The freedom to co-exist is the fundamental right of every citizen. But the illegal siege imposed by four countries against Qatar since last June affecting thousands of residents, expatriates, families and businesses at large are a clear violation of human rights.
Qatar has been calling on the UN Human Rights Council and the West to act swiftly against the grave violations caused by the siege countries. The Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri said the report of the technical mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which was prepared based on its visit to Qatar last November, concluded that the siege nations’ actions have been arbitrary, discriminatory and disproportionate, and have resulted in gross and continuing violations of human rights. At the same time he expressed surprise that no action has been taken so far to demand the cessation of such violations.
Chairman of Qatar’s National Human rights Committee, Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, too has called on Tom Lantos Human rights Commission in the US Congress and several members of Congress to ask US President Donald Trump to put forward the human rights issue as a priority during consultations which will take place in Camp David aiming at resolving the Gulf crisis. Al Marri warned that prolonging the crisis would lead to a feeling of insecurity and loss of confidence.
The approach to UN Human Rights Council to take measures against the siege reflects Qatar’s belief and respect for the international law. H E Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office, speaking to Spanish newspaper El Pais in London recently, said: “We respect international law. We believe in international law. We have approached the UN from the start to keep them aware of the illegal actions that have been taken not just on Qataris but on expats, on Gulf citizens, everyone that has been affected by the illegal blockade. More than 26,000 people have been affected. He pointed out that Qatar follows legal procedures, whether through the United Nations or through other mechanisms to ensure accountability and punishment of the countries of the blockade on their actions, and noted that Qatar would not like to see what happened to it to be repeated to another country.
It is high time the UN Human Rights Council and the West take a decisive stand on the issue and tell the siege countries to bear responsibility for their actions and pay compensation for damages suffered by Qatar.
