claims to establish committees to consider the violations of the blockade, just talking about these mechanisms is an explicit recognition of the grave human rights violations committed against the citizens and residents of Qatar and citizens of the GCC countries in general. The President of the National Human Rights Committee stressed the importance of documenting and internationalizing information about the violations of the blockade imposed on Qatar, pointing out that the documentation process is an important step in the preservation of rights and finding way to lift the blockade and end impunity. The National Human Rights Committee will continue its efforts to redress the victims and end the violations, no matter how long the crisis persists.

Dr. Al-Marri discussed in his meetings the developments of the effects of the blockade imposed on Qatar for more than 300 days, praising the efforts of the United Nations mechanisms and international organizations to redress victims, based on reports received from the National Human Rights Commission. Regarding his meeting with Mrs. Patrin Bablin, Chairperson of the Special Procedures Committee, Al-Marri stressed the necessity of urgent action to redress the victims affected by the blockade imposed on Qatar, especially citizens who lost their property and investments in the countries of the blockade. Dr. Al-Marri called for the importance of raising these issues in the discussions of the Human Rights Council in the framework of its terms of reference and functions.

During his meeting with Mr. Jacob Schneider, Chairman of the CEDAW, Al-Marri stressed the widespread violations of Gulf women in the Gulf crisis, especially with regard to their families and education. Al Marri said women in the Gulf region are one the most affected vulnerable groups, with thousands being forced to abandon their families. He added that what happened to women since the beginning of the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar was the most severe among the violations that have occurred at all. Al Marri called on the CEDAW to protect the Gulf families, and work to lift the violence that they have been exposed to it for more than 300 days in accordance with its supervisory authority to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh held meetings with a number of representatives of the diplomatic missions of the United Nations to provide them with the latest developments in human rights violations resulting from the blockade on Qatar, and said in a press statement after his meetings: The National Human Rights Committee will continue its efforts to redress the victims and end the violations of the blockade no matter how long the crisis will last. Although we have warned in many international forums and meetings with international organizations and parliaments that prolonging the crisis will exacerbate the situation of human rights in the Gulf region, stressing at the same time that the mechanisms of the United Nations is moving in accordance with its strategies to redress the victims of the blockade.

The President of the National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri called on Mr. Vojislav ŠUC, President of the Human Rights Council to intervene urgently to end the blockade on the State of Qatar and to activate ways to compensate those affected by the blockade.

This came during the meetings at the UN Palace in Geneva, with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar. The two sides discussed the repercussions of the Gulf crisis on human rights. Al-Marri explained the latest developments in human rights violations resulting from the blockade. During the meeting, Al Marri stressed that all international missions, international organizations, international human rights officials and those who have stood up to these violations have conducted direct interviews with the victims of the blockade and affirmed beyond any doubt that the arbitrary and unilateral measures practiced by the blockading countries directly affected the rights of citizens of the State Qatar and its residents and citizens of the GCC countries. Al-Marri expressed readiness of the National Human Rights Committee to cooperate with the Human Rights Council in everything that would preserve human dignity and contribute to the Council’s position.

Pier Antonio Panzeri: We are committed to bringing the issue of violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar into the European Parliament

The State of Qatar has taken great steps to protect workers’ rights

Hearing of Dr. Al Marri in the European Parliament will be before Ramadan

Doha: April 8, 2018

*A consultative agreement between the European Parliament and the NHRC

The National Human Rights Committee hosted a press conference by Mr. Pier Antonio Panzeri, president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament. During the press conference, Panzeri stressed his commitment to bring the issue of violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar before the European Parliament and holding a hearing for Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee before the European Parliament before next Ramadan, pointing out that the effects of the blockade are devastating and cannot be accepted. He also praised the steps taken by Qatar in the field of protection of human rights, stressing at the same time the agreement with the President of the National Human Rights Committee to conclude a consultative agreement for the exchange of information and data. Panzeri explained that this press conference came after a series of meetings with a number of victims of the blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5, and representatives of communities, in addition to the talks with HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar, and meetings with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, and a number of ministries and officials other bodies. Panzeri added that the State of Qatar has taken great strides in favor of workers’ rights, stating that “I came to Doha at the invitation of the National Human Rights Committee, and I think the visit is useful because it allowed me to get acquainted with the facts. It was a very positive visit through meetings with the National Human Rights Committee, Representatives of communities, meetings with various ministries, the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.”

Panzeri noted that his visit came to ascertain the current situation of workers’ rights as the preparations for the 2022 World Cup continue, “we have recognized the great steps that have been accomplished and what will be accomplished, in particular Qatar’s signing of agreements with the ILO on following up the social rights of workers, domestic workers and workers in general, and provides workers with the possibility of complaint before the courts, which are positive developments. The National Human Rights Committee has been accredited status “A” by the GANHRI. I believe that the positive points must be accompanied by complementary requirements relating to the various conventions. We are aware that the work is in progress. We would like to pay more attention to see real implementation and respond positively. We commend Qatar’s accession to the United Nations Protocol to Combat Discrimination and Violence against Women and the possibility of granting it its nationality to its citizens. We believe that Qatar should sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to be the first Arab country to sign the Convention”.

* The effects of the blockade are devastating

On his conclusions about the repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar, the president of the president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament: “We had discussions, and we met many people suffer the consequences of damage caused by the blockade. Apart from the political considerations that may arise and the differences, in my view the policies of the blockade have negative effects on people.” He added: “I listened to the statements of those affected by the blockade, and we will bring the discussions that we have brought to the European Parliament, as well as all the human rights concerns related to Qatar. The effects on the people due to the blockade are clear and we will put them at the center of the discussions of the European Parliament.”

* A consultative agreement between the European Parliament and the NHRC

On the other hand, the President of the president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament, Panziri, said that the discussions he had with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al-Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, were very important and positive, and we agreed on the need for continued cooperation. The signing of a cooperation agreement between the European Parliament and the National Human Rights Committee will be signed later, and probably before the month of Ramadan, allowing the use of exchange of information and data between the parties. He added: After the end of my visit to Doha, I will have an opportunity to open discussions in the Sub-Commission on Human Rights in the European Parliament on the conclusions, and we can say that we have reached a bilateral agreement serves the parties and this is our goal.

* Hearing in the European Parliament before Ramadan

Regarding the next step to be taken by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament, Panziri said: ” I do not have the authority to carry out a political process, and politically there are qualified people and I hope they will solve the crisis. The commitment we have taken during the visit is to organize in the coming weeks a joint hearing in the European Parliament in the presence of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, To discuss the implications of the blockade.

There will be a hearing in the European Parliament for the National Human Rights Committee, the goal is to exchange ideas and discuss the implications of the blockade within the European Parliament before Ramadan. To organize this meeting.

* A delegation from the EU-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group

On the possibility of dispatching a European parliamentary mission in the future to investigate the effects of the blockade, the president of the Sub-Commission on Human Rights in the European Parliament revealed that there will be a visit to Doha of the EU-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group in the coming weeks, expressing his hope to be a fruitful visit.

* The rights of the victims of the blockade do not fall

The president of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament noted that all persons who have been deprived of their rights and who have been victims of the blockade on Qatar are entitled to claim their rights over time.
In response to a question on the importance of the visit of the parliamentary and human rights delegations, Panziri said: “our duty is to expose these violations to the public opinion. Qatar’s message will be much stronger as reforms continue, with both tracks supporting each other”.