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QNA
Brussels
“Do something, but please do not remain silent”, was the fervent appeal made by Qatari national Wafaa al Yazidi, one of the victims of the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar, to the European Parliament.
Narrating her plight once again at a hearing at the European Parliament on the initiative of the National Human Rights Committee, Yazidi, who is married to a Bahraini and is suffering from a rare chronic disease, said that she is going through a turbulent period of physical and mental suffering since the siege was imposed on Qatar on June 5, 2017.
She said she had to separate from her children five months ago due to a medical emergency and now her children cannot see her for fear of arrest or withdrawal of their Bahraini passports if they travel.
“I did not imagine that we would live in bondage again in the 21st century. I came to you in the European Parliament because my children were raised here in Europe and learned freedom and human rights. I appeal to you to move to stop the tragedy”, she said weeping as she recounted her suffering.
“I urge you to not to stay silent anymore. Please stop this injustice. I do not want my children to be held hostage to this conflict”, she added.
“The European Parliament cannot afford to do nothing about this suffering ... why do not they facilitate the renewal of passports for Bahrainis in Qatar? I will not allow my children to travel to renew their passports, because they will arrest them and not allow them to move. If my children are arrested, I will not be able to go to them,” Yazidi remarked.
Another victim Qatari student Jawahar Mohammed al Meer, who was expelled from Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi (the UAE) due to the siege, said the countries of the blockade punished the peoples with their decisions.
Meer recounted her suffering while asking questions to the countries of the blockade which claim to have opened, especially the United Arab Emirates, which has violated the ICJ’s decision.
“Qatar is not in crisis, it is stronger. I will not go back to Abu Dhabi because when they talk about letting us go back, they lie because there is nothing tangible,” Meer said.
“We want answers ... who guarantees me security in your country in the absence of an embassy for my country in Abu Dhabi. They punished the people with their decisions and did not punish the government of Qatar as they claim,” Meer said.
She continued, “I have succeeded in overcoming the challenge, thanks to my country, which stood by me and supported me in crisis. Qatar has not collapsed. We are not victims, but heroes. They were shocked and could not have imagined that something similar could happen in Abu Dhabi.”
Meanwhile, the European parliamentarians assured the appellants and the NHRC of effective measures to stop the sufferings of the victims of the siege, pointing out that hearing victims has helped them know the truth better.
Isabella de Monte, a member of the European Parliament, said that the human rights violations resulting from the blockade on Qatar can no longer be tolerated. The European Parliament will act immediately and take effective measures to help victims of human rights violations resulting from the blockade.
“I am fully prepared to coordinate with the various committees in the European Union and immediately begin measures to support the victims and come up with a unified position of the European Parliamentarians against violations against civilians.
On his part, a European parliamentarian said that he is shocked by what he heard from the victims, and is ready to work with his colleagues in the European Parliament to support Qatar and mount pressure on siege countries to lift the siege.
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24/02/2019
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