NHRC received 3993 complaints from those affected by the blockade by the end of 2017

Doha on Saturday 3 March 2018

Mr. Nasser Al-Sultan, head of the investigation and legal consultation division of the National Human Rights Committee, confirmed that 3993 complaints were registered by those affected by the blockade until the end of 2017. He said that the Committee is continuing to pursue its efforts to redress those affected by the blockade imposed on Qatar. This came during a lecture entitled “The National Human Rights Committee and its Role in the Face of the blockade”, presented by Mr. Nasser Al Sultan to a group of 35 students at the Community College in a visit to the headquarters of the National Human Rights Committee.

Al Marri met with the Permanent Delegates of Germany, Britain and France in Geneva

Dr. Al-Marri calls for urgent action through the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council to redress the victims of the blockade

We are in an urgent need to great efforts to end the effects of hate speech, incitement and violence

The blockade on Qatar has affected the historical cohesion of Gulf families

The countries of the blockade should handle the crisis from its political framework

Universities at the counties of the blockade are responsible for the disruption of Qatari students’ education for the past year

Dr. Al Marri receives proposals for new moves to redress the affected students

Geneva: 23 February 2018

The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, called on the permanent representatives of Germany, France and Britain to urgently move through the mechanisms of the 27th session of the Human Rights Council, in order to end the violations caused by the blockade on the State of Qatar.
This came during a series of intensive meetings held in Geneva with Ms. Elizabeth Laurin, Permanent Representative of France and Mrs. Julian Prithwitt, Permanent representative of the United Kingdom.
Al-Marri stated that The blockade crisis on Qatar has affected the rights of people in Qatar and in the Gulf states, pointing out that the biggest concern is the lifting of the unprecedented humanitarian violations that accompanied this crisis, expressing his regret for the spread of hate speech, incitement and violence, pointing out that this type of violation requires huge efforts to end their effects, pointing out in the same context that there is no intention of the countries of the blockade to lift it and end these violations and handle the crisis within the framework of political and diplomatic aspects.
The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee said that since the beginning of this crisis, we have advocated the need to neutralize the humanitarian file from political disputes, especially because the crisis involves many countries with which we have social ties and where common interests among their peoples are closely linked to their daily lives. Dr. Al-Marri explained during his meetings the latest developments in the Gulf crisis in the face of violations against citizens and residents of Qatar and citizens of the GCC. Al Marri said that Every day through this crisis has unsafe consequences and this will widen the social gap between the peoples in the Gulf States, and this will in turn strike the historical cohesion of the mixed families in the GCC countries.
Dr. Al Marri During his meetings praised the response of the parliamentarians and officials of foreign affairs and human rights in Germany, France and Britain and their positive approach to the suffering of those affected by the violations caused by the blockade.
Al-Marri called for more efforts and measures to put an end to human suffering in the Gulf region, and said: “we should not be restless in light of this crisis, except by lifting the injustice suffered by the victims, redressing their cause and putting in place the necessary measures to protect them and ensuring that these violations will not repeated in the Gulf region or anywhere in the world.”
In the same context, Dr. Al Marri met at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva with Mr, Alfred Fernandez, Executive Director of the International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of education. The meeting discussed violations of the right to education as a result of the blockade. Al-Marri addressed all files related to the monitoring and documentation of the suffering of Qatari students in the universities of the countries of the blockade, as well as all correspondences of the National Human Rights Committee to international organizations concerned with the right to education. In turn, Dr. Al Marri received form the Executive Director of the Organization proposals for further moves to redress the Qatari students expelled from universities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the same context, Mr. Fernandez stressed that the organization will examine all documents relating to violations of the right to education and to consider appropriate measures to lift these violations. Dr. Al-Marri stated that The universities at the countries of the blockade are responsible before the international community and human rights organizations for the loss of a full academic year of the educational future of these students and they should maintain respect for this responsibility and redress the victims of the students.
The International Organization for the right to education and freedom of education is a non-profit organization based in Geneva, founded in 1984 by a number of politicians, former ministers, members of the European Parliament and legal activists; the President of the Sorbonne University was elected a member of its Executive Council. This foundation is an active member of the international community for the protection of the right to education and freedom of education, as an observer member and advisor to the United Nations organizations, especially UNESCO, and work on this right and freedom. They are provided with technical reports in this area.
Dr. Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, participated in the general meetings of the 2018 meetings of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in the presence of members and representatives of the regional networks and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner and other United Nations organizations. The meeting discussed the adoption of a number of new members of national human rights institutions and their accreditation. The meeting also discussed the possibility of amending certain articles of the GANHRI within the framework of its statute, as well as a number of themes related to the agenda of its General Assembly.

Geneva: 21 February 2018

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar met in Geneva with Mr. Michel Forrest, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Dr. Al-Marri discussed during the meeting the latest developments in the blockade on the State of Qatar, and attempts to obstruct and distort the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar by the countries of the blockade and its official and non-official media, stressing that the Committee since the beginning of the Gulf crisis has not gone off track in monitoring and documenting the violations suffered by the peoples of the Gulf region since the beginning of the blockade.

Geneva, 20 February 2018

Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, received at his office at the UN headquarters in Geneva Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee Qatar. Dr. Al-Marri gave an update on the humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade on Qatar. He also briefed the High Commissioner on the moves of the National Human Rights Committee to address the increasing violations against citizens and residents of Qatar and citizens of the GCC.

Doha:February 19, 2018

Ms. Maryam Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, affirmed readiness to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experiences with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.
The meeting come sin the context of the visit of Mr. Razali Ismail, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, and Mr. Joshua Eriksson, an official of the Commission’s Law Reform Department, to Doha on the occasion to participate in the 13th Doha Interfaith Conference
During the meeting, Al-Attiyah reviewed the activities of the National Human Rights Committee since its establishment and discussed with the officials of the Commission the developments of the human rights situation in the region. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experiences between the NHRC and the Human Rights Commission in Malaysia, thus contributing to the promotion of human rights work between the two sides.

Carmichael: We will hand over the report to the officials in charge of the current crisis in the British Foreign Office

Dr. Al-Marri: We demand urgent action from the UN Human Rights Council and Special Rapporteurs

The top priority in this crisis is to stop the growing humanitarian violations and to end the suffering of civilians

Parliamentary Delegation: We thank the State of Qatar for its interest in protecting and promoting the rights of workers

Doha : 14 February 2018

A British delegation headed by Mr. Alistair Carmichael visited Qatar to deliver the British Foreign Secretary and State Secretary for Middle East and North Africa, who is in charge of the blockade crisis on Qatar and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament, Of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights implications of the embargo.
This came during the meeting of Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, with the British parliamentary delegation at the Committee’s headquarters.
At the same time, the parliamentary delegation affirmed that the State of Qatar is on the right track to protect and promote the rights of workers and extended thanks to the State of Qatar for its interest in the legislative development in the Labor Law and the Wage Protection Law.
Dr. Ali Al-Marri said that the NHRC will address the Human Rights Council and the special rapporteurs concerned with the various human rights issues on the report of the UN mission and calls upon them to take urgent steps to redress the victims of the blockade on Qatar, especially after the issuance of the UN report, which is an important legal reference. Dr. Al-Marri addressed the developments of the current crisis and said: We have stressed in all international forums our top priority is reparation and compensation of victims, and ending the humanitarian violations and the suffering of civilians; stressing that the foundations of the report of the UN technical mission was identical in many respects with the reports that have been published by the National Human Rights Committee.
Dr. Ali bin Smaikh thanked the British parliamentarians for responding to those affected by the blockade and their rapid engagement with their governments. Al-Marri explained to the parliamentary delegation about the national human rights institutions, their mechanisms of work and competencies, as well as Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles), which sets standards for their accreditation according to their mandate and responsibilities.

For the sixth year in a row, the National Human Rights Committee participated in the national Sports Day celebrations with an enriched program, in the presence of the NHRC President, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, in the presence of officials and staff members of the NHRC along with their families. The celebration reflects the Committee’s keenness to dedicate the culture of sport as a tool for deepening the culture of human rights and communication among all members of society, and to emphasize Qatar’s interest in sport as an inherent human right.

In a statement, Ms. Maryam Al-Attiyah said that the celebration of the National Human Rights Committee reflects its keenness to preserve the importance of exercising as an inherent human right in accordance with the international human rights instruments. Ministers, official bodies, economic institutions and various activities compete to present a distinguished program that reflects their keenness on the sports day and add a value every year.

On the human rights level, Ms. Maryam Al-Attiyah noted that Qatar’s annual celebration of the sports day has become a sport event, reminding us of the value of human sport and its physical benefits, which reflect positively and directly on human behavior in all areas of life; pointing out that the celebration of this occasion every year emphasizes the interest of the wise leadership in sport in all its forms, and is also a clear evidence of the thought of civilization and advanced vision, pointing out that interest in sports makes the State of Qatar one of the developed countries that are concerned with the health of the individual and the development of sports culture among the younger generations; adding that Qatar National Vision 2030 is responsible for translating this wise and creative vision into a reality that achieves economic, social, humanitarian and environmental development, providing high standards of living that enable citizens to benefit from their potentials, in order to realize their dreams and aspirations within the vision of rational leadership; noting that Qatar’s interest in sports is in line with the United Nations’ interest in the importance of sport for development and peace.

Dr. Al-Marri: The neutrality towards the blockade is no longer acceptable. The UN report dropped all the justifications

Report of the OHCHR removed masks of the countries of the blockade

We demand more moves of French diplomats and put the issue of the blockade on the table of the European Union

The countries of the blockade not only ignored the report of the United Nations, but went through a campaign of skepticism and restrictions

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, president of the NHRC in Qatar, called on the EU countries and some countries to refrain from turning a blind eye to the Gulf crisis and to put an immediate end to the blockade imposed on Qatar eight months ago. Al Marri stated “when it comes to human rights, maintaining neutrality may lead to increased complicity and encourage those involved to continue violations of human rights, which are criminalized by international laws and conventions”. Al Marri stressed that “the official report of the United Nations OHCHR condemns the blockade explicitly, and recognizes the occurrence of discriminatory and arbitrary violations against the people of Qatar, dropped all the arguments and justifications of some States and organizations to justify their neutrality.” On the second day of his European tour to France and Germany, the President of the NHRC met on Monday with officials of the Foreign Ministry, including Mr. Jean-Baptiste Pfeiffer, Vice-President for Middle East and North Africa and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Ms. Lucille Duisburg, and the chargé d’affaires for the file of the State of Qatar at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also met with Mr. Florence Cromo Vissiar, Counselor at the French National Assembly “Parliament” and Director of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh discussed with the French officials the repercussions of the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5, and the efforts exerted by the NHRC for defending the rights of those affected by the blockade and the legal procedures that have been proceeded. He also reviewed the foundations included in the report of the OHCHR’s mission on the effects of the blockade. He stressed that “more than 8 months have passed, and despite all the international and legal reports condemning the unjust blockade, the four countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt) have shown no willingness to reverse their arbitrary measures. The report of the OHCHR is the first official report issued by the most important international organizations, has condemned explicitly and directly violations of the blockade, and called for their immediate cessation. The countries of the blockade not only ignored the report of the United Nations, but went through a campaign of skepticism and restrictions, Qatar has been open and responsive to all human rights organizations and has opened its doors to monitor the repercussions of the blockade and to interviewed the victims. In response to a question about the role of France and the European Union, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh said that “France has been a major and important station in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and should maintain this privileged position in protecting the rights and remedies of victims. We demand more moves of French diplomats and to put the issue of the blockade on the table of the European Union”. Al Marri appreciated the French officials’ understanding of the concerns of the NHRC, in parallel with his assertion that “the NHRC appreciates the position of civil society organizations and French human rights organizations that have stood and sympathized with the tragedy of the victims of the blockade; France and the EU will play a decisive and crucial role in ending The tragedies caused by the countries of the blockade, and their gross violations of human rights, which affected the citizens and residents of Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.” Al Marri added: “In the past, we have been hearing from officials in some countries and human rights organizations that they can not take firm measures and positions that are openly and strongly condemning the blockade explicitly, on the pretext of the absence of a formal UN report, the opportunity of Kuwaiti mediation and international efforts to resolve the crisis. The report dropped all the masks on the countries of the blockade, just as all the allegations and justifications that cast doubt on serious human rights violations or as a pretext for not condemning the embargo states have been dropped.” Al Marri warned that “the continuation of some countries and human rights organizations in their silence, or neutral position, encourages the countries of the blockade to continue violations, and this in itself is a crime against human rights that the countries of Europe and the free world has been denied.
Al Marri added: “European and Western capitals should take the issue of human rights over economic interests and consider them a priority in the agenda of their foreign relations with the countries of the blockade, because the impact on human rights affects security and the continuation of the crisis poses a serious threat to international peace and security. We at the National Human Rights Committee call upon France, other governments and human rights organizations to make a strong voice in defending the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar and the GCC countries,” said Dr. Ali Al-Marri at the conclusion of his meeting with officials of the French Foreign Ministry and the French Parliament.

Calls on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to urge the countries of the blockade to put an end to the worsening violations and respect the rights of individuals to movement, freedom of opinion and family reunification

The British House of Representatives notes with concern the continued blockade imposed on Qatar

The Council is concerned about the impact of the blockade on the human rights of citizens and residents of Qatar

British MPs are concerned about the lack of progress towards a breakthrough in the crisis between Qatar and the Quartet

A total number of 15 MPs signed a petition demanding Prime Minister Teresa May’s government to press for an immediate lifting of the blockade imposed on Qatar and urged the countries of the blockade to respond to Kuwaiti mediation to resolve the crisis. In a related context, the British parliamentary mission, which visited Doha from 27 to 29 September 2017, called on the British government to put pressure on the countries of the blockade to lift the blockade, demanding that the countries of the blockade to respond to dialogue with Qatar to resolve the crisis through the mediation of Kuwait, calling at the same time British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson to call on his counterparts from the foreign ministers of the countries of the blockade to put an end to the worsening human rights violations caused by the continuation of the crisis for nearly eight months.

* Recommendations of the parliamentary mission

The British parliamentary delegation that visited Doha issued a report containing its conclusions following its visit to Doha from 27-29 September 2017 to review the impacts of the blockade imposed on Qatar since 5 June. The mission, which included members of the British House of Lords and Commons, led by British Labor Party member Graham Morse, and interviewed a number of victims. The delegation also visited several ministries, including the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, to know about the Saudi authorities’ prohibition of Qataris and residents from performing Hajj and Umrah. Upon the mission’s return to London, it issued a report, published in January 2018, on its observations and conclusions on the repercussions and impacts of the blockade, according to the documented information obtained from institutions, individuals and ministries, as well as meetings with officials of the NHRC. The report of the British parliamentary delegation included several recommendations, including the British government’s call to urge the countries of the blockade to lift the blockade and consider responding to the dialogue with Qatar through Kuwaiti mediation. The report also recommended to the British Foreign Minister to urge his counterparts in the countries of the blockade to lift the measures taken against citizens and residents of Qatar and the countries of blockade.

* The delegation met 100 victims of the blockade

The members of the British parliamentary delegation interviewed 100 victims during their visit to Doha, and held meetings with many people, families, business owners, and other groups and listened to their suffering and impacts on the blockade. The British delegation included four deputies and officials of the British Parliament, led by Lord Qorban Hussein, Lord Kilk Kony, Lord Nazir Ahmed, House of Lords and Attorney Graham Morris Member of the House of Commons, along with Shazia Arshad, Mr. Jameel, Alastar Sloane, and Wobal Lo, during their visit to Doha to find out the repercussions of the blockade.

* 15 MPs submitted a petition to the British Prime Minister

In a related context, 15 MPs signed a petition calling for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Qatar immediately and demanded the British government to urge the countries of the blockade to respond to Qatari mediation.

* The NHRC earn the trust of British society

The report of the British Parliamentary Mission, signed by 15 MPs from the House of Commons, marks the culmination of the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee, headed by Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, since the beginning of the crisis; where Al Marri visited the United Kingdom three times, during which he held two hearings with the British parliamentarians. He also met with officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its diplomatic network to defend human rights, Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, based in London, and held another meeting with the International Federation of Journalists.

* list of MPs who signed the petition submitted to the Prime Minister:

(The Statement)

The National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar reviewed the statement issued by the countries of the blockade through some news agencies on the report of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the State of Qatar during the period from 17 to 24 November 2017.
The NHRC deplores the misrepresentation of the facts and the allegations made against the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the challenge of its credibility as well as the unfounded accusations against the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar. The countries of the blockade, without any doubt, reveal a more intransigent position, expressing a categorical refusal to recognize the violations committed against citizens and residents of the State of Qatar and the citizens of the Gulf States as a result of the blockade and the unilateral measures taken against them.
These countries were supposed to act to address violations and to immediately end the victims’ impunity, instead of their futile efforts to make accusation against the United Nations and human rights organizations that are not in line with their attitudes and orientations, and the vicious attacks by their officials and media outlets against these organizations.
To raise the public and Gulf awareness, The NHRC, since the beginning of the crisis, has promptly submitted requests to several human rights organizations and Arab and international media to dispatch missions and representatives to the State of Qatar to investigate the tragedies and suffering caused by the blockade, which targeted primarily civilians. Accordingly, many of these organizations and media as well as some parliamentary missions and international figures visited the State of Qatar during the previous period, where all the reports of those organizations and missions confirmed the serious violations by the countries of the blockade. Furthermore, The NHRC has submitted a formal request to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch a technical mission to the State of Qatar, as the highest official body concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights in the United Nations, with the following objectives:
* Investigate the violations and meet the victims and the concerned authorities in the state including government authorities and civil society organizations.
* Verification of procedures made by the NHRC in monitoring and reporting violations.
* Providing technical support to the NHRC and concerned bodies in the State in the field of protection and promotion of human rights.
* Addressing the reality of human rights in the State of Qatar.
The report was issued by the Technical Mission and sent to NHRC as the applicant; where the NHRC considers the publication of this report an important step to redress the victims and to communicate their voice to the international public opinion, rather than for propaganda or political purposes.
The statement issued by the countries of the blockade clearly reflects their unwillingness to respond to the demands of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and international human rights organizations, as well as their intention to continue violations, punishment and use of the people in this crisis.
The allegations made by the countries of the blockade against the State of Qatar on the pretext of protecting their national security neither give rise to a right to violate the Charter of the United Nations and the international resolutions issued by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, nor give rise to a right to deny the obligations contained in the human rights conventions which they ratified and acceded; furthermore, it doesn’t justify the extent of the serious violations suffered by the peoples of the region as a result of the blockade.
The statement of the countries of the blockade on the report of the OHCHR technical mission again reflects the extend of pressures and the serious harassment exercised by these countries on advocates and human rights organizations including challenging the impartiality, integrity and credibility of the OHCHR. This is not strange to those countries that have consistently punished the peoples and use them as a tool to implement their policies, and their practices of communicating lies from the first moment of the blockade to cover up violations and find justifications for them.
The questioning of the OHCHR report and the reports issued by the UN human rights mechanisms, is not a precedent in the practices of the countries of the blockade that have criminalized showing sympathy with the people of Qatar.
Since the beginning of the crisis, these countries have questioned all the international reports of major human rights organizations; and through their diplomacy, they used their various media outlets to launch fierce campaigns against these organizations and accuse them of being biased towards the State of Qatar.
The NHRC stresses that the repeated and desperate attempts of the countries of the blockade to undermine its credibility and question its work in order to obstruct its efforts to expose violations will only increase its determination to perform its duty in accordance with the Paris Principles.
The NHRC reiterates its call on the countries of the blockade to allow the missions of international organizations and special rapporteurs to enter their territories to assess the reality of the situation and have a broader understanding of the impacts of the blockade crisis, especially the measures taken and their impact on their citizens and residents, rather than reliance on the policy of plausible deniability and unjustified and immoral justifications.
The NHRC stresses that the desired unity of the Gulf shall not be achieved through the destruction of the social fabric and the persistent reliance on the policy of disregarding the human rights of the Gulf people or ignorance of the seriousness of the crisis and its repercussions.
The NHRC calls upon the OHCHR to continue its efforts and to immediately move according to the foundations of the Mission’s report in accordance with its legal mandate to ensure an immediate end to the blockade and the suffering of the victims.
The NHRC also calls upon the Government of Qatar not to accept any solution to the crisis or any negotiations before lifting the violations and injustice and redress for the victims, as well as expediting the procedures for holding accountable those who are responsible for the violations.
Finally, the NHRC confirms that the countries of the blockade cannot cover their violations by these methods and pretexts, and that whatever they do, the voices of the victims are stronger than their attempts. They should have the courage to admit and address the mistakes and redress the victims.
The NHRC will continue to work in cooperation with its partners including human rights organizations and advocates to defend victims, make their voices heard in international forums, and expose the illegal and immoral practices of the countries of the blockade. The NHRC shall also continue its legal and human rights movements to establish the international responsibility of the countries of the blockade and their officials.

15 Jumada I 1439
31 January 2018
Doha, Qatar

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