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TQNA
Geneva
Despite flagrant human rights violations and false accusations against Doha by the Saudi-led bloc, Qatar is ready for dialogue to end the Gulf crisis provided it is based on principles which do not violate international law and respect the sovereignty of countries, Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has said.
Speaking at a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Monday, the FM appreciated and supported the mediation of the Kuwait Emir HH Sheikh Sabah al Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah to end the crisis.
Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar's stand on protecting human rights, public opinion and the right of people to self-determination is one of the main reasons for the attempts to impose guardianship on it and influence its foreign policy.
The FM said Qatar has been subjected to exceptional circumstances and faced challenges for more than three months because of the imposition of an illegal blockade on it by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.
The unjust blockade violates international laws and human rights, he said.
"The blockading countries have taken illegal measures that constitute a grave violation of civil, economic and social human rights. They include banning Qatari citizens from travelling to or transiting through their territories," Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that"this has torn apart many families and has interrupted education and the right to work in Qatar."
There are about 26,000 cases filed with Qatar's National Human Rights Committee over the blockade, the FM said, adding that he is looking forward to having"measures taken against the blockading countries" by the international community.
The FM said,"It is no secret that the real motives behind the siege and the severing of diplomatic relations with Qatar are not aimed at fighting terrorism. But rather an attempt to force Qatar into a state of trusteeship to interfere in its foreign policy, to undermine its sovereignty and to interfere in its domestic policy."
He said this cannot be accepted by any country that enjoys full independence and sovereignty.
The FM said those these countries opposing Qatar are not serious about combating terrorism.
He stressed Qatar's commitment to international conventions on the fight against terrorism and its financing. Qatar is an active member of the international coalition to combat the ISIS and other terrorist groups.
The FM said Qatar had taken measures to strengthen its counter-terrorism efforts and tackled the root cause of terrorism by supporting educational projects, promoting tolerance and peace and providing employment opportunities for young people.
The FM said the crisis began with the hacking of Qatar News Agency websites and spreading of false news attributed to the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, followed by malicious media campaigns against Qatar."All this confirms the existence of political intent behind the QNA hacking," he noted.
The FM called on the international community to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities to avoid holding people responsible for political differences among governments.
Sheikh Mohammed said the scope of these violations and damages was not limited to individuals. He said the blockading countries issued a joint list, which was prepared unilaterally, including several individuals and entities and branded them as terrorists. The list, however, was rejected by the United Nations (UN) as it violates international legitimacy and human rights.
He said the list poses obstacles in the implementation of humanitarian and development work by humanitarian organisations, some of which have consultative status with the UN, and has extensive partnerships with various UN agencies.
"These illegal measures have opened the door for politicisation of the term 'terrorism' in accordance with the narrow interests of some countries. The measures necessitate the international community to have a clear and firm stance against double standards relating to terrorism," the FM said.
"These countries have tried to hide the facts from the global public, including their citizens, and used all means to achieve their political objectives such as blocking satellite channels and other media within their countries," Sheikh Mohammed said."These countries also launched media campaigns to broadcast hate speech and incitement against Qatar."
The FM regretted that religious leaders and institutions played a role in this regard, contrary to religious and moral values and principles.
He said some of the blockading countries went further when they issued decrees and laws to imprison and fine those who express their sympathy with Qatar or their opposition to the measures taken by their governments.
"These measures could only be called intellectual terrorism and constitute a clear and flagrant violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This was confirmed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in his statement issued on June 14 this year," he added.
Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed that respect for the protection of human rights is the highest priority in Qatar, in addition to human development in its broad sense, in light of the strong political will to promote and protect these rights.
