November 13, 2019

Dr. Mohamed bin Saif Al-Kuwari met the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office Barbel Kofler and her accompanying delegation. During the meeting, a presentation was held on the NHRC’s role in protecting and promoting human rights, especially with regard to the rights of children and women. The meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary-General of the NHRC, Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali and a number of directors of departments and legal experts of the Committee.

The meeting discussed the role of the committee in spreading the culture of human rights in Qatar and the NHRC’s five-year strategy that includes awareness lectures and programmes for workers and employers, in addition to establishing expat committees in the NHRC to facilitate the handling of complaints, including the 24/7 hotline.

The meeting aslo addressed the role of the reception and registration department in the Legal Affairs Department, which provides free legal advice, in addition to receiving complaints and petitions. As part of its awareness-raising and educational mission, the officials said that the Committee is distributing leaflets and brochures in vital institutions in the country, including labour booklet, which addresses rights and duties of workers for all groups (available in 10 languages).

– Al Marri: We expect a strong condemnation of the UAE’s violations and its demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination

– Three decades since the fall of the “Berlin Wall” and three years since the imposition of the “blockade of Qatar”

– The UAE declares 2019 as a year of tolerance as it cause dispersal of the Gulf peoples and punishes civilians!

– The two complaints filed by Qatar reflect the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the Qatari people

– Inviting European Parliament deputies and human rights officials to visit Qatar to assess the repercussions of the blockade

– Renewal of the partnership agreement between the National Human Rights Committee and the European Parliament

– The hearing in the European Parliament is the first after the election of its new members

– Qatar World Cup provided a great opportunity to develop human rights in Qatar and the region

– Newman: “National Human Rights Committee” is an example to other national institutions in their approach to dialogue and cooperation with the European Parliament

– MARTINI: ” National Human Rights Committee ” is respected by the Qatari government

Brussels: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri has revealed that a new report will be released at the beginning of next year to expose the continued violations by the UAE of the International Court of Justice’s order for the second consecutive year since the beginning of the blockade.

Dr. Al Marri said that we expect a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination, pointing out that the complaints filed by Qatar will show the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the people of Qatar. This came during a hearing at the European Parliament headquarters in the Belgian capital Brussels which is the first of its kind to be held in the European Parliament after the election of its new members, especially in the Subcommittee on Human Rights amid the presence of prominent media reporters and media accredited to the European Parliament.

At the outset of his speech, Al Marri extended thanks to the Chairperson of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Maria Arena, for her keenness and support for the NHRC work, and for renewing the agreement between the NHRC and the European Parliament. Al Marri also briefed MPs on the human rights situation and the most important developments and challenges in the State of Qatar.

In this context, Dr. Al Marri presented an overview on the main challenges facing human rights in Qatar, particularly with regard to the development witnessed in laws and legislations related to the rights of workers, after the abolition of the sponsorship (Kafala system), in a precedent of its kind in the GCC region, and the progress achieved by the State of Qatar at the level of mechanisms, in particular the establishment of a committee to settle labor disputes and the establishment of the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, in addition to the strong partnership with the International Labor Organization, which culminated in the opening of the first office in the Gulf, as well as the strong partnership with the International Trade Union Confederation.

Dr. Al Marri also drew attention to the continuous visits of governmental and non-governmental organizations to Qatar, referring in this context to the visit of a delegation from the International Trade Union Confederation and the visit of a delegation of The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, at the invitation of the State of Qatar.

During the hearing, Dr. Al Marri addressed the repercussions of the blockade crisis and the continued violations, and the importance of continuing the judicial and legal procedures of the international arbitration bodies, international courts and the United Nations contractual mechanisms, to stop violations of the blockading states, and redress the victims.

Dr. Al Marri added that on the day we celebrate the anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, another wall was built by four countries in 2017, to impose a blockade on the people of Qatar and the Gulf peoples, where the blockade of Qatar continues for more than 3 years with its serious humanitarian repercussions on the Gulf peoples, and the suffering of children and women as a result of the separation of families.

Dr. Al Marri welcomed the decision of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva on the admissibility of the two complaints in terms of jurisdiction submitted by the State of Qatar, and added that the complaints will demonstrate to the world the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the Qatari people, and we believe that there will be a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand to compensate victims of racial discrimination.

Dr Al Marri called on the European Parliament to assume its responsibilities and take prompt decisions condemning the violations of the blockade countries against citizens and residents of the State of Qatar, and determine their international responsibilities, and that the European Parliament triumph over the principles for which it was founded. Al Marri also called upon the European Parliament to urge EU governments to put pressure on the blockade countries to stop human rights violations, stressing that the NHRC shall continue its efforts and moves with international mechanisms to stop violations and redress the victims.

In response to deputies’ inquiries about concerns raised about the condition of workers in Qatar, in parallel with its preparations for the World Cup 2022, and the role of the NHRC in the protection of workers employed in the facilities of the World Cup, Dr. al Marri said that the organization of the World Cup in Qatar provided Qatar with a great opportunity to develop the human rights situation not only in Qatar, but in the whole region, and as for the role of the NHRC, we do not only pay attention to the rights of workers in World Cup facilities, but we also attach great importance to the protection of the human rights in general and the commitment of the Government of the State of Qatar to implement its commitments in this regard.

At the end of the session, the Chairperson of the Committee of the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament Hannah Neuwmann, praised the work of the NHRC in the State of Qatar which provides an example for other national human rights institutions in their approach and keenness to dialogue, and their continued cooperation and distinguished presence in the European Parliament.

At the end of the hearing, Dr. Al Marri concluded his speech by inviting the European Parliament’s deputies and human rights officials to visit the NHRC in Doha, in order to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences, and investigate the impact of the blockade imposed on Qatar, and to hear the testimony of the people affected by violations resulting from the blockade for the third consecutive year.

In a press statement on the sidelines of the hearing, Dr. Al Marri said that the European Parliament members are committed to defending all victims of human rights violations wherever they are in the world, including victims of violations caused by the blockade of Qatar. Al Marri concluded his visit with meeting Director General of Gulf and Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Commission’s External Action Authority Gabriel Vinals and Deputy Head of Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Regional Policies, European External Action Service (EEAS), Marco Morettini.

Doha on November 11

A seminar organized by the National Human Rights Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior highlighted the efforts of the State of Qatar in protecting human rights, especially the national mechanisms in this regard, and its pioneering experience in light of the national legal system and international mechanisms and conventions. The seminar titled “National Human Rights Protection Mechanisms… Experiences and Data” was held on the occasion of the Qatari Human Rights Day, which falls on November 11 of each year, and in the context of the technical framework of cooperation between the National Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.

In his opening remarks, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee, Mr. Sultan Bin Hassan Al-Jamali said that the protection of human rights is a national responsibility, as stated in the UN Charter, which reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person.

Al Jamali stressed that the State of Qatar, since its accession to international policies and conventions concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights, has been working to translate the requirements of these conventions in its domestic legislation and policies and to create another legislative human rights momentum inspired by the human rights balance provided by our true Islamic religion and supports its national commitment to human rights. Al Jamali added that Qatar’s accession to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights reinforces this national commitment. Al-Jamali pointed out that the National Human Rights Committee is one of the leading national reference institutions for human rights in the country and works in parallel with other relevant national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights at the national level.

For his part, Assistant Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior Colonel Saad Salem Al Dosari said that human rights in the State of Qatar have become a constant strategic choice guiding the action of the State and society, and that the provision of guarantees necessary for their implementation has become an integral part of the requirements of the state of institutions, the support of the rule of law and good governance. Al Dosari added that this could be seen in the incorporation of ‘human rights’ into the Constitution, the National Vision 2030, the system of legislative instruments, the package of programs, projects and creative initiatives in favor of civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. Al Dosari praised the effective partnership and the joint action between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Interior and the NHRC in the areas of handling complaints and petitions of the public, commenting on the relevant draft laws and monitoring the human rights situation and others, adding that this partnership comes within the frame work of cooperation that was signed between the two parties in March 2018 and included vital topics related to exchange of publications and experiences, knowledge production, capacity building and awareness, and openness regionally and internationally and others. Colonel Al Dossari pointed out that this year witnessed joint scientific and awareness initiatives by the Human Rights Department and the NHRC on the occasion of International Women’s Day and the Arab Human Rights Day, while appreciating the role of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordinating the efforts of the concerned authorities in the country to present the national performance in the field of human rights to the international community led by the United Nations, and the great effort of the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in strengthening national human rights capacities

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Thani, Assistant Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the promotion and protection of human rights is a strategic choice as it forms the backbone of the policy of comprehensive reform and is at the top of the priorities of the State of Qatar, pointed out that it was emphasized in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and in the development strategies emanating from that vision, which included important aspects for key human rights issues in the fields of education, health, environment, expat labor rights, women’s empowerment and children’s rights.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Thani noted that the State’s interest in promoting human rights was most evident in its accession last year to international covenants on human rights, ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ and in strengthening the legislative and institutional structure as well as its commitment to submit and discuss its reports to UN human rights monitoring mechanisms.

Director of the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region Dr. Abdel Salam Sidahmed praised the continuous cooperation between the Center and the NHRC and the Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Interior through joint training activities. Dr. Abdel Salam Sidahmed also praised the joint efforts that resulted in the organization of this symposium on strengthening human rights mechanisms, stressing the importance of a mechanism for the national protection of human rights, especially among law enforcement agencies and emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.

November 9, 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of Qatar National Human Rights Committee met at the committee’s headquarters with HE Chairman of the National Bureau for Human Rights of the State of Kuwait, Ambassador Jassim Mubarak Al Mubaraki and his accompanying delegation; in the presence of HE Mr. Hafeez Mohammed Al-Ajmi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the State of Qatar. The meeting discussed with means of cooperation in issues of mutual interest and exchange of experiences and expertise. The meeting also discussed the possibility of signing an agreement of understanding aiming at strengthening and protecting the close relations between the two parties in the fields of human rights.

It is worth mentioning that the National Human Rights Committee has previous experiences in the process of cooperation with the State of Kuwait in spreading and establishing a culture of human rights, including the joint organization of a training course for Kuwaiti diplomats in December 2014, and The joint organization of a second training course in Kuwait for the benefit of the Kuwaiti Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior in March 2015 under the Title: (The optimal framework for how to deal with human rights issues through the use of appropriate international and regional mechanisms) as well as the organization of the Exhibition of Islamic Culture in Human Rights in Kuwait by the NHRC, within the framework of regional cooperation with the aim To raise awareness and education in the field of human rights, promote the partnership between the NHRC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait and strengthen the strong relations between the two sides in the field of human rights. This meeting also coincides with the celebration of the State of Kuwait and the Gulf society with the fifth anniversary of the UN designation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah “Leader of Humanitarian Action”.

Doha: 21 October 2019

The National Human Rights Committee (NCHR) received a delegation from Qatar-France Friendship Society. The Vice-Chairpman of the Committee welcomed the French delegation.

The meeting dealt with a number of human rights issues, including the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee to protect and promote workers’ rights. The Committee officials also responded to the delegation’s inquiries about the role of the committee in spreading the culture of human rights in the country. It was reported that the Committee had a five-year strategic plan, which included the organization of lectures and programs targeting workers and employers in a number of places where workers were present. The Committee officials also pointed out that as part of its awareness-raising and educational mission, the Committee distributes brochures and booklets, which contains information on rights and duties of workers translated into 10 languages. In addition, the delegation was briefed on the committee’s offices which were set up to facilitate the handling of complaints, besides a 24-hour hotline and the role of the Reception and Registration Department of the Legal Affairs Department, which provides free legal advice as well as receiving complaints and petitions.

Dr. Al-Kuwari: Any imbalances affecting the elderly group may disrupt the whole life system

Al Khalifa: The celebration expresses solidarity towards further work to improve the services provided to the elderly

Doha: 1 October 2019

On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, the National Human Rights Committee and the Center for Elderly Empowerment and care of the Elderly (Ihsan) organized a seminar on the rights of the elderly in the State of Qatar.

In his opening speech, Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, praised the approval by the State leadership on August 16, 2019, of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 26 of 2019 establishing the National Committee on Women, Children, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities. Al-Kuwari said: “We, the National Human Rights Committee consider this decision as an extension of the promotion of the rights of the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly, describing the decision as an important and positive indicator for the protection and protection of human rights in general. Al Kuwari said: we commend this decision, and emphasize the need to expedite its activation and turning it into reality to support the human rights march in the State of Qatar

Al-Kuwari added: “Our sensitivity to the social importance, religious awareness and tradition that we have inherited from generation to generation, along with international recognition of the value of the elderly, make us face great challenges in fulfilling our obligations towards the elderly, pointing out that attention to the elderly comes within the framework of maintaining the social structure, stressing at the same time that any imbalances affecting the category of older people would disturb the entire system of life.”

In the context of the human rights achievements of the State of Qatar in protecting the rights of the elderly, Al-Kuwari addressed the prominent role played by the Center for Empowerment and care of the Elderly (Ihsan) and said: There are great services provided by the Center and high-level service programs to the elderly. “We commend the growing role played by Ihsan in the process of promoting recognition of the role of older people and their contribution to the development of society; we should not fail to mention some of the challenges faced by the Center,” Al Kuwari added.

For his part, Mr. Mubarak bin Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, Executive Director of the Center for Empowerment and care of the Elderly, Ihsan and NHRC, through this seminar, Monitor the human rights situation of the elderly in the State of Qatar with the aim to enhance the opportunities to realise the rights to serve the elderly, in the light of the second National Development Strategy ( 2018 – 2022).
Al-Khalifa described the efforts made by the Ihsan Center in empowering and caring for the elderly as it meets among the lofty goals and objectives that keep pace with the ethics and religious teachings. He said: These goals make us confident – God willing – of the success of our projects and events, and stressed that the seminar succeeded in shedding light on the human rights situation of the elderly in the Qatari society, and promote the opportunities of the rights of the elderly and enable them to live a social welfare.

Al Kuwari added: We celebrate the International Day of Older Persons and = express our solidarity with more work and strive to improve the services provided to the elderly in the State and their participation, pointing out that the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons began in 1991 as a kind of global solidarity towards highlighting the issues of the elderly, and promoting their social rights. Al Kuwari explained that the seminar aimed to raise awareness of the rights of the elderly and their needs and discuss issues related to their rights with specialists. It also addresses the role of Ihsan Center to achieve community partnership with the bodies of common competence, including the National Human Rights Committee to highlight the human rights situation of the eldery.

The seminar included many working papers in two working sessions, the first session entitled “The rights of the elderly in the Qatari society”, during which Mrs. Ghada Al-Subaie and Ms. Asma Al-Hajjaji from the Qatar Foundation for Social Work presented a working paper entitled (Demographic Transformation in Qatari Society). Ms. Rania Fouad, legal expert at the National Human Rights Committee presented a working paper entitled (Rights of the elderly under international human rights norms and conventions and their preservation within the family and society). In the second working session, which was opened by Mr. Nayef Al-Shammari, Legal Researcher at the National Human Rights Committee, Ms. Najla Al-Khulaifi and Ms. Munira Al-Sada from the Statistics and Planning Authority presented a working paper entitled (Rights of Older Persons in the Second National Development Strategy for Qatar 2018-2022). ). Dr. Hanadi Al-Hamad from the Ministry of Health also presented a working paper entitled (Rights of the elderly in the second national health strategy (2018-2022).

It is worth mentioning that the Center for Empowerment and care of the Elderly, one of the centers under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation for Social Action has launched an awareness campaign and several events in conjunction with the International Day of Older Persons under the title (their presence is different), with the aim to recognize contributions and achievements In response to the UN call to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons on the first of October each year. the activities of the Ihsan Center also include an educational video presentation in an interesting and entertaining way targeting children in order to train them on the skills of dealing with the elderly. The Center issued the fifth edition of the series Ihsan Awareness series entitled stories and tales include skills to deal with the elderly, which will be distributed to institutions, bodies and the general public in order to provide the reader with skills to deal with the elderly. The center also produced USB flash drivers that include materials about the role of the elderly in the family with the aim of educating the public about the importance of caring for the elderly in its surroundings and emphasizing the importance of the role of the elderly in his family.

National human rights institutions are part of non-judicial remedies

National institutions have an important role to play in providing non-discriminatory remedies

Geneva: 10 October 2019

Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee stressed that NHRIs perform many functions besides receiving complaints, they make proactive efforts, including monitoring human rights violations in the “state” where business enterprises are believed to commit or involved in, as well as monitoring the performance of the government and business enterprises each in the field of its responsibilities, as well as identifying the impact of investment agreements, corporate law and securities regulation on human rights policies, and other related issues such as labor laws, environmental protection and others. Al Jamali added that NHRIs that comply with the Paris Principles play an important role in assisting States to determine whether relevant laws are in line with their human rights obligations and whether they are effectively implemented, as well as in providing guidance on human rights to business enterprises.

Addressing Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Facilitating Access to Remedies for business-related human rights violations, organized by the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises from 10 to 11 October at the Palais des Nations, Al-Jamali emphasized the role of NHRIs in ensuring effective remedies in a non-discriminatory manner and provide formal public reports, with particular attention to the rights and needs of individuals belonging to groups or population that that might be doubly vulnerable, such as workers, women and children, whether business enterprises are national or transnational, and regardless of their size, sector, location, ownership and structure, pointing out that The independence of NHRIs and their access to the necessary resources is essential for making “business and human rights” part of the global movement in the application of the Guiding Principles in the country concerned.

Al-Jamali reviewed the experience of the National Human Rights Committee in the State of Qatar, pointing out that we have considered the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and have ensured that the Committee:

Legitimate: A law has been issued clarifying its terms of reference and financing. The practical exercise reflects the fair conduct of grievance processes; where the law establishing the committee includes among its competences considering human rights violations, addressing complaints received and coordinating with the competent authorities to take the necessary action and propose ways to address them and prevent their recurrence. As a permanent and structured mechanism for receiving and dealing with citizens and residents’ complaints, the committee created a 24/7 hotline to receive complaints in several languages. In addition to receiving the complainants at the committee’s headquarters and providing free legal advice and opening files to document and deal with cases, the committee concluded an agreement with a group of 30 lawyers to provide free consultations and legal representation before the competent court for labor cases; Accessible: known to all stakeholder groups and providing adequate assistance for those who may face particular barriers to access. the Committee has launched offices for the African, Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian and Nepalese communities to enable further access; Predictable: providing a clear and known procedure with an indicative timeframe for each stage. It would take one week to take action with regard to a complaint, and as for follow-upping with government bodies, it would not take more than one month; Equitable: seeking to ensure that aggrieved parties have reasonable access to sources of information, advice and expertise necessary to engage in a grievance process on fair, informed and respectful terms, by means of qualified staff and experts providing legal advice as well as lawyers to contribute to raising grievances to judicial mechanisms; Transparent: The NHRC keeps parties to a grievance informed about its progress and providing sufficient information about the mechanism’s performance and other remedies available; Rights-compatible: The NHRC ensure that outcomes and remedies accord with internationally recognized human rights; and Based on engagement and dialogue: the NHRC consulting the stakeholder groups on human rights issues, such as bills, procedures and practices, as well as challenges and opportunities to address and resolve grievances.

Al Jamali concluded that The NHRC has maintained close cooperation with civil society through a number of memorandums of understanding to guarantee unified visions on human rights issues, exchange information, raise capacity, collaborate to solve the problems of those affected, and discuss situations to consider how assistance might best be provided.

Doha: 6 September 2019

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) received at its headquarters a delegation of senior members of the US Congress. The delegation was received by Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, along with a number of directors and legal experts. The meeting dealt with a number of human rights issues, including the efforts of the NHRC to protect the workers’ rights, and cooperation with United Nations bodies, international and civil society organizations. The delegation inquired about the the composition of the committee, which is made up of 13 members, 9 of whom were representatives of civil society and 4 representing government ministries who cannot vote in decisions taken by members. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee shall be selected among the members representing civil society. The delegation inquired about the role of the Committee in spreading the culture of human rights, and the NHRC officials stated that The Committee has a five-year strategic plan which includes organizing lectures, campaigns and programs targeting workers and employers, they are organized in a number of places where workers are present. The delegation was briefed also about the community offices launched in the Committee to facilitate the processing of complaints and 24/7 hotline, and the role played by the reception and registration section of the Department of Legal Affairs, which provides free legal advice to received complaints.

– Al Marri calls on the High Commissioner to send a technical mission to the blockading states to investigate the repercussions of their violations of the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar

– The NHRC will issue a report on the UAE failure to implement the order of the International Court of Justice and a report on the continuation of Saudi violations against citizens and residents in Qatar soon

– Reports will be sent to all relevant regional and international organizations and bodies

– The blockading states continue to ignore all international reports and calls, as well as the decisions of the international judicial bodies to stop discriminatory measures.

– The blockading states issue false reports in an attempt to evade their responsibilities for the human rights violations resulting from the blockade

– The blockading states should recognize their violations and open their doors to the mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the repercussions of the crisis on the citizens and residents of Qatar and citizens of the blockading countries

Geneva, September 17, 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to visit Qatar and the countries of the blockade to find out the repercussions of the violations resulting from the blockade of Qatar. The blockade states to investigate the effects of the crisis, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which continue to be intransigent, and attempt to mislead public opinion, and deny their violations of the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar.

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri confirmed that the NHRC will issue a report on the UAE’s failure to implement the International Court of Justice’s order for the second year, as well as another report on the continuation of Saudi violations against citizens and residents in Qatar, and the reports will be sent to all relevant regional and international organizations and bodies.
This came on the occasion of a series of meetings held by HE Dr. Al Marri in Geneva, with HE Michel Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, HE Ambassador Cole Sick, President of the Human Rights Council, and HE Walter Stevens, Head of the European Mission in Geneva .

During his discussions with the three officials, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri gave a briefing on the repercussions of the crisis of the blockade of Qatar, in its third year, and all legal and quasi-judicial efforts and measures taken by the National Human Rights Committee to defend the rights of victims and redress them.

Al Marri also commended the efforts made by international human rights organizations to expose the violations of the blockading states, particularly the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the orders of the International Criminal Court, the Civil Aviation Organization and the World Trade Organization, which condemned the discriminatory actions of the blockading states, leading to the decision of the committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In response to officials ‘inquiries about developments in the Gulf crisis, Dr. Al Marri stressed that “the humanitarian crisis has worsened, and there are no indications on the horizon of the siege states’ readiness to stop the suffering of citizens and residents in Qatar and the Gulf countries, especially victims of family dispersal. Dr. Al Marri stressed that the blockading states continue to ignore all international reports and calls, as well as the decisions of the international judicial bodies to stop the discriminatory measures in a flagrant violation of international laws and covenants.

In his meeting with HE Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, HE Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri praised the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights since the beginning of the blockade crisis and the various reports condemning the violations against citizens and residents of Qatar, noting that despite all these international reports and calls, the blockading states continue to ignore them and deliberately issue false reports to evade their responsibilities for violations of human rights, such as the statement issued by the Saudi authorities to mislead public opinion rather than respecting the resolutions of international bodies and opening their doors to the mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the repercussions of the crisis on citizens and residents of Qatar and citizens of the blockading countries who have been affected by violations of their fundamental rights, in particular the right to movement, residence, property, Treatment, education, and performance of religious rituals (Hajj and Umrah); leading to continued forced arbitrary arrests and detention of Qatari citizens by the Saudi authorities.

On the other hand, Al Marri appreciated the cooperation between the National Human Rights Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for building on the achievements and successes achieved in the past period, especially the success of the international conference organized by the Committee in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Parliament to combat impunity. Dr. Al-Marri discussed with Ms. Michelle Bachelet the establishment of a mechanism between the National Human Rights Committee, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Parliament to implement the recommendations of the first conference of its kind in the Middle East. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Al Marri invited the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the State of Qatar and the region to investigate the repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar, and called on dispatching a technical mission to the blockading states to investigate the impact of the crisis, especially to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which continue to deny its violations and try to mislead the world opinion and falsify the facts.

– UNWGEID extended Official Speech to Saudi Arabia on Continued Arrests of Qatari Nationals

– Saudi Arabia’s intransigence and continued arbitrary arrests refutes its claims to welcome Qataris and residents

– Continued violations confirm that Saudi Arabia is unsafe for Qatari citizens

– Riyadh obstructs and prevents the entry of Qataris to KSA .. a very few were allowed to enter under certain security exceptions, and most of them were arrested later

– Submit a documented file of the names and details of the suffering of Qataris forcibly and arbitrarily detained to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Working Groups on Enforced Disappearance and Arbitrary Detention

– Al-Marri briefed officials of UNWGEID on the health status of some of the detainees

– Saudi authorities continue to detain Qatari nationals without legal justification

Geneva: Tuesday 17 September 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, revealed that representatives of the families of arbitrarily detained Qatari nationals and victims of enforced disappearance in Saudi Arabia will soon testify before the European Parliament, the Human Rights Council and relevant international bodies.

Dr. Al Marri stressed that the NHRC will submit comprehensive and documented files to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID), on the continuation of Saudi violations that have affected even the few Qatari citizens who were allowed to enter Saudi Arabia with security clearances before being arrested. Al Marri pointed out that the UN working group had sent an official letter to Saudi Arabia because of its continued arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearance of Qatari citizens.

Informing the UN working group of the health status of arbitrarily detained Qataris

This came during a meeting with Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on the occasion of his visit to Geneva. During the meeting, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh briefed the latest developments of the blockade crisis and the humanitarian repercussions of Saudi Arabia’s continued violations of the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar resulting from the blockade since 5 June 2017.
Al-Marri appreciated the interaction of the Working Group on Enforced Disappearance and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention with the letters of the National Human Rights Committee, where they addressed letters to Saudi Arabia, demanding that it immediately stop its violations, disclose the whereabouts of detained Qataris in Saudi Arabia, and release them. Al Marri also briefed officials on the health situation of some detainees arbitrarily.

Riyadh reverted to its arbitrary approach

Dr. Al-Marri made an urgent appeal to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, calling for concrete and strong steps to end the continuing Saudi violations against Qatari citizens, as Saudi authorities continue to detain Qatari nationals without legal justification. “After the release of Qatari nationals in recent months, we expected the Saudi authorities to stop its serious human rights violations, but we were shocked that KSA reverted to its arbitrary approach and detention of Qatari citizens who were victims of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, without any legal explanations or justification for their detention. Riyadh obstructs and prevents the entry of Qataris to KSA; a very few were allowed to enter under certain security exceptions, and most of them were arrested later, without revealing their whereabouts so far.
Al Marri continued: “We at the National Human Rights Committee continue to defend the victims of Saudi violations, and we are in contact with the families of the Qatari families who have been subjected to arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, and we will spare no effort to hold them fully responsible for the safety of Those Qatari nationals who are supposed to have entered Saudi territory with security clearances, including citizens with properties in Saudi territory.
Dr. Al Marri added: “These arrests unequivocally prove that the Saudi authorities have continued their repressive practices against Qatari citizens, especially against the mixed families of the citizens of both countries, which increases the suffering of those families. ”

Continued arrests refute false Saudi allegations

The continued violations by the Saudi authorities, including arbitrary arrests and forced detention of Qatari nationals, refute all the false allegations and news spread by Saudi officials and the Saudi media, and their allegations that Qatari citizens are welcomed in the Kingdom. It proves once again the fears of Qatari citizens to enter Saudi Arabia, whether to perform Hajj and Umrah.