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QNA
Brussels
National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman HE 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 decision for the second consecutive year since the beginning of the blockade.
The NHRC chief said he expects a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination.
He said 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.
Dr Marri said a report would be issued at the beginning of next year, which includes the continued UAE violations of the decision of the International Court of Justice for the second year in a row, after the issuance of the previous report, which documented the cases and number of violations by Abu Dhabi authorities of the rights of Qatari citizens.
He 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 Qatar.
“The complaints will demonstrate to the world the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against Qatari people, and we believe that there will be a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand to compensate victims of racial discrimination,” he added.
In his speech, Marri thanked 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.
He also briefed MPs on the human rights situation and the most important developments and challenges in Qatar.
The NHRC chief presented an overview of the main challenges facing human rights in Qatar, especially the laws and legislations related to the rights of workers after the abolition of kafala law, the first of its kind in the GCC region, and the progress achieved by Qatar such as the establishment of a committee to settle labour disputes and the establishment of the compensation fund.
He also highlighted Qatar’s 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.
He also drew attention to the continuous visits of governmental and non-governmental organisations 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 UN team on arbitrary detention, at the invitation of Qatar.
During the hearing, the NHRC chief addressed the repercussions of the blockade and the continued violations. He pointed to the importance of continuing the judicial and legal procedures of the international arbitration bodies, international courts and the United Nations contractual committees to stop violations of the blockading states, and redress the victims.
“On the day we celebrate the anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, another wall was built by four countries in 2017, which imposed a blockade on the people of Qatar and Gulf, for the third year in a row, and the blockade of Qatar continues to have serious humanitarian repercussions for the Gulf people, and the suffering of children and women continues as a result of the separation of families,” he noted.
The NHRC chief called on European Parliament to assume its responsibilities and take more decisions condemning the violations of the blockading countries against citizens and residents of of Qatar, and determine their international responsibilities -- the European Parliament triumph over the principles for which it was founded and to take more effective action to protect human rights in Qatar and other GCC countries.
He also called on European Parliament to urge EU governments to put pressure on the blockading countries to stop human rights violations.
In response to inquiries about concerns raised about the condition of workers in Qatar, in parallel with its preparations for the 2022 World Cup, and the role of the NHRC in the protection of workers employed in the facilities of the World Cup, he said the organization of the World Cup provided Qatar with a great opportunity to develop the human rights situation not only in Qatar, but in the whole region.
“At 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 environment and the commitment of the Government of Qatar to implement its commitments in this regard,” he said.
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, calling for setting 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.
Dr Marri invited European Parliament’s deputies and human rights officials to visit the NHRC in Doha to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences, investigate the effects of the blockade, and to hear the testimony of people affected by violations resulting from the blockade.
In a press statement on the sidelines of the hearing, the NHRC chief said he felt 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.
Dr Marri met with Director General of Gulf and Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the European Commission’s External Action Authority Gabriel Vinals and Deputy Head of Division for Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Regional Policies Marco Morettini.
Brussels
National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman HE 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 decision for the second consecutive year since the beginning of the blockade.
The NHRC chief said he expects a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination.
He said 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.
Dr Marri said a report would be issued at the beginning of next year, which includes the continued UAE violations of the decision of the International Court of Justice for the second year in a row, after the issuance of the previous report, which documented the cases and number of violations by Abu Dhabi authorities of the rights of Qatari citizens.
He 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 Qatar.
“The complaints will demonstrate to the world the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against Qatari people, and we believe that there will be a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand to compensate victims of racial discrimination,” he added.
In his speech, Marri thanked 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.
He also briefed MPs on the human rights situation and the most important developments and challenges in Qatar.
The NHRC chief presented an overview of the main challenges facing human rights in Qatar, especially the laws and legislations related to the rights of workers after the abolition of kafala law, the first of its kind in the GCC region, and the progress achieved by Qatar such as the establishment of a committee to settle labour disputes and the establishment of the compensation fund.
He also highlighted Qatar’s 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.
He also drew attention to the continuous visits of governmental and non-governmental organisations 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 UN team on arbitrary detention, at the invitation of Qatar.
During the hearing, the NHRC chief addressed the repercussions of the blockade and the continued violations. He pointed to the importance of continuing the judicial and legal procedures of the international arbitration bodies, international courts and the United Nations contractual committees to stop violations of the blockading states, and redress the victims.
“On the day we celebrate the anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, another wall was built by four countries in 2017, which imposed a blockade on the people of Qatar and Gulf, for the third year in a row, and the blockade of Qatar continues to have serious humanitarian repercussions for the Gulf people, and the suffering of children and women continues as a result of the separation of families,” he noted.
The NHRC chief called on European Parliament to assume its responsibilities and take more decisions condemning the violations of the blockading countries against citizens and residents of of Qatar, and determine their international responsibilities -- the European Parliament triumph over the principles for which it was founded and to take more effective action to protect human rights in Qatar and other GCC countries.
He also called on European Parliament to urge EU governments to put pressure on the blockading countries to stop human rights violations.
In response to inquiries about concerns raised about the condition of workers in Qatar, in parallel with its preparations for the 2022 World Cup, and the role of the NHRC in the protection of workers employed in the facilities of the World Cup, he said the organization of the World Cup provided Qatar with a great opportunity to develop the human rights situation not only in Qatar, but in the whole region.
“At 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 environment and the commitment of the Government of Qatar to implement its commitments in this regard,” he said.
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, calling for setting 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.
Dr Marri invited European Parliament’s deputies and human rights officials to visit the NHRC in Doha to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences, investigate the effects of the blockade, and to hear the testimony of people affected by violations resulting from the blockade.
In a press statement on the sidelines of the hearing, the NHRC chief said he felt 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.
Dr Marri met with Director General of Gulf and Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the European Commission’s External Action Authority Gabriel Vinals and Deputy Head of Division for Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Regional Policies Marco Morettini.
