Annexes

Federal Decree-Law no. (5) of 2012
Issued on 25 Ramadan 1433 AH
Corresponding to 13 August 2012 AD
ON COMBATING CYBERCRIMES
Abrogating:
Federal law no.2/2006 dated 3/1/2006 AD.
We, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates State,
After perusal of the constitution, and
Federal Law no. (1) of 1972 on the Jurisdictions of the Ministries and the Powers of the Ministers and the
amending laws thereof, and
Federal Law no. (9) of 1976 on Delinquent and Homeless Juveniles, and
Federal Law no. (10) of 1980 on the Central Bank, the Monetary System and the Regulation of the Profession of
Bankers, and the amending laws thereof, and
Federal Law no. (15) of 1980 on Publications and Publishing, and
Federal Law no. (3) of 1987 on the Issuance of the Penal Code and the amending laws thereof, and
Federal Law no. (35) of 1992 on the Issuance of the Penal Procedures Code and the amending laws thereof, and
Federal Law no. (37) of 1992 on Trademarks and the amending laws thereof, and
Federal Law no. (14) of 1994 on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the amending laws
thereof, and
Federal Law no. (4) of 2002 on Criminalizing Money Laundering, and
Federal Law no. (7) of 2002 on the Copyright and related rights and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law no. (17) of 2002 on Regulation and Protection of Industrial Ownership patents, industrial drawings
and designs, and
Federal Decree-Law no. (3) of 2003 on Regulation of the Communication Sector and the amending Laws
thereof, and
Federal Decree-Law no. (1) of 2004 on Combating Terrorism Crimes, and
Federal Law no. (1) of 2006 on Electronic Transactions and Commerce, and
Federal Law no. (2) of 2006 on Combating Cybercrimes, and
Federal Law no. (51) of 2006 on Combating Human Trafficking, and
Federal Law no. (6) of 2008 on the Establishment of the National Council for Tourism and Archeology, and
Federal Law no. (3) of 2009 on Fire Weapons, Ammunitions and explosives, and
Federal Decree-Law no. (3) of 2012 on the Establishment of the National Electronic Security Authority, and
Upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice and the approval of the Council of Ministers,
Have promulgated the following Decree-Law:
Article 1
The following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned opposite to each of them unless the context
indicates otherwise:
The State: The United Arab Emirates State.
Competent Authorities: Federal or local authorities concerned in the electronic security affairs in the State.
The Content: Information, data and electronic services.
Electronic Information: Any information which may be stored, processed, generated and transmitted
through information technology means and in specific writings, images, sound,
digits, letters, symbols, signals and others.
Computer Program A set of data, instructions and orders which are enforceable through information
technology means designed for a certain task.
Electronic Information System A set of computer programs and information technology means designed for
processing, managing and saving electronic information and the like.
Computer Network: Two or more computer programs and information technology means linked
together to enable users to access and exchange information.
Electronic Document: A computer record or data to be established, stored, extracted, copied, sent,
notified or received by electronic means through a medium.
Website: A place where the electronic information are made available on the computer
network, including social communication sites, personal pages and blogs.
Information Technology
means:
Any tool, whether electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical or any other tool
which is used to process electronic data, perform logical and arithmetic operations
or storage functions, and includes any directly related to or operating in
conjunction with such means which enables such means to store electronic
information or communicate them to others.
Government Data Means electronic data or information whether private or relating to the federal
government or local governments of the Emirates of the State, or to federal or
local public authorities or public establishments.
Financial, Commercial, or
Economical Facilities:
Any facility which acquires its financial, commercial or economical description
pursuant to the license issued by the competent authority in the State.
Electronic: Whatever is related to electromagnetic, photoelectric, digital, credit, or light
technology or the like.
Pornography involving
Juveniles
Any photographing, recordings, drawings or others which arouses sex organs or
any actual, virtual or simulated sexual acts with a juvenile under eighteen years of
age.
Internet Protocol address A numerical label assigned to any information technology means participating in a
computer network which is used for communication purposes.
Confidential Any information or data unauthorized to be disclosed or made available to third
parties unless by a prior permission from the owner of this authorization.
Reception: Viewing or obtaining data or information.
Offense: Every deliberate expression against any person or entity deemed by an ordinary
person as insulting or afflicts the dignity or honor of that person or entity.
Article 2
1- Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
three hundred thousand Dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever gains access to a website, an electronic
information system, computer network or information technology means without authorization or in excess of
authorization or unlawfully remains therein.
2- The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of at least six month and a fine not less than one hundred
and fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of seven hundred and fifty thousand dirhams or either of these two
penalties if any of the acts specified in paragraph (10) of this Article has resulted in deletion, omission, destruction,
disclosure, deterioration, alteration, copying, publication or re-publishing of any data or information.
3- The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a fine not less than two hundred
and fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties if the data or
information objects of the acts mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article are personal.
Article 3
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and by a fine not less than two hundred and
fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever commits
any of the crimes specified in sections (1) and (2) of Article (2) of this Decree-Law in the course of or because of his
work.
Article 4
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dirhams
and not in excess of one million five hundred thousand dirhams whoever accesses a website, electronic information
system, computer network, or information technology means without authorization whether such access is intended
to obtain government data, or confidential information relating to a financial, commercial or economical facility.
The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of at least five years and a fine not less than five hundred
thousand dirhams and not in excess of two million dirhams, if these data or information were deleted, omitted,
deteriorated, destructed, disclosed, altered, copied, published or re-published.
Article 5
Shall be punished by imprisonment and by a fine not less than one hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess
of three hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever gains access to a website without
authorization intending to change its designs, or delete, destroy or modify it, or occupy its address.
Article 6
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams
and not in excess of seven hundred and fifty thousand dirham whoever commits forgery of any electronic document
of the federal or local government or authorities or federal or local public establishments.
The punishment shall be both imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred thousand dirhams and not in
excess of three hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties if the forged documents belong to an
authority other than those mentioned in paragraph one of this Article.
Shall be punished by the same penalty decided for the crime of forgery, as the case may be, whoever uses this
forged electronic document with his knowledge that the document is forged.
Article 7
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment whoever obtains, possesses, modifies, destroys or discloses
without authorization the data of any electronic document or electronic information through the computer network, a
website, an electronic information system or information technology means where these data or information are
related to medical examinations, medical diagnosis, medical treatment or care or medical records.
Article 8
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
three hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever hinders or obstructs access to the computer
network or to a website or an electronic information system.
Article 9
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams and not in
excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever uses a fraudulent computer
network protocol address by using a false address or a third-party address by any other means for the purpose of
committing a crime or preventing its discovery.
Article 10
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least five years and a fine not less than five hundred
thousand dirhams and not in excess of three million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever willfully and
without authorization runs a software on the computer network or an electronic information system or any
information technology means, and caused them to stop functioning or being impaired, or resulted in crashing,
deletion, omission, destruction or alteration of the program, system, website, data or information.
The punishment shall be imprisonment and a fine not in excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of
these two penalties if the result was not reached.
The punishment shall be imprisonment and a fine or either of these two penalties for any deliberate act which
intends to flood the electronic mail with messages causing it to stop functioning, inactivate it or destroy its contents.
Article 11
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a fine not less than two hundred and fifty
thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever takes over a
personal property, benefit, deed or its signature whether for oneself or for other persons and without legal right, by
resorting to any fraudulent method or by adopting a false name, or false personation through the computer network,
or an electronic information system or any information technology means.
Article 12
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine or either of these two penalties whoever gains access, without
legal right, to credit or electronic card numbers or data or to bank accounts numbers or data or any other electronic
payment method by using the computer network or an electronic information system or any information technology
means.
The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of at least six months and a fine not less than one hundred
thousand dirhams and not in excess of three hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties, if it is
intended to use these data and numbers to take over the funds of others of to benefit from the services which they
provide.
If he has reached to take over the funds of others whether for himself or for others, he shall be punished by
imprisonment for a period of at least one year, and a fine not less than two hundred thousand dirhams and not in
excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties.
Shall be punished with the same penalty specified in the preceding paragraph, whoever publishes or re-publishes
credit or electronic card numbers or data or bank accounts numbers of data which belong to others or any other
electronic payment method.
Article 13
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
two million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever forges, counterfeits or reproduces a credit card or debit
card or any other electronic payment method by using any information technology means or computer program.
Shall be punished by the same penalty whoever:
1- Manufactures or designs any information technology means or computer program for the purpose of
facilitating any of the acts specified in paragraph 1 of this Article.
2- Uses, without authorization, a credit or electronic card or debit card or any other electronic payment method
aiming to obtain, whether for himself or for others, the funds or properties of others or benefit from the services
provided by third parties.
3- Accepts to deal with these forged, counterfeited, reproduced cards or other electronic payment method with
his knowledge of its illegality.
Article 14
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever obtains, without legal right, a secret number,
code, password or any other means to have access to an information technology means, website, electronic
information system, computer network or electronic information.
Shall be punished with the same penalty whoever prepares, designs, produces, sells, buys, imports, displays for
sale or make available any computer program or any information technology means, or promotes by any means links
to websites, computer program or any information technology means designed for the purposes of committing,
facilitating or abetting in the commission of the crimes specified in this Decree-Law.
Article 15
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than one hundred fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess
of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever, without authorization, deliberately
receives or intercepts any communication through any computer network.
Whoever discloses the information which he has obtained through illegal reception or interception of
communications shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year.
Article 16
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of two years at most and a fine not less than two hundred fifty
thousand dirhams and not in excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever uses
a computer network or information technology means to extort or threaten another person to force him to engage in
or prevent him from engaging in a certain act.
The punishment shall be imprisonment up to ten years if the subject of threat is to commit a felony or engage in
matters against honor or morals.
Article 17
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dirhams and not in
excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, manages or runs a
website or transmits, sends, publishes or re-publishes through the computer network pornographic materials or
gambling activities and whatever that may afflict the public morals.
Shall be punished by the same penalty whoever produces, draws up, prepares, sends or saves for exploitation,
distribution, or display to others through the computer network, pornographic materials or gambling activities and
whatever that may afflict the public morals.
If the subject of the pornographic content involves a juvenile under eighteen years of age, or if such content is
designed to seduce juveniles, the principal shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a
fine not less than fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams.
Article 18
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least six months and a fine not less than one hundred fifty
thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams whoever has deliberately acquired pornographic
materials involving juveniles by using an electronic information system or computer network or electronic website
or any information technology means.
Article 19
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess
of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever entices, aids or abets another person, by using a
computer network or any information technology means, to engage in prostitution or lewdness.
The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of at least five years and a fine not in excess of one million
dirhams if the victim is a juvenile under the age of eighteen years of age.
Article 20
Without prejudice to the crime of slander determined by the Islamic Sharia, shall be punished by imprisonment
and a fine not less than two hundred fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or
either of these two penalties whoever insults or accuses another person of a matter of which he shall be subject to
punishment or being held in contempt by others, by using a computer network or an information technology means.
If a slander or insult is committed against a public official or servant in the course of or because of his work, this
shall be considered an aggravating factor of the crime.
Article 21
Shall be punished by imprisonment of a period of at least six months and a fine not less than one hundred and
fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever
uses a computer network or and electronic information system or any information technology means for the invasion
of privacy of another person in other than the cases allowed by the law and by any of the following ways:
1- Eavesdropping, interception, recording, transferring, transmitting or disclosure of conversations or
communications, or audio or visual materials.
2- Photographing others or creating, transferring, disclosing, copying or saving electronic photos.
3- Publishing news, electronic photos or photographs, scenes, comments, statements or information even if true
and correct.
Shall also be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a fine not less than two hundred and
fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever
uses an electronic information system or any information technology means for amending or processing a record,
photo or scene for the purpose of defamation of or offending another person or for attacking or invading his privacy.
Article 22
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least six months and a fine not less than five hundred
thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever uses, without
authorization, any computer network, website or information technology means to disclose confidential information
which he has obtained in the course of or because of his work.
Article 23
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in
excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, administer or runs a website or
publishes information on a computer network or any information technology means for the purpose of trafficking in
humans or human organs or dealing in them illegally.
Article 24
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in
excess of one million dirhams whoever establishes or administer or runs a website or publishes on a computer
network or any information technology means which would promote or praise any programs or ideas which would
prompt riot, hatred, racism, sectarianism, or damage the national unity or social peace or prejudice the public order
and public morals.
Article 25
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a fine not less than five hundred
thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes,
manages or runs a website or publishes information on a computer network or any information technology means for
the purpose of trading or promoting fire weapons, ammunitions or explosives in instances other than those permitted
by the law.
Article 26
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of at least five years and a fine not less than one million dirhams
and not in excess of two million dirhams whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or publishes information
on the computer network or information technology means for the interest of a terrorist group or any unauthorized
group, association, organization, or body with the intent to facilitate communication with their leaders or members
or attract new members, or to promote or praise their ideas, finance their activities or provide actual assistance
thereof or for the purpose of publishing methods for manufacturing incendiary devices or explosives or any other
devices used in terrorism acts.
Article 27
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
five hundred thousand dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or
publishes information on the computer network or any information technology means to call or promote for the
collection of donations without a license accredited by the competent authority.
Article 28
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not in excess of one million dirhams whoever
establishes, manages or runs a website or uses information on the computer network or information technology
means with intent to incite acts or publishes or transmits information, news or cartoon drawings or any other pictures
which may endanger the national security and the higher interests of the State or afflicts its public order.
Article 29
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not in excess of one million dirhams whoever publishes
information, news, statements or rumors on a website or any computer network or information technology means
with intent to make sarcasm or damage the reputation, prestige or stature of the State or any of its institutions or its
president, vice-president, any of the rulers of the Emirates, their crown princes, or the deputy rulers of the Emirates,
the State flag, the national peace, its logo, national anthem or any of its symbols.
Article 30
Shall be punished by life imprisonment whoever establishes, manages or runs a website, or publishes information
on the Computer network or information technology means aiming or calling to overthrow, change the ruling system
of the State, or seize it or to disrupt the provisions of the constitution or the laws applicable in the country or to
oppose the basic principles which constitutes the foundations of the ruling system of the state.
Shall be punished by the same penalty whoever promotes to, incites or facilitates to others the commission of any
of the aforementioned acts.
Article 31
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than two hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever calls or incites to disobeying the laws and regulation in
force in the State through publishing information on the Computer network or information technology means.
Article 32
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of
one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or uses the
Computer network or any information technology means for planning, organizing, promoting or calling for
demonstrations or protests or the like without license from the competent authority.
Article 33
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of one
million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or uses the
Computer network or information technology means for trafficking in antiquities or archeological artifacts in
instances other than those permitted by the law.
Article 34
Shall be punished by imprisonment of at least of one year and a fine not less than two hundred fifty thousand
dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever uses communication
services, audio or video broadcasting channels without legal right or facilitates such use by others over the
Computer network or information technology means.
Article 35
Without prejudice to the provisions of the Islamic Sharia, shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less
than two hundred fifty thousand dirhams and not in excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties
whoever commits through the computer network or any information technology means or a website any of the
following crimes:
1- Insult to any of the Islamic sanctities or rituals.
2- Insult to any of the sanctities or rituals of other religions where these sanctities and rituals are inviolable
pursuant to the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
3- Insult to any of the recognized celestial religions.
4- Condoning, provoking or promoting sin.
If the crime contains any insult to the Divinity (Allah, God) or to the messengers and prophets or be against the
religion of Islam or injures its basis and principles which constitute its foundation, or whoever oppose or injures the
well-known teachings and rituals of Islamic religion or prejudices the religion of Islam or preaching another religion
or calls for, praises or promotes a doctrine or a notion which involves any of the aforementioned shall be punished
by imprisonment up to seven years.
Article 36
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in
excess of one million dirhams or either of these two penalties whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or
publishes information on the computer network or any information technology means for trafficking in or promoting
narcotics or psychotropic substances and the like or the manner for their use or facilitates such dealing in instances
other than those permitted by the law.
Article 37
Without prejudice to the provisions specified in the Money Laundering Law, shall be punished by imprisonment
up to seven years and by a fine not less than five hundred thousand dirhams and not in excess of two million
dirhams whoever deliberately commits, by using a computer network, an electronic information system or any
information technology means, any of the acts mentioned hereinafter:
1- Illegal transfer, transport or deposit of funds with intent to conceal or disguise the source of funds.
2- Concealing or disguising the nature of the illicit funds, or its origin, movement, related rights or ownership.
3- Illegal attainment, possession or use of funds with the knowledge of its illegal origin.
Shall be punished by the same punishment whoever establishes, manages or runs a website or publishes
information on a computer network or information technology means to facilitate or incites the commission of any
of the acts specified in paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 38
Shall be punished by temporary imprisonment whoever provides any organizations, institutions, authorities or
any other entities through the computer network or any information technology means any incorrect, inaccurate or
misleading information which may damage the interests of the State or injures its reputation, prestige or stature.
Article 39
Shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine or any of these two penalties any owner or operator of a website or
computer network who deliberately and knowingly saves or makes available any illicit content or if he fails to
remove or blocks access to this illicit content within the period determined in the written notice addressed by the
competent authorities indicating the illegal content and being available on the website or the computer network.
Article 40
Attempted misdemeanors specified in this Decree-Law shall be punished with half the penalty specified for the
complete crime.
Article 41
Without prejudice to the right of bona fide third-party, shall be ordered, in all instances, the confiscation of
devices, programs or means used in the commission of any of the crimes specified in this Decree-Law or the money
accrued thereof, or deletion of the information and statements or their killing, as to the closure of the domain or site
in which any of these crimes is committed whether permanent closure or for a specified period as determined by
court.
Article 42
The court may decide deportation of a foreigner who is condemned in any of the crimes specified in this Decree-
Law upon execution of the punishment adjudged.
Article 43
Without prejudice to the provisions of the penalties specified in this Decree-Law, the court may order to put the
condemned under surveillance or control or orders his deprivation from the right to use any computer network or
electronic information system or any other information technology means or place him in a rehabilitation center for
a period which the court may deem appropriate.
Article 44
The crimes mentioned in Articles (4, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 38) of this Decree-Law shall be considered as crimes
against the State security.
Shall also be deemed as crimes against State security any crime specified in this Decree-Law if committed to the
account or benefit of a foreign country or any terrorist group or illegal group, association, organization or body.
Article 45
Mitigation of or exemption from punishment may be ordered by the court, at the request of the public prosecutor,
regarding criminals who have provided the judicial or administrative authorities with information in respect of any
of the crimes relating to the State security pursuant to the provisions of this Decree-Law, where such a matter has
resulted in the discovery of the crime, or proving the case against them or arresting any of them.
Article 46
The use of the computer network, the Internet, any electronic information system, a website or any information
technology means shall be considered an aggravating factor when committing any crime not specified by the present
Decree-Law.
Shall also be considered as an aggravating factor the commission of a crime specified in this Decree-Law to the
account or benefit of a foreign country or any terrorist group, or illegal group, association, organization or body.
Article 47
Without prejudice to the provisions of chapter two of part two of book one of the Penal Code, the provisions of
this Decree-Law shall apply to any person who has committed any of the crimes mentioned therein outside the
country, if its object is an electronic information system, computer network, website or information technology
means relates to the federal government or any of the local governments of the Emirates of the State or any authority
or public institution owned by any of them.
Article 48
The application of the penalties specified in this Decree-Law shall not prejudice any other greater penalty
specified by the Penal Code or any other law.
Article 49
The officials determined by a decision from the Minister of Justice shall have the capacity of judicial officers for
the ascertainment of acts committed in violation to the provisions of this Decree-Law, and the competent authorities
in the Emirates are required to submit facilities necessary to those officials to enable them to perform their tasks.
Article 50
Federal Law no. (2) of 2006 on Combatting Cybercrimes shall be abrogated, and shall also be abrogated any
provision contrary to or contradicting with the provisions of this Decree-Law.
Article 51
This Decree-Law shall be published in the official gazette and be put into effect on the next day of publication.
Issued by Us, at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi
On 25 Ramadan 1433 AH
Corresponding to 13/08/2012 AD
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates State
The present Federal Decree-Law was published in the Official Gazette, issue no. 540 (Addendum), p. 19.
NEWS
Home > Media Center > News > UAE supports statements of Kingdom of Bahrain and
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Qatar.
UAE supports statements of Kingdom of
Bahrain and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Qatar.
6/5/2017
The United Arab Emirates has issued the following statement:
"The UAE affirms its complete commitment and support to the Gulf Cooperation Council
and to the security and stability of the GCC States. Within this framework, and based on
the insistence of the State of Qatar to continue to undermine the security and stability of
News Page 1 of 2
https://www.mofa.gov.ae/EN/MediaCenter/News/Pages/05-06-2017-UAE-Qatar… 6/8/2018
the region and its failure to honour international commitments and agreements, it has been
decided to take the following measures that are necessary for safeguarding the interests of
the GCC States in general and those of the brotherly Qatari people in particular:
1-In support of the statements issued by the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain and sisterly
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates severs all relations with the State of
Qatar, including breaking off diplomatic relations, and gives Qatari diplomats 48 hours to
leave the UAE.
2-Preventing Qatari nationals from entering the UAE or crossing its points of entry, giving
Qatari residents and visitors in the UAE 14 days to leave the country for precautionary
security reasons. The UAE nationals are likewise banned from traveling to or staying in
Qatar or transiting through its territories.
3-Closure of UAE airspace and seaports for all Qataris in 24 hours and banning all Qatari
means of transportation, coming to or leaving the UAE, from crossing, entering or leaving
the UAE territories, and taking all legal measures in collaboration with friendly countries
and international companies with regards to Qataris using the UAE airspace and territorial
waters, from and to Qatar, for national security considerations.
The UAE is taking these decisive measures as a result of the Qatari authorities’ failure to
abide by the Riyadh Agreement on returning GCC diplomats to Doha and its
Complementary Arrangement in 2014, and Qatar’s continued support, funding and hosting
of terror groups, primarily Islamic Brotherhood, and its sustained endeavours to promote
the ideologies of Daesh and Al Qaeda across its direct and indirect media in addition to
Qatar’s violation of the statement issued at the US-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on May 21st,
2017 on countering terrorism in the region and considering Iran a state sponsor of
terrorism. The UAE measures are taken as well based on Qatari authorities’ hosting of
terrorist elements and meddling in the affairs of other countries as well as their support of
terror groups – policies which are likely to push the region into a stage of unpredictable
consequences.
While regretting the policies taken by the State of Qatar that sow seeds of sedition and
discord among the region’s countries, the UAE affirms its full respect and appreciation for
the brotherly Qatari people on account of the profound historical, religious and fraternal
ties and kin relations binding UAE and Qatari peoples."
News Page 2 of 2
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Page 1 of 1 Attorney General Warns against Sympathy for Qatar or Objecting to the State’s Positions – Al-Bayan
https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2017-06-07-1.296…... 6/8/2018
Al-Bayan http://www.albayan.ae
Attorney GeneralWarns against Sympathy for Qatar or Objecting to the State’s Positions
Source: Al-Bayan Online
Date: June 07, 2017
Counsellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, warned that the State of the United
Arab Emirates had taken a decisive decision against the Qatari government due to its hostile and
irresponsible policy toward the State and a number of sister Gulf and Arab States, and that the decision
is intended to protect the national security of the State, its supreme interests, and the interests of its
people.
Therefore, it is necessary to announce that expressing sympathy, bias, or affection for that state, or
objecting to the position of the State of the United Arab Emirates and the strict and firm measures that
it has taken against the Qatari government, whether through social media with tweets or posts, or any
other verbal or written method, is considered a crime punishable by temporary imprisonment for three
to fifteen years and a fine of no less than five hundred thousand dirhams in accordance with the Federal
Penal Code and the Federal Decree-Law on Combating Cybercrimes. This is due to the damage that such
acts cause to the supreme interests of the State, national unity, and social peace, as well as the effect
that such acts have in weakening the social fabric of the State and the unity of its people.
The Federal Public Prosecution will enforce the law against the perpetrators of such crimes.
All rights reserved © 2018 Dubai Media Incorporated
المصدر: البیان الإلكتروني
التاريخ:
النائب العام یحذر من التعاطف مع قطر أو الاعتراضعلى مواقف الدولة
June 2017 07
صرح المستشار الدكتور حمد سیف الشامسي النائب العام للدولة بأن دولة الإمارات العربیة المتحدة قد اتخذت قرارا حاسما ضد
حكومة قطر نتیجة لسیاستھا العدائیة واللامسئولة ضد الدولة وعدد من الدول الشقیقة الخلیجیة والعربیة ويأتي ھذا القرار حفاظا
على الأمن القومي للدولة ومصالحھا العلیا ومصالح شعبھا .
لذا وجب التنويه إلى أن إبداء التعاطف أو المیل أو المحاباه تجاه تلك الدولة ، أو الاعتراض على موقف دولة الامارات العربیة المتحدة
وما اتخذته من إجراءات صارمة وحازمة مع حكومة قطر، سواء عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي بتغريدات أو مشاركات، أو بأي وسیلة
أخرى قولاً أو كتابة، يعد جريمة معاقبا علیھا بالسجن المؤقت من ثلاثة إلى خمسعشرة سنة وبالغرامة التي لاتقل عن
خمسمائة الف درھم طبقاً لقانون العقوبات الاتحادي والمرسوم بقانون إتحادي بشأن مكافحة جرائم تقنیة المعلومات ، لما يترتب
علیھا من أضرار بالمصالح العلیا للدولة ، والوحدة الوطنیة والسلم الاجتماعي ، فضلاً عما لتلك المماراسات من أثر في إضعاف
النسیج الاجتماعي للدولة ووحدة شعبھا .
وستمارس النیابة العامة الاتحادية واجبھا الوطني بتطبیق القانون على مرتكبي ھذه الجرائم.
2018 مؤسسة دبي للإعلام © جمیع الحقوق محفوظة
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
First Report Regarding the Human Rights
Violations
as a Result of the Blockade on the State of Qatar
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Phone & Fax
Telephone: 0097444048844
Fax: 0097444444013
Hotline
0097466626663
0097450800006
009745006008
E-mail
[email protected]
Website
www.nhrc-qa.org
P. O. Box
23104
Doha, Qatar.
All Rights reserved. this report or parts thereof may not be
reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system or
transmitted in any form by any means-without prior written
permission of the publisher.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Content:
I. Summary
II. Report Methodology
III. Most Notable Violations of the rights to:
a. family reunification
b. Education
c. Work
d. Freedom of Expression and Opinion
e. Rights to movement and residence
f. Other Violations: the right to private property, Inhumane Degrading
Treatment, , the right to freedom of religious practice, and the right to
health - Especially for People with Disabilities
IV. Conclusions and Legal Description
V. Recommendations
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
I. Summary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kingdom of Bahrain
severed relations with the state of Qatar, on 5 June, 2017, that involved closure of sea,
land, and air routes in the face of trades, and also in the face of Gulf Citizens in a series
of actions never witnessed before by the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),
disregarding all human rights and humanitarian standards and principles and their legal
obligations, as those three states are fully aware of the great interrelations and
connections among the region’s people and nations on all social, economic, cultural,
civilian levels.
In this report, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) sheds light on the violations
of the most basic human rights reported since 5 June, the day on which the blockade and
ban was imposed, until Monday , 12 June, by citizens of: KSA, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain
(without addressing the political domain, as it is not included in the mandate of the
NHRC).
Since Monday , 5 June 2017, hundreds of complaints have been submitted to the NHRC
via e-mail, phone and hotlines , or personal visits to the NHRC headquarters in Doha,
Qatar’s capital. According to the data received, approximately 11,387 citizens from the
three states live in Qatar, and approximately 1927 Qatari citizens live in those states. All
of those people have been affected in different areas and ways to varying degrees. In
some cases, the actions taken by these states separated mothers from her children.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
On Sunday , 11 June, (Six days after the decision), KSA issued a royal order to take into
consideration the humanitarian situation of mixed families ( Saudi-Qatari ), then the UAE
followed their footsteps, and then Kingdom of Bahrain. While the NHRC appreciates this
step and sees it as a step in the right direction, NHRC also calls on the three states to
clarify the implementation mechanisms, emphasizes that it has to include all human
rights and legal areas, and calls for ending the blockade and all violations in all its forms,
and compensating the affected families and individuals.
Dr. Ali al Marri, chairman of NHRC, stated that “The GCC Dispute Settlement Commission
should play a role in resolving the ongoing conflict, especially that the conflict directly
affects the lives and rights of a large number of GCC citizens.”
II. Report methodology
In the aftermath of the crisis that affected citizens of four GCC states (citizens and
residents in the State of Qatar), NHRC extended working hours for monitoring,
documenting, and following-up cases. NHRC received about 119 complaints via e-mail,
and countless phone calls. About 381 individuals visited the NHRC to report their cases.
During the period covered by the report, researchers opened files, filled in complaints
forms prepared by NHRC, with attaching copies of identification documents, while some
complainants attached university and school reports, work contracts, family related
information, and other documents that are available in the NHRC archive.
NHRC will, and is, progressively sharing these files with the concerned international
human rights and legal parties. It is worth noting that an individual might be subjected to
more than one type of violations. Therefore, the total number of files reflecting the total
number of violations is certainly greater than the total number of individuals; as we
reported cases in which some individuals were deprived of their families, their right to
education and freedom of movement is affected. As of Monday, 12 June, a total of 764
violations have been reported since 5 June, the date on which the blockade, ban, and
boycott imposed.
In this report, we shed light on the most notable violations that occurred. Out of the 764
documented cases, we refer to the most notable two, or three forms of each violation,
in order to maintain the size of the report. Please note that the concerned parties can
acquire all of these forms and documents.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Also, we referred to names using initial letters in order to preserve their safety and
security, in light of unprecedented procedures by the UAE that involved imposing
penalties including to 3-15 years' imprisonment and fines of 500,000 AED for merely
showing sympathy towards the state of Qatar.
Surely, the data provided by the victims are different from one case to another. However,
all of these cases enjoy a high level of credibility. Most of the data were acquired
personally through personal visits from the affected parties. Additionally, we received
complaints from people regarding violations against their first-degree relatives, where
the victims were in other countries and are, as they claimed, unable to visit the NHRC
headquarters, contact it, or send an e-mail -which we are still receiving on a daily basisin
this regard, we encourage all the citizens of the four states who suffer from any
violations as a result of these abusive decisions to submit their complaints at the NHRC or
any other national or international organizations. In light of this, what the NHRC was able
to report and document is still the bare minimum, considering that many of those whose
rights were violated don’t know of the existence of any mechanisms for complaint
submission. In addition, many of them seriously are afraid to reveal their identities due
to that measures and actions that could be taken against them by their countries’ local
authorities if they contacted or submitted a compliant.
The Qatari government has not taken any action against the citizens of the three states,
and we didn’t receive any complaint of that nature.
III. Most notable violations
The following table includes classifications of the 764 files we reported, and their
distribution according to each of the 3 states:
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
A. Violation to the right of family reunification
This might be the most serious and appalling violation that resulted from the abusive
decisions made by the three states, because it affects and threatens the ties of the united
Gulf Families.
It also threatens the most vulnerable categories of society – women, children, people
with disabilities, and the elderly- not to mention that it is an explicit violation to many
articles of the international human rights laws.
In this regard, NHRC recorded 155 forms pertaining to families that were separated, even
though we are absolutely certain that actual number is far greater.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Mrs. (N.H.), Saudi born in 1990, visited the NHRC headquarters and stated the violations
she suffered from: “I have been a widow for three years. I live in the State of Qatar along
with my two minor children who have a Qatari nationality. I don’t have a job, but I am
supporting my family financially from my late husband’s family, which is paid by the State
of Qatar. I am enrolled in Qatar University, and living in a rented house until the
inheritance case is settled at court. On 8 June, Saudi authorities informed me to go back
to the Saudi Arabia without my children.
I can’t leave my children alone in Qatar, but I am afraid arbitrary actions will be taken
against me if I didn’t comply.”
Mr. (K.S.), Bahraini born in 1984, called NHRC and then visited NHRC headquarters and
stated that: “I live and work in the State of Qatar with my wife and my mother who both
have Qatari nationality. The decision to sever relations with Qatar will force me to leave
my work and family in Qatar and go back to Bahrain. How can I leave my wife and my
mother, who suffers from a disability, and uproot my life and work here? I don’t wish to
leave Qatar, and I am afraid of the punitive actions that might be taken against me by the
Bahraini authorities.”
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
B. Violation of the right to Education
The education future of every Saudi, Emirati, or Bahraini studying in Qatar schools or
universities has been put in jeopardy this year. Therefore, Qatari authorities decided to
postpone those students’ exams in order to maintain their right to complete their
education and lose the progress they made in their whole academic year especially that
we are at the end of the school year. However, the focus remains on the Qatari students
studying in the three states.
NHRC received 30 cases regarding that violation in particular – we will highlight the
following four main cases:
(F.M.), an Emirati student, born in 1998, he was deprived of the opportunity to complete
his education. Also, he was separated from his mother who has a Qatari nationality. He
stated that:
“I am in grade year 11 at Mohammad ben Abdul Aziz High School in Doha, Qatar. I live
with my divorced mother in the State of Qatar. The Emirati authorities notified me that I
have to leave Qatar, which will prevent me from completing my education, and will
separate me from my mother who has a Qatari nationality.”
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
(H.A.), Qatari born in 1986, contacted NHRC and stated that: “I study at the Applied
Science University in the Kingdom of Bahrain. On 8 June, 2017, Bahraini authorities
prevented me from entering the Bahraini lands, so I won’t be able to attend my exams,
which means I will fail.”
According to what Mrs. (A.F.), Qatari, stated to the NHRC that, University of Sharjah, in
the UAE, cancelled her registration at the university and prevented her from completing
her education until 2018 after ties were cut with Qatar: “After paying the full expenses
for the summer internship semester at Sharjah University, I was prevented from
continuing my studies on 8 June, 2017, and, even more, I was forced to leave UAE on the
same day.”
Mrs. (K.W.), Qatari born in 1992 and lives in Dubai emirate, he stated that : “I live, work,
and study in Dubai emirate , in my last year at Zayed University, and I have a work
contract as a jockey at Al Nasr Stable owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid .. The university
administration called me on 10 June, 2017, to inform me that I was banned from studying
due to the “recent political developments”. I lost my education, my work, and my future.”
C. Violation of the right to Work
As with education, hundreds of business owners were affected after those states
abruptly stopped -in order to cause as much harm as possible- all trading convoys, and
thousands of tons of food or health supplies have expired. Hundreds of business owners
lost great, immeasurable sums of money.
What is even more crucial is that there are entire families that rely completely on traveling
between Gulf states, and those families’ only source of income has been cut off. However,
none of the three states have compensated those families or sought an alternative for
them, which intensified popular resentment even further.
Moreover, many citizens who are employed at public, private, or government sectors and
used to move freely between the four countries are now jobless with no source of income
and with no compensations from the three states that initiated the blockade.
NHRC received no less than 38 complaints from individuals who are affected by these
abusive actions.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Mr. (H.M.), Saudi born in 1979, stated that: “I work at the State of Qatar, and I have a wife
and kids who live with me in Doha, and I am also supporting my elder mother financially.
Because of the decision to cut ties between my country and Qatar, I have to leave my job
and go back to KSA. I am afraid that I will be subjected to arbitrary punitive actions in case
I don’t comply with the news decisions.”
Mr. (A.B.), Saudi, expressed his concern about him being subjected to sanctions if he
doesn’t comply with his country’s decisions and leave Qatar. Mr. (A.B) stated that: “I have
been living in Qatar since 1974. I have my wife and kids here who live with me in Doha
and are enrolled in schools here. This decision will force me to leave my job and the
country that I lived all this time in. I am afraid of the sanctions that would be incurred by
the Saudi authorities if I don’t comply.”
D. Violations to the right of Freedom of Opinion and Expression
UAE imposes penalties 3-15 years' imprisonment and fines of 500,000 AED just for
merely showing sympathy towards the State of Qatar by even a word, a like, or a tweet
on social media in an unprecedented threat to freedom of expression. Bahrain’s Ministry
of Interior imposes five-year imprisonment, while KSA considered this an internet crime.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
These very extreme and harsh actions betray the fragility of the grounds and legitimacy
of the blockade decision by those three states, and reflect how much those states’
authorities are afraid from citizens’ freedom to express any opinions that don’t agree with
their will.
This blatantly goes against many of international and regional declarations and covenants
as we will detail further in the Legal Description portion of this report.
In the media field , the NHRC observed 103 affected media personnel from the three
states that imposed the blockade and boycott, who used to work at several positions such
as Audio, Print, and Visual Media in the State of Qatar have all been subjected to various
types of violations, including being forced resign by their countries from their jobs.
Accordingly, 10 of those were forced to submit and resign, and lost their jobs and source
of income. There are still great pressures on everyone who didn’t submit their resignation.
These actions constitute a blatant violation to the freedom of the press, freedom to work,
freedom of residence, and freedom of opinion all at the same time.
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
E. violations of the right to movement and residence (including for the dead)
Mr. (M.R.), Saudi, stated that: “My father died at Hamad Hospital in the State of Qatar.
On 7 June, 2017, Saudi authorities prohibited me from going to Qatar to receive his body.
They don’t respect the sanctity of death.”
F. Other violations
We recorded other forms of violation, all were due to the blockade, and some of which
overlap with the main aforementioned violations, such as family separation and denial of
travel. These violations are:
- Violation of the right of private property
Mr. (A.E.), Qatari, visited NHRC and stated that:
“I own a large group of camels in KSA, and I leased a land for my camels, in addition to a
vehicle and also I hire workers whom I obtained a work residency from the State of Qatar
so they can take care of my camels and feed and water them. On 5 June, 2017,
Saudi authorities barred me from passing through the land crossing (Salwa) so I can access
my properties. And I couldn’t bring the workers back to Qatar. These actions will result in
fines being imposed on me related to the workers’ residency permits, and I don’t know
what will be done to my properties in Saudi Arbaia, and I am afraid my camels will die.”
Mr. (H.N.), Qatari who owns residential and industrial lands in UAE, called us and we asked
him to come to NHRC headquarters, and stated that:
“I have four residential lands in Masfout Strip, Ajman area, and one industrial land in
Arqoub area, Sharjah city. Emirati authorities prevented me on 5 June, 2017, from
entering UAE and accessing my properties. I don’t have any idea what will happen to my
properties in light of this actions.”
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
Mr. (K.M.), Qatari born in 1969, stated that after Emirati authorities banned him from
entering their lands: “I have been living with my family in Dubai emirate for years. I have
been working for Ras al-Khaimah Bank for 14 years.
Emirati authorities banned me from going into UAE after the decision to cut ties with
Qatar, and they didn’t let me see my wife and daughter, and I was subjected to a
degrading, inhumane treatment by Dubai Airport employees.”
- Being subjected to Inhumane degrading treatment, , and violation to the right to
freedom of religious practices
Qataris going for Umrah (minor pilgrimage to Mecca) in Saudi Arabia were prohibited
from doing so after the decision to cut ties was taken. Saudi authorities forced them to
leave their lands, and they treated them in an ill-manner.
A Qatari citizen filming himself in a video at Jeddah Airport, and how Saudi authorities
forbade him to go into Mecca for Umrah.
https://youtu.be/64_Dn2XMw54
Mrs. (M.G.), Qatari born in 1954, told NHRC the details of the violations she suffered: “On
5 June, 2017, I had to leave KSA before I got to perform an Umrah. The authorities
didn’t let me travel directly from Jeddah Airport to Doha Airport, and I had to go there
through Turkey, which caused a great psychological and financial burdens on me.”
Mr. (M.E.), Qatari born in 1942, contacted NHRC and gave a testimony, and talked about
his violation: “On 5 June, 2017, and after the decision to cut ties with the State of Qatar,
I was forced to leave KSA before I got to conduct an Umrah. The Saudi authorities
prohibited me from traveling directly from Jeddah Airport to Doha Airport, and I had to
go back through Turkey, which had caused a great psychological and financial toll on me.”
- Violation of the right to Health - Especially for persons with Disabilities
Mr. (K.S), Saudi, contacted NHRC and stated that: “I live in the State of Qatar, and I suffer
from an illness in my kidney. On 11 June, 2017, I was supposed to undergo a surgery in
my right kidney at Hamad General Hospital in the State of Qatar. But after the decision to
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
cut ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, I have to go back to KSA, and the situation will
be complicated and my health will be affected. In case I don’t comply, I will be subjected
to the penalties KSA issued.”
Mrs. (R.M.), Qatari, talked to NHRC and stated that: “I have health conditions, and I was
about to undergo a surgery at Suliman al Habib Hospital in Riyadh city, KSA on 17 June,
2017, but the decision to cut ties with Qatar will force me to go back to Qatar without
completing my treatment, which will affect my health, but I am afraid from the actions
that could be taken against me if I stayed in Saudi Arabia”
IV. Conclusions and Legal Description
In their resolutions, KSA, UAE, and Kingdom of Bahrain, violated a number of principle
international human rights laws and rules, which are related to the most fundamental
human rights , which are treated as international norms. These resolutions violate a
number of articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, other articles included
in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in addition to articles in the: Arab Charter on Human
Rights, the GCC Declarations of Human Rights, and the Economic Agreement between the
GCC States. Therefore, those states are responsible for protecting and preserving the
rights and interests of the individuals living on their lands.
The Texts of the Articles that were violated by the three Gulf states:
First: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 12
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No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to
the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of
each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom
to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary
and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and
professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be
equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to
the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall
promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of
peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their
children.
Second: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
PART II
Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all
individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the
present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Third: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Part III
Article 6
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to work, which includes
the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses
or accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard this right.
Article 10
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that:
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
1. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to the family, which
is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, particularly for its establishment and
while it is responsible for the care and education of dependent children. Marriage must
be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses.
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before
and after childbirth. During such period working mothers should be accorded paid leave
or leave with adequate social security benefits.
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all children
and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage or other
conditions. Children and young persons should be protected from economic and social
exploitation.
Their employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or likely
to hamper their normal development should be punishable by law. States should also
set age limits below which the paid employment of child labor should be prohibited and
punishable by law.
Article 13
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to
education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the
human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable
all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance
and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the
activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Fourth: Arab Charter on Human Rights
Article 3
1. Each State party to the present Charter undertakes to ensure to all individuals subject
to its jurisdiction the right to enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth herein, without
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Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
distinction on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religious belief, opinion, thought,
national or social origin, wealth, birth or physical or mental disability.
Article 8
1. No one shall be subjected to physical or psychological torture or to cruel, degrading,
humiliating or inhuman treatment.
Article 26
1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State party shall, within that territory, have
the right to freedom of movement and to freely choose his residence in any part of that
territory in conformity with the laws in force.
Article 32
1. The present Charter guarantees the right to information and to freedom of opinion and
expression, as well as the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any medium, regardless of geographical boundaries.
2. Such rights and freedoms shall be exercised in conformity with the fundamental values
of society and shall be subject only to such limitations as are required to ensure
respect for the rights or reputation of others or the protection of national security, public
order and public health or morals.
Article 33
1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society; it is based on marriage
between a man and a woman. Men and women of marrying age have the right to marry
and to found a family according to the rules and conditions of marriage. No
marriage can take place without the full and free consent of both parties. The laws in
force regulate the rights and duties of the man and woman as to marriage, during
marriage and at its dissolution.
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2. The State and society shall ensure the protection of the family, the strengthening of
family ties, the protection of its members and the prohibition of all forms of violence or
abuse in the relations among its members, and particularly against women and children.
They shall also ensure the necessary protection and care for mothers, children, older
persons and persons with special needs and shall provide adolescents and young persons
with the best opportunities for physical and mental development.
3. The States parties shall take all necessary legislative, administrative and judicial
measures to guarantee the protection, survival, development and well-being of the child
in an atmosphere of freedom and dignity and shall ensure, in all cases, that the child's
best interests are the basic criterion for all measures taken in his regard, whether the
child is at risk of delinquency or is a juvenile offender.
Fifth: Human Rights Declaration for the Member States of the Cooperation Council for
the Arab States of the Gulf
Article (6)
The Freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites is a right of every person
according to the regulation (law) without disruption of the public order and public morals.
Article (9)
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and exercising such
freedom is guaranteed insofar as it accords with Islamic Sharia law, public order and the
regulations (laws) regulating this area.
Article (14)
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, originally com- posed of
a man and a woman, governed by religion, morals and patriotism; its entity and bonds
are maintained and reinforced by religion. Motherhood, childhood and members of the
family are protected by religion as well as the State and society against all forms of abuse
and domestic violence.
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Article (24)
Every person, who has the capacity of doing so, has the right to work and has the right to
free choice of employment according to the requirements of dignity and public interest,
while just and favorable employment conditions, as well as employees’ and employers’
rights, are ensured.
Article (27)
Private property is inviolable and no one shall be prevented from the disposition of his
property except by the regulation (law), and it may not be expropriated unless for public
interest with fair compensation.
V. Recommendations
The United Nations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR)
1- The great amount of social violations constitute a threat to the stability of the region,
and is stared to have a negative impact on the economic and social levels. Speedy steps
must be taken to force the states that issued these unjust decisions to repeal their actions.
2- The OHCHR to prepare reports and statements documenting the various types of
violations that affected great numbers of people, especially the families that were
separated, including the negative consequences on women and children as a result of
the separation of their families. Also, the OHCHR to call on these states to respect the
basic freedoms of the people living on their lands.
Human Rights Council
To Take every possible action in order to end the blockade and its ramifications, and call
for the compensation of all people who were harmed and affected.
Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs
22
Report of Qatar National Human Rights Committee – Jun 13, 2017
To Document forms of the various types of violations that occurred, and contact the
certain concerned governments in that regard as soon as possible. NHRC is fully prepared
to share all the related data.
General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council
The Dispute Settlement Commission of the Supreme Council at the Gulf Cooperation
Council to take urgent actions and do everything in its power to convince the concerned
governments to start settling the dispute and the social, civil, and cultural situation for
the affected families and citizens.
KSA, UAE, and Kingdom of Bahrain
1- Respect the nature of the Gulf societies, and to refrain from making any decisions that
sever the relations and ties between families and societies , and to repeal these decisions
as early as possible.2- Respect the basic human rights related to freedom of movement,
private property, work, residence, and freedom of expression and opinion that are
enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
3- The political disputes must not affect the humanitarian and social rights and will being
of citizens, which is considered a violation of the international law and the international
human rights law.
4- Respect the holiness of the Month of Ramadan, repeal all decisions, and end the siege
before Eid al-Fitr.
NEWS
QATAR DISCRIMINATION
Gulf / Qatar dispute: Human dignity trampled and families
facing uncertainty as sinister deadline passes
19 June 2017, 10:14 UTC
Thousands of people in the Gulf face the prospect of their lives being further disrupted and their
families torn apart as new arbitrary measures announced by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) in the context of their dispute with Qatar are due to come into force from today,
said Amnesty International.
The three Gulf states had given their citizens the deadline of 19 June to leave Qatar and return to
their respective countries or face fines and other unspecified consequences. They had given Qatari
nationals the same deadline to leave Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and have refused entry to
Qatari nationals since 5 June.
“The situation that people across the Gulf have been placed in shows utter contempt for human
dignity. This arbitrary deadline has caused widespread uncertainty and dread amongst thousands of
people who fear they will be separated from their loved ones,” said James Lynch, Deputy Director of
Amnesty International’s Global Issues Programme.
James Lynch, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Global Issues Programme
The situation that people across the Gulf have been placed in shows
utter contempt for human dignity. This arbitrary deadline has caused
widespread uncertainty and dread amongst thousands of people who
fear they will be separated from their loved ones.
“
”
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“With these measures, the governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have needlessly put
mixed-nationality families at the heart of a political crisis.”
“They should immediately cancel this sinister arbitrary deadline, otherwise thousands of families risk
being torn apart, with others losing their jobs or the opportunity to continue their education. People
undergoing medical treatment are being made to choose between continuing their treatment or
complying with the overly broad and harsh measures announced by Saudi Arabia, UAE and
Bahrain.”
The dispute has created growing concern about what will happen if residents choose to remain with
their families across Gulf states. Some have told Amnesty International they are preparing to travel to
countries outside the dispute to be reunited with their families.
The governments of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE have made statements acknowledging the
impact of their measures on mixed-nationality families and announced the establishment of
emergency hot lines for affected individuals. Such a measure is clearly insufficient to address the
human rights impact of the arbitrary, blanket measures imposed on 5 June.
Additionally, Amnesty International has spoken to a number of people who tried to call these hot
lines. Their experiences raise serious questions about whether these hot lines are providing effective
advice or information. Several people said they had tried in vain for hours or days to get through to
the hot lines. Those who got through said officials asked them for minimal details about their cases
and told them they would receive a call back, but there had been no follow-up. Amnesty International
has rung the hot lines and asked how cases registered were being dealt with, but officials were not
able to provide any information.
Some affected families have told Amnesty International that they are too scared to call hot lines and
register their presence, or their family’s presence, in a “rival” country for fear of reprisal.
Statements by the authorities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain that people will be punished for
expressing sympathy towards Qatar or criticizing government actions have contributed to the climate
of fear spreading across the region.
On 13 June a Bahraini lawyer was arrested after he filed a lawsuit against his government arguing
that the measures taken against Qatar are unconstitutional and violate the rights of Bahraini citizens,
then posted a copy of this complaint on his Facebook page.
A Qatari man unable to return to his farmland in Saudi Arabia has told Amnesty International that his
friends in Saudi Arabia were too scared to look after his land or remain in contact with him for fear of
being prosecuted by the Saudi Arabian government for sympathizing with him.
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QATAR SAUDI ARABIA UNITED ARAB EMIRATESOMAN KUWAIT BAHRAIN
DISCRIMINATION
“It is unthinkable that states can so blatantly infringe on the right to freedom of expression. Citizens
have the right to express views and concerns about their governments, as well as feelings of
sympathy towards others,” said James Lynch.
Topics
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The 13 demands on Qatar from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE
and Egypt
Acting as a mediator, Kuwait has presented Qatar a list of demands from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE
and Egypt, the four Arab nations that cut ties with Qatar in early June.
June 23, 2017
Updated: June 23, 2017 04:00 AM
One of the demands issued to Qatar is to close Al Jazeera and its affiliate stations.. Osama Faisal / AP File
KUWAIT CITY // Acting as a mediator, Kuwait has presented Qatar a list of demands from Saudi Arabia,
Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt, the four Arab nations that cut ties with Qatar in early June.
Here’s the demands:
1. Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there. Expel members of Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard from Qatar and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran. Only trade and
commerce with Iran that complies with US and international sanctions will be permitted.
2. Sever all ties to terrorist organisations, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIL, Al Qaeda, and
Hizbollah. Formally declare those entities as terrorist groups.
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3. Shut down Al Jazeera and its affiliate stations.
4. Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al Araby Al
Jadeed and Middle East Eye.
5. Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence currently in Qatar and end any joint military
cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.
6. Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as
terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the US and other countries.
7. Hand over terrorist figures and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to
their countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired information about their residency,
movements and finances.
8. End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs. Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals
from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where
such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.
9. Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over
all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups.
10. Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s
policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.
11. Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically, socially and economically, as
well as on economic matters, in line with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.
12. Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.
The document doesn’t specify what the countries will do if Qatar refuses to comply.
13. Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter
during the second year. For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.
* Associated Press
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Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 1
1/07/2017
NHRC Second Report Regarding the Human Rights
Violations
as a Result of the Blockade on the State of Qatar
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 2
1/07/2017
Phone & Fax
Telephone: 0097444048844
Fax: 0097444444013
Hotline
0097466626663
0097450800006
0097450006008
E-mail
[email protected]
Website
www.nhrc-qa.org
P. O. Box
23104
Doha, Qatar.
All Rights reserved. this report or parts thereof may not be reproduced
in any form, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by
any means-without prior written permission of the publisher.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 3
1/07/2017
a. family reunification
b. Education
c. Work
d. Freedom of Expression and Opinion
e. Rights to movement and residence
f. Violation of the right to private property
g. Violation of the right to practice a religion
h. Incitement of hate speech and violence
i. Violation of the right to health (especially women,
children and persons with disabilities)
Report contents
Subject
Summary
Report Methodology
Most Notable Violations that Occurred
Conclusions and Legal Description
Recommendations
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Page
4
6
8
24
33
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 4
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I. Summary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kingdom
of Bahrain severed relations with the state of Qatar, on 5 June, 2017, that involved
closure of sea, land, and air routes in the face of trades, and also in the face of Gulf
Citizens in a series of actions never witnessed before by the states of the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC), disregarding all human rights and humanitarian standards and
principles and their legal obligations, as those three states are fully aware of the great
interrelations and connections among the region’s people and nations on all social,
economic, cultural, civilian levels.
In this report, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) sheds light on the violations
of the most basic human rights reported since 5 June, the day on which the
blockade and ban was imposed, until Wednesday 28 June, by citizens of: KSA, Qatar,
UAE, Bahrain (without addressing the political domain, as it is not included in the
mandate of the NHRC).
Since Monday , 5 June 2017, hundreds of complaints have been submitted to the
NHRC via e-mail, phone and hotlines , or personal visits to the NHRC headquarters in
Doha, Qatar’s capital. According to the data received, approximately 11,387 citizens
from the three states live in Qatar, and approximately 1927 Qatari citizens live in those
states. All of those people have been affected in different areas and ways to varying
degrees. In some cases, the actions taken by these states separated mothers from
her children.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 5
1/07/2017
On Sunday , 11 June, (Six days after the decision), KSA issued a royal order to take
into consideration the humanitarian situation of mixed families ( Saudi-Qatari ), then
the UAE followed their footsteps, and then Kingdom of Bahrain. While the NHRC
appreciates this step and sees it as a step in the right direction, NHRC also calls on
the three states to clarify the implementation mechanisms, emphasizes that it has to
include all human rights and legal areas, and calls for ending the blockade and all violations
in all its forms, and compensating the affected families and individuals.
Dr. Ali Al Marri, chairman of NHRC, stated that ““The suffering of the GCC people has
become notable through the reports of the NHRC, international reports and statements
and stories published in the mainstream media and social media. After all, we hope that
the besiege countries take into account the rights and interests of the GCC peoples”.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 6
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II. Report methodology
In the aftermath of the crisis that affected citizens of four GCC states (citizens and
residents in the State of Qatar), NHRC has increased working hours, even within the
Eid holiday, due to the large number of complaints received daily, submitted by those
affected. Victims communicate with the NHRC legal researchers via mail or the three
dedicated hotlines. If victims are within the State of Qatar, they are asked to visit the
Committee’s headquarters in person, where they fill in complaint forms with required
basic details, along with their personal ID numbers. Some of them attach university or
school reports, work contracts, or other documents, all of which are available in the
Committee’s archives. It should be borne in mind that an individual may be subjected
to more than one type of violations, and therefore the accumulated number of files reporting
all violations is certainly greater than the total number of individuals. We have
recorded incidents in which some individuals have been separated from their families,
prevented from continuing education and had their right to movement violated. So,
three violations against one individual.
In this report, we shed light on the most notable violations, we refer to the most notable
two, or three forms of each violation, in order to maintain the size of the report.
Please note that the concerned parties can acquire all of these forms and documents.
Also, we referred to names using initial letters in order to preserve their safety and
security, in light of unprecedented procedures by the UAE that involved imposing
penalties including to 3-15 years’ imprisonment and fines of 500,000 AED for merely
showing sympathy towards the state of Qatar.
Surely, the data provided by the victims are different from one case to another. However,
all of these cases enjoy a high level of credibility. Most of the data were acquired
personally through personal visits from the affected parties. Additionally, we received
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 7
1/07/2017
complaints from people regarding violations against their first-degree relatives, where
the victims were in other countries and are, as they claimed, unable to visit the NHRC
headquarters, contact it, or send an e-mail -which we are still receiving on a daily
basis- in this regard, we encourage all the citizens of the four states who suffer from
any violations as a result of these abusive decisions to submit their complaints at the
NHRC or any other national or international organizations. In light of this, what the
NHRC was able to report and document is still the bare minimum, considering that
many of those whose rights were violated don’t know of the existence of any mechanisms
for complaint submission. In addition, many of them seriously are afraid to
reveal their identities due to that measures and actions that could be taken against
them by their countries’ local authorities if they contacted or submitted a compliant.
Finally, there are violations against minors (under 18 years), and since they do not
have identity documents, statistics do not include a large number of them. However,
the psychological impact of violations affected by them is too deep to heal by time.
The Qatari government has not taken any action against the citizens of the three
states, and we didn’t receive any complaint of that nature.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 8
1/07/2017
III. Most notable violations
The following table includes classifications of the violations recorded by the NHRC,
2451 in total. The violations are sorted by the state that perpetrated the violation and
the type of each violation. The table includes the violations against the citizens of the
three states in addition to Qatari citizens:
A. Violations of the right of family reunification
This might be the most serious and appalling violation that resulted from the abusive
decisions made by the three states, because it affects and threatens the ties
of the united Gulf Families.
Complaint
Country
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 9
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It also threatens the most vulnerable categories of society – women, children,
people with disabilities, and the elderly- not to mention that it is an explicit violation
to many articles of the international human rights laws.
In this regard, NHRC recorded 480 forms pertaining to families that were separated,
even though we are absolutely certain that actual number is far greater.
In addition, the three besieging countries prevented any citizen or resident in the
State of Qatar from carrying out any financial or even postal transactions, and thus
not only cut family ties during the month of Ramadan and Eid, but prevented breadwinners
from transferring money to their dependents, including women and children
which constitutes, accordingly, a violation of all human rights and conventions.
Consequently, given that the besieging countries have failed to rectify any of the
repercussions of their unfair decisions, the National Human Rights Committee
has the conviction that these countries have not taken these decisions randomly,
but deliberately with the intention to inflict humiliating and commit violation of fundamental
freedoms, values and religious and social norms.
M. B. is a Qatari national married to a Bahraini; she stated “I live with my family in
Qatar. As a result of the decision to sever relations with Qatar, my husband and
children will have to leave Qatar and our family will be separated. My husband has
a job here and my children are schooling here as well. My life is under threat and
the future of my family is unknown under this decision.” She said.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 10
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Mrs. (N.H.), Saudi born in 1990, visited the NHRC headquarters and stated the violations
she suffered from: “I have been a widow for three years. I live in the State of
Qatar along with my two minor children who have a Qatari nationality. I don’t have a
job, but I am supporting my family financially from my late husband’s family, which
is paid by the State of Qatar. I am enrolled in Qatar University, and living in a rented
house until the inheritance case is settled at court. On 8 June, Saudi authorities
informed me to go back to the Saudi Arabia without my children. I can’t leave my
children alone in Qatar, but I am afraid arbitrary actions will be taken against me if I
didn’t comply.”
Mr. (K.S.), Bahraini born in 1984, called NHRC and then visited NHRC headquarters
and stated that: “I live and work in the State of Qatar with my wife and
my mother who both have Qatari nationality. The decision to sever relations with
Qatar will force me to leave my work and family in Qatar and go back to Bahrain.
How can I leave my wife and my mother, who suffers from a disability, and uproot
my life and work here? I don’t wish to leave Qatar, and I am afraid of the punitive
actions that might be taken against me by the Bahraini authorities.”
B. Violation of the right to Education
The education future of every Saudi, Emirati, or Bahraini studying in Qatar schools
or universities including QF has been put in jeopardy this year. Therefore, Qatari
authorities decided to postpone those students’ exams in order to maintain their
right to complete their education and lose the progress they made in their whole
academic year especially that we are at the end of the school year. However, the
focus remains on the Qatari students studying in the three states, where their
rights have been terribly violated, as laws have prevented them from traveling to
complete their exams, obtaining documents from their university.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 11
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The National Human Rights Committee has recorded 139 cases pertaining specifically
to this violation, including the following six main cases:
J.Z is a Qatari female student at the American University of the UAE, born in 1993;
she sated “my graduation date was set on July 27, 2017; I am prevented from entering
the UAE after the decision to sever relations with the State of Qatar.”
Student H. M., a Qatari national born in 1997, reported to the NHRC headquarters
and told his story of being denied access to education after the decision to sever
relations with the State of Qatar: “I am a Qatari student at Ajman University in the
UAE. I am left with only two examinations to finish my study. However, the UAE
denied me entry into its territory and this will prevent me from realizing my dream
and completing my educational journey.” He said.
According to student M. H., he was prevented from completing his education at
a university in the UAE after the authorities denied him entry because of being a
Qatari citizen. “I booked my university seat at Al-Jazira University in Dubai and
paid all fees installments. I was waiting for next semester to start my studies.
However, after the decision to sever relationship with Qatar I won’t be able to continue
my studies, and thus I did not only lose my seat, but half the amount I paid
because the university will not give me full refund.” He explained.
Student H. M., a Qatari citizen born in 1991, has been denied access to education.
“I am a student sent by the Commercial Bank of Qatar to complete my studies
in the Emirate of Sharjah. Only 9 hours separated me from graduation, but the
decision to sever relations with the State of Qatar will prevent me from completing
my studies and achieving my dream.” He told the NHRC.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 12
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Saudi child S. H. born in 2006, he was separated from his mother who is a Qatari
national. “I am a 4th-grade student at the Qadisiya Independent Model School
in Qatar. I have been living with my mother in Qatar. The Saudi authorities have
asked me to leave Qatar, which will prevent me from completing my studies and
will also separate me from Qatari mother.” He testified before the NHRC.
Student H. A., a Qatari national studying at the University of Applied Sciences in
Bahrain. “The Bahraini authorities have prevented me from entering their territory
as of 8 June 2017. I will not be able to complete my exams and I will be fail if I am
not allowed to enter the country.” He said in his report to NHRC.
C. Violation of the right to Work
As with education, hundreds of business owners were affected after those states
abruptly stopped -in order to cause as much harm as possible- all trading convoys,
and thousands of tons of food or health supplies have expired. Hundreds of
business owners lost great, immeasurable sums of money.
What is even more crucial is that there are entire families that rely completely on
traveling between Gulf states, and those families’ only source of income has been
cut off. However, none of the three states have compensated those families or
sought an alternative for them, which intensified popular resentment even further.
Moreover, many citizens who are employed at public, private, or government sectors
and used to move freely between the four countries are now jobless with no
source of income and with no compensations from the three states that initiated
the blockade.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 13
1/07/2017
The NHRC has received at least 101 cases of persons who have been denied
access to their work due to the arbitrary decisions.
Born in 1988, A. M. is a Saudi national female working as teacher in Qatar. “After
the decision to sever relations with the State of Qatar, the Saudi authorities informed
me that I should leave Qatar. I will lose my job if I return to Saudi Arabia,
but I am also afraid of any consequences or punitive measures that will follow if I
stay here.” She said in her testimony before the NHRC.
Mr. H. Q, who is a Saudi national married to a Qatari woman, contacted the NHRC
and then visited its headquarters in person. He gave details of the violation to
which he was subjected. “I have been living and working in the State of Qatar as
an administrative supervisor at a junior high school. On 18 June 2017 the Saudi
authorities asked me to leave both my job and my Qatari wife and return to Saudi
Arabia. I am afraid of losing my job and I do not want to leave my wife in Qatar
alone. This decision will affect my life and the life of my entire family. I am afraid of
any punitive measures against me by the authorities.” He explained.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 14
1/07/2017
Mr. A. I, a Saudi national, contacted NHRC and presented his testimony. “I work
for Qatar Aircraft Fuel Company. On 16 June 2017 the Saudi authorities informed
me that I should leave Qatar and return to my country. I do not want to go back
and I do not want to leave my job. This decision will make me lose the job I like,
but I am afraid of any sanctions for not noncompliance with the decision”.
Ms. Sh. M. mentions the violations she has been exposed to. “After the decision
to sever relations with the State of Qatar, the Saudi authorities informed me that
I should return to my country and leave my job at Hamad Medical Corporation,”
she said. “This decision will separate me from my family, as I have a sister with
Qatari nationality. We work together to support our mother. I will lose my job, and I
will leave my family. I don’t know what penalties I have to face if I do not comply.”
In an interview with Mr. A. M, a Saudi national, at the headquarters of the NHRC,
he gave his testimony after his right to work came under threat. The Saudi authorities
asked him to leave Qatar: “I work at a car and motorcycle racing club. After
the decision to sever relations with the State of Qatar I will have to give up my job.
Otherwise, I will be subject to sanctions that the Saudi authorities may impose
against me. This decision will threaten my future career.” He testified.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 15
1/07/2017
Ms. F. A. who is a Saudi national expresses fear that she might be exposed to
sanctions if she does not comply with her country’s decision to leave Qatar. “I have
been in Qatar since 2007 and I work as a football trainer in the Qatar Women’s
Sports Committee”, she said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “As a result of
the decision to sever relations with the State of Qatar I will have to leave my job
and the country where I lived all this time.”
Mr. H. J, who is a Saudi national, told the NHRC about the details of what he was
exposed to after the decision to sever relations with Qatar. He stated that he works
for Qatar Steel. “Following my country’s decision to sever the relations with Qatar I
will have to leave my job and return to Saudi Arabia. I am afraid of being subjected
to arbitrary punitive measures in the event should I not comply with the decision.”
D. Violations to the right of Freedom of Opinion and Expression
It is worth mentioning that the NHRC holds no right to record violations of the freedom
of opinion and expression in the three sanctioning states and Egypt. However,
NHRC reported violations on the background of severing relations with Qatar.
Violations have gone to extremes for just showing sympathy with Qatar via social
media, including media outlets funded by the State of Qatar, that certainly do not
broadcast newsletters or news programs or political matters, thus indicating the
deplorable condition of the freedom of opinion and expression in the three countries
and Egypt. Just wearing a Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain T-shirt, out of
sympathy is enough for a person to receive severe punishment.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 16
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UAE imposes penalties 3-15 years’ imprisonment and fines of 500,000 AED just
for merely showing sympathy towards the State of Qatar by even a word, a like,
or a tweet on social media in an unprecedented threat to freedom of expression.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior imposes five-year imprisonment, while KSA considered
this an internet crime.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 17
1/07/2017
This very extreme and harsh actions betray the fragility of the grounds and legitimacy
of the blockade decision by those three states, and reflect how much those
states’ authorities are afraid from citizens’ freedom to express any opinions that
don’t agree with their will. This blatantly goes against many of international and
regional declarations and covenants as we will detail further in the Legal Description
portion of this report.
In the media sector alone, NHRC recorded that 103 media figures from the three
states that imposed the blockade and boycott who used to work at several visual
media outlets in the State of Qatar have all been subjected to various types of
violations, including pressuring them as a way to force them to resign from their
jobs. Due to the pressure, 10 of those were forced to submit and forcibly asked for
their termination, and, therefore, lost their jobs and source of income. There are
still great pressures on everyone who didn’t submit his resignation. These actions
constitute a blatant violation to the freedom of journalism, freedom of work, freedom
of residency, and freedom of opinion all at the same time.
E. Denial of the right to movement and residence (even for the dead)
Mr. H. Q., a Qatari national was denied the right to movement. “My brother died
following a traffic accident in Saudi Arabia on 6 June 2017. I was prevented from
entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to receive my brother’s body to bury it”. He
told the NHRC.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 18
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Mr. S. M, a Saudi national, reports his plight to NHRC. “My father died in the State
of Qatar and on 7 June 2017 the Saudi authorities prevented me from traveling to
Qatar to receive the body of my father,” he said.
Ms. W. H, a Qatari national, tells NURC: “I booked in a hotel in Mecca and paid
my accommodation fees,” she said. “The reservation was cancelled on 13 June
2017, but I was not refunded.”
F. Violation of the right to ownership:
The sudden siege laws imposed by the three countries have resulted in huge
losses of assets and property to tens of thousands of people, which indicate that
those who have taken this decision have total disrespect basic rights. Money and
property were confiscated because their owners could not travel, as all persons
prohibited from traveling cannot be able to use their property or dispose of it.
Due to the great overlap and interrelatedness of the businesses between the Gulf
States, this may not be noticed by many organizations and countries. For example,
we have received complaints that there are hundreds of workers in Saudi
Arabia whose Qatari directors can no longer pay their salaries, because money
transfer services have been stopped. Thus, their work was stopped in the first
place, and secondly these workers are now displaced. Another blatant example
is the loss of real estate purchased on installments such as land, buildings and
apartments, especially in the Emirate of Dubai.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 19
1/07/2017
As a result of the freezing of the assets of Qatari nationals in these countries,
cheque debits have been stopped and if the situation continues for two months,
this may result in complete loss of the property. It may even lead to the owner becoming
subject to lawsuit because of the failure to pay its monthly debits.
In addition to the above, the three countries have gone as far as limiting the financial
transfers and postal transactions to any of the citizens or residents in the
State of Qatar, to eliminate any possibility of saving any financial losses. All this
indicates that the sanctioning countries meant to intentionally violate fundamental
freedoms from the start. This is further emphasized by the fact that no measures
have been taken so far to eliminate the serious repercussions on the citizens of
the three countries as well as the citizens of the State of Qatar.
The NHRC has also recorded presence of a large number of workers who hold
Qatari residence permits and work in companies owned by Qatari citizens. After
the decision to impose siege on Qatar, workers were prevented from returning to
Qatar. They stopped working and there is no one to pay for their expenses.
Mr. B. S, a Qatari national, visited the headquarters of the NHRC and presented
his case in detail.
“I own an apartment and a car in the UAE and I cannot reach them under the decision
to sever relations with the State of Qatar. I have been deprived of my most
basic rights.” He said.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 20
1/07/2017
Mr. M. Kh, a Qatari national who owns property in Saudi Arabia, contacted us and
we asked him to come to the headquarters of the NHRC. He gave his testimony
and details of the violation he was subjected to: “I own a group of livestock and
camels in Saudi Arabia and I cannot enter Saudi Arabia. I know nothing at all
about the fate of my possessions.”
Ms. A. R, a Qatari national told NHRC about the violation of her rights. “I cannot
access my property in the wake of the decision to sever relations with Qatar. I
have two studios in Jebel Ali in the UAE and two studios in Dubai,” said A R. “I
have one car park, and I also own a hotel apartment with one car park, but now I
cannot dispose of my property or access it.”
Mr. H. M., a Qatari national, reported to the NHRC about his properties in Saudi
Arabia. “I have 80 heads of camels and 120 of sheep in Saudi Arabia. I cannot
provide these animals with water and feeds, because of the closure of the border
and I am prevented from entering Saudi territory. I fear the loss of my livestock. I
do not know the fate of my cars and workers. I am not in a position to renew their
work permits if expired”. He explained.
Ms. B. M, born in 1982 in Qatar, testified before the NHRC that she has been denied
entry to Saudi Arabia following the decision to sever ties. “I have two pieces
of land in Saudi Arabia and a house that I bought for 700,000 riyals, and a number
of livestock. I have workers and I cannot renew their work visas in the event of
expiration.” She said.
“I have a bank account at Al-Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia and I cannot go to the
bank to withdraw my money because of the violation,” said H. F, a Qatari lady
before the NHRC.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 21
1/07/2017
G. Violations of the right to freedom to practice a religion:
Mecca and Medina, two holy cities for all Muslims, are located in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. The two cities are a constant destination for Muslims to perform
Umrah. The blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia has impeded the rights of nearly
1.5 million Muslims residing in Qatar to performing religious rituals. Saudi Arabia
did not make exceptions for those who might wish to perform such rituals. Instead
of a trip that takes one and a half hours via Jeddah Airport, citizens and residents
of Qatar have to travel via the city of Muscat in Oman, taking up to 12 hours, let
alone the doubled cost. Scores of people have been held back from performing
Umrah due to these conditions. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is held fully responsible
religiously, morally and legally.
When the unfair decisions were issued, the authorities in Saudi Arabia prevented
a group of Qatari citizens who were on board the plane or at Jeddah airport from
entering Jeddah and had to return to Qatar.
A Qatari citizen filming himself in a video at Jeddah Airport, and how Saudi authorities
forbade him to go into Mecca for Umrah.
Mr. M. A, a Qatari national who was born in 1987 contacted the NHRC and gave
his testimony. “On 5 June 2017, after the decision to sever relations with the State
of Qatar, I could not enter Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, and in addition to being
denied travel, I lost the amount I had paid for the hotel reservation in the city of
Mecca.” He said.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 22
1/07/2017
“On 11 June 2017, I was prevented from entering Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah
following the decision to sever relations with Qatar,” said Mr. B. A. a Qatari national
who was born in 1984, to the NHRC.
H. Incitement of violence and hate speech:
The NHRC has recorded hundreds of cases of hate speech, some of which went
as far as inciting the carrying out of bomb blasts in the State of Qatar. In some
of the TV series, children have been indoctrinated and incited against Qatar. It
is clear that all this amount of incitement, hate speech and violence will generate
tendency towards extremist reactions from the various segments of society,
intellectuals and the illiterate alike. This may lead to the perpetration of criminal
acts not only against Qatari citizens, but it may generate reactions from the Qatari
society towards the nationals of these three countries and the State of Egypt as
well. This will threaten peace, security and stability in the entire region. The NHRC
has recorded the names and details of each person involved in hate speech and
violence, particularly those who have been monitored by our researchers. They
will be held legally responsible for any incident of racist, terrorist violence against
any Qatari citizen or any citizen of the three countries and Egypt.
International law clearly criminalizes hate speech and violence as set forth in Article
20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Article
4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
These articles prohibit any advocacy of hate on the basis of nationalism,
racism or religion, and consider it an incitement to enmity and violence.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 23
1/07/2017
I. Violation of the right to Health - Especially for persons with Disabilities
Hundreds of patients from the three sanctioning countries were receiving medical
treatment in hospitals in the State of Qatar. Some Qataris were also receiving
treatment in hospitals in these countries. All of them have been affected, as they
were asked leaver without any exception or exclusion of the sick, injured, pregnant
women, children or those with disability. It shows beyond doubt how the three
countries blatantly disregard the rights of their sick citizens, as well as indifference
towards their most basic human rights. The most fundamental aspect of the
right to health is non-discrimination. The three countries should have not expelled
Qatari patients for political differences, because the right to health is enshrined in
several international treaties and conventions, such as the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, Article 25, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, Article 12.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 24
1/07/2017
IV. Conclusions and Legal Description
In their resolutions, KSA, UAE, and Kingdom of Bahrain, violated a number of
principle international human rights laws and rules, which are related to the most
fundamental human rights, which are treated as international norms. These resolutions
violate a number of articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
other articles included in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in addition to
articles in the: Arab Charter on Human Rights, the GCC Declarations of Human
Rights, and the Economic Agreement between the GCC States. Therefore, those
states are responsible for protecting and preserving the rights and interests of the
individuals living on their lands.
The Articles that were violated by the three Gulf states:
First: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home
or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has
the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 25
1/07/2017
Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders
of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to
his country.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Article 25
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical
care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of
unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood
in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 26
1/07/2017
Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary
and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.
Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher
education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality
and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial
or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the
maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to
their children.
Second: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
PART II
Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to
all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized
in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth
or other status.
Article 20
1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.
2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement
to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 27
1/07/2017
Third: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Part III
Article 6
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to work, which
includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he
freely chooses or accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard this right.
Article 10
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that:
1. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to the family,
which is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, particularly for its establishment
and while it is responsible for the care and education of dependent children.
Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses.
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period
before and after childbirth. During such period working mothers should be accorded
paid leave or leave with adequate social security benefits.
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all
children and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage
or other conditions. Children and young persons should be protected from economic
and social exploitation.
Their employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or
likely to hamper their normal development should be punishable by law. States
should also set age limits below which the paid employment of child labor should
be prohibited and punishable by law.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 28
1/07/2017
Article 12
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve
the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:
(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and
for the healthy development of the child;
(b) The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
(c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and
other diseases;
(d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical
attention in the event of sickness.
Article 13
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to
education. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate
effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship
among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities
of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Fourth: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
Article 4
States Parties condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on
ideas or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or
ethnic origin, or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination
in any form, and undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 29
1/07/2017
to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination and, to this end, with
due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of this Convention, inter alia:
(a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based
on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all
acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of
another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist
activities, including the financing thereof;
(b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all
other propaganda activities, which promote and incite racial discrimination, and
shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable
by law;
(c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, to
promote or incite racial discrimination.
Fifth: Arab Charter on Human Rights
Article 3
1. Each State party to the present Charter undertakes to ensure to all individuals
subject to its jurisdiction the right to enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth herein,
without distinction on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religious belief, opinion,
thought, national or social origin, wealth, birth or physical or mental disability.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 30
1/07/2017
Article 8
1. No one shall be subjected to physical or psychological torture or to cruel, degrading,
humiliating or inhuman treatment.
Article 26
1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State party shall, within that territory,
have the right to freedom of movement and to freely choose his residence in any
part of that territory in conformity with the laws in force.
Article 32
1. The present Charter guarantees the right to information and to freedom of opinion
and expression, as well as the right to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any medium, regardless of geographical boundaries.
2. Such rights and freedoms shall be exercised in conformity with the fundamental
values of society and shall be subject only to such limitations as are required to
ensure respect for the rights or reputation of others or the protection of national
security, public order and public health or morals.
Article 33
1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society; it is based on marriage
between a man and a woman. Men and women of marrying age have the right
to marry and to found a family according to the rules and conditions of marriage.
No marriage can take place without the full and free consent of both parties. The
laws in force regulate the rights and duties of the man and woman as to marriage,
during marriage and at its dissolution.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 31
1/07/2017
2. The State and society shall ensure the protection of the family, the strengthening
of family ties, the protection of its members and the prohibition of all forms of
violence or abuse in the relations among its members, and particularly against
women and children. They shall also ensure the necessary protection and care
for mothers, children, older persons and persons with special needs and shall provide
adolescents and young persons with the best opportunities for physical and
mental development.
3. The States parties shall take all necessary legislative, administrative and judicial
measures to guarantee the protection, survival, development and well-being
of the child in an atmosphere of freedom and dignity and shall ensure, in all cases,
that the child’s best interests are the basic criterion for all measures taken in his
regard, whether the child is at risk of delinquency or is a juvenile offender.
Sixth: Human Rights Declaration for the Member States of the Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
Article (6)
The Freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites is a right of every person
according to the regulation (law) without disruption of the public order and public
morals.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 32
1/07/2017
Article (9)
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and exercising such
freedom is guaranteed insofar as it accords with Islamic Sharia law, public order
and the regulations (laws) regulating this area.
Article (14)
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, originally composed
of a man and a woman, governed by religion, morals and patriotism; its
entity and bonds are maintained and reinforced by religion. Motherhood, childhood
and members of the family are protected by religion as well as the State and
society against all forms of abuse and domestic violence.
Article (24)
Every person, who has the capacity of doing so, has the right to work and has the
right to free choice of employment according to the requirements of dignity and
public interest, while just and favorable employment conditions, as well as employees’
and employers’ rights, are ensured.
Article (27)
Private property is inviolable and no one shall be prevented from the disposition of
his property except by the regulation (law), and it may not be expropriated unless
for public interest with fair compensation.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 33
1/07/2017
V. Recommendations
To the international community:
To take urgent action to lift the siege, and make every possible effort to mitigate
its repercussions on the people of the State of Qatar and citizens of the three
countries.
The United Nations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR)
1- The great amount of social violations constitute a threat to the stability of the
region, and is stared to have a negative impact on the economic and social levels.
Speedy steps must be taken to force the states that issued these unjust decisions
to repeal their actions.
2- The OHCHR to prepare reports and statements documenting the various types
of violations that affected great numbers of people, especially the families that
were
separated, including the negative consequences on women and children as a result
of the separation of their families. Also, the OHCHR to call on these states to
respect the basic freedoms of the people living on their lands.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 34
1/07/2017
Human Rights Council
To Take every possible action in order to end the blockade and its ramifications,
and call for the compensation of all people who were harmed and affected.
Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs
To Document forms of the various types of violations that occurred, and contact
the certain concerned governments in that regard as soon as possible. NHRC is
fully prepared to share all the related data.
General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council
The Dispute Settlement Commission of the Supreme Council at the Gulf Cooperation
Council to take urgent actions and do everything in its power to convince
the concerned governments to start settling the dispute and the social, civil, and
cultural situation for the affected families and citizens.
KSA, UAE, and Kingdom of Bahrain
1- Respect the nature of the Gulf societies, and to refrain from making any decisions
that sever the relations and ties between families and societies , and to repeal
these decisions as early as possible.2- Respect the basic human rights related to
freedom of movement, private property, work, residence, and freedom of expression
and opinion that are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
Report of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar (NHRC) 35
1/07/2017
3- The political disputes must not affect the humanitarian and social rights and will
being of citizens, which is considered a violation of the international law and the
international human rights law.
To the Qatari Government:
To take all possible steps at the international level, at the level of the Security
Council and the international forums, to lift the siege on the people of Qatar, to
defend their rights in the face of violations against them, and to hold accountable
the preparators.
READ: Full joint statement of boycotting countries on Qatar
crisis
english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/07/05/READ-Full-joint-statement-of-boycotting-countries-on-Qatar-crisis.html
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) talks to reporters during a joint press
conference with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin
Zayed Al-Nahyan (C) and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (L). (AFP)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Wednesday, 5 July 2017
Text size A A A
The foreign ministers of the four Arab countries, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain issued a joint statement following their meeting in Cairo today on the
Qatari crisis.
Following is the text of the statement read by the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri:
“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and
Kingdom of Bahrain met in Cairo on Wednesday, the 5th of July 2017 to consult on the
ongoing efforts to stop the State of Qatar’s support for extremism and terrorism and its
interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries and the threats against Arab national
security and international peace and security due to Qatar’s policies.
“It was stressed that the position of the four countries is based on the importance of adherence
to international conventions, charters and resolutions as well as the principles stipulated in the
charters of the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
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in addition to the conventions on combating international terrorism with emphasis on the
following principles:
1. Commitment to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms and to prevent their
financing or the provision of safe havens.
2. Prohibiting all acts of incitement and all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or
justify hatred and violence.
3 - Full commitment to Riyadh Agreement 2013 and the supplementary agreement and its
executive mechanism for 2014 within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for
Arab States.
4 - Commitment to all the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic-US Summit held in Riyadh in May
2017.
5. Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of States and from supporting illegal entities.
6. The responsibility of all States of international community to confront all forms of extremism
and terrorism as a threat to international peace and security.
The four countries affirmed that supporting extremism, terrorism and interfering in the internal
affairs of the Arab countries is a matter that cannot be tolerated or procrastinated and that the
list of demands made to the State of Qatar came within the framework of ensuring adherence
to the six principles outlined above, protecting Arab national security, maintaining international
peace and security, combating extremism and terrorism and providing appropriate
circumstances to reach a political settlement of the region’s crises where it is no longer
possible to tolerate the destructive role being played by the State of Qatar.
“The four Arab countries stressed that the measures taken and sustained by them are the
result of the violation by the State of Qatar of its obligations and commitments under
international law and its continued interference in the affairs of the Arab States and its support
for extremism and terrorism and the consequent threats to the security of the region,”
The four countries expressed their thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-
Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, for his efforts and endeavor to resolve the crisis with the
State of Qatar and expressed sorrow over negligence, lack of seriousness and the negative
response received by the State of Qatar to deal with the roots of the problem and not ready to
reconsider its policies and practices, reflecting a lack of understanding of the gravity of the
situation,”
“The four countries stressed their keenness on the importance of the relationship between the
Arab peoples and the deep appreciation to the Qatari people, expressing the hope that
wisdom would prevail and the State of Qatar may make the right decision,”
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“The four countries stressed that the time has come for the international community to
shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the support of extremism and terrorism and that
there is no room for any entity or party involved in practicing, supporting or financing of
extremism and terrorism in the international community or to be as a partner in the efforts of
peaceful settlement of political crises in the region,”
“In this context, the four countries expressed their appreciation for the decisive position
adopted by President Donald Trump of the United States of America on the need for an
immediate end to the support and elimination of extremism and terrorism and the intolerability
of any violations by any party in this regard.”
The ministers agreed to follow up the situation and hold their next meeting in Manama.
Last Update: Wednesday, 5 July 2017 KSA 22:16 - GMT 19:16
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A road sign is seen near Abu Samra border crossing to Saudi Arabia,
Qatar June 12, 2017.
© 2017 Tom Finn/Reuters
JULY 12, 2017 6:01PM EDT
Qatar: Isolation Causing Rights Abuses
Families Separated; Workers Stranded; Education, Medical Care Interrupted
(Beirut) – The isolation of Qatar by
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) is precipitating
serious human rights violations, Human
Rights Watch said today. It is infringing
on the right to free expression,
separating families, interrupting medical
care – in one case forcing a child to
miss a scheduled brain surgery,
interrupting education, and stranding
migrant workers without food or water.
Travel to and from Qatar is restricted,
and the land border with Saudi Arabia is
closed.
On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar and ordered
the expulsion of Qatari citizens and the return of their citizens from Qatar within 14 days. The three
countries applied the travel restrictions suddenly, collectively, and without taking individual situations
into account. On June 23, the three countries and Egypt issued a list of 13 demands to Qatar for ending
the crisis that included shutting down Al Jazeera and other media they claim are funded by Qatar;
downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran; severing ties with “terrorist organizations,” including the Muslim
Brotherhood; and paying reparations to other Gulf countries for “loss of life” and “other financial losses”
resulting from Qatar’s policies.
Qatar: Isolation Causing Rights Abuses Page 1 of 13
https://www.hrw.org/print/306510 2/6/2018
“Gulf autocrats’ political disputes are violating the rights of peaceful Gulf residents who were living their
lives and caring for their families,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights
Watch. “Hundreds of Saudis, Bahrainis, and Emiratis have been forced into the impossible situation of
either disregarding their countries’ orders or leaving behind their families and jobs.”
Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed and documented the cases of 50 citizens of Qatar, Bahrain,
and Saudi Arabia, as well as 70 foreign migrant workers living in Qatar, many of whose rights have been
violated by restrictive policies imposed since June 5. More than 11,327 Gulf nationals were living in
Qatar and nearly 1,927 Qataris in other Gulf countries, Qatar’s national human rights body reported on
July 1.
Gulf nationals told Human Rights Watch that parents had been forcibly separated from their young
children and husbands from their wives, and that family members were prevented from visiting sick or
elderly parents. Qatari media reported that family members of a Saudi man who died in Qatar on June 8
could not enter to retrieve his body, and authorities eventually buried him in Qatar. Article 26 of the Arab
Charter on Human Rights, which Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE have ratified, prohibits arbitrary
expulsion of foreigners and any collective expulsion.
One Qatari man said he is cut off from his pregnant Saudi wife, who was visiting family members in
Saudi Arabia when the restrictions were imposed. A Qatari woman said that she left her ailing 70-yearold
Bahraini husband in Bahrain because her embassy advised her to return to Qatar. A Bahraini woman
virtually went into hiding to keep her government from discovering she had remained with her Qatari
husband and 2-month-old daughter, who is a Qatari citizen.
Some Gulf states have threatened citizens who remain in Qatar with specific punishments. Saudi Arabia’s
General Directorate of Passports placed Qatar on its list of countries to which Saudi citizens are not
allowed to travel under penalty of a three-year travel ban and a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyals (US$2,600).
On June 13, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued an order stating that “anyone who violates the ban… shall
have his personal passport withdrawn and his request to renew it shall be denied.”
On June 12, in response to reports of family separations, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE announced
that they would grant exceptions for “humanitarian cases of mixed families” for travel back and forth
from Qatar and each country established hotlines. Yet, of the 12 Gulf nationals who said they tried to
contact these hotlines, only two managed to get permission to go back and forth. Others said that they did
not call because they worried that the three countries would use the hotlines to discover the identities of
citizens who remained in Qatar.
Qatar: Isolation Causing Rights Abuses Page 2 of 13
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Other Gulf nationals said that the travel restrictions had interrupted ongoing medical treatment or studies.
Two Qatari parents said that their children missed scheduled surgeries in Saudi hospitals, including one
girl whose mother said if she does not receive specialist treatment she could end up paralyzed, and a 67-
year-old Saudi man who had to end ongoing heart and kidney treatment in Qatar. The exceptions Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain announced made no reference to medical treatment.
A Qatari woman who had been in her third year at a UAE university showed Human Rights Watch a
screenshot of an email from a university administrator on June 7, informing her that the university had
withdrawn her from her summer and fall courses, wishing her “success in your educational journey.”
Another Qatari woman in the final year of her medical degree in the UAE also was abruptly withdrawn
from her studies. All Qatari students interviewed said that the travel restrictions forced them to return to
Qatar.
Four Qataris said that migrant workers they sponsor are stranded in Saudi Arabia without adequate food
or water. Human Rights Watch also interviewed 70 migrant workers at various locations in Doha, nearly
all of whom complained about the rise in food prices in Qatar because of increasing import costs due to
the land border closure. The border closure also exacerbates existing abuses that workers said they faced,
including non-payment of salaries.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE have sought to use their political measures against Qatar to shutter
critical media outlets in their countries, especially Al Jazeera, which Gulf leaders have accused of
fomenting terrorism and unrest across the region. Bahrain and the UAE have threatened to punish their
own citizens for “expressing sympathy” for Qatar online.
"Gulf countries need to take a step back and see the harm they are doing to their own citizens,” Whitson
said. "Gulf countries should put people’s well-being before their harmful power games.”
Family Separation
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE ordered the expulsion of all Qatari citizens from their countries and
mandated the return of their citizens from Qatar within 14 days – by June 19. The three countries ended
all commercial direct flights to and from Doha, forcing returning Gulf nationals to lay over in a third
country, usually Oman or Kuwait, and redirected flights to Qatar outside of their airspace. Some Gulf
states have threatened citizens who remain in Qatar with specific punishments.
A July 1 report by the state-funded Qatari National Human Rights Committee says that approximately
8,254 Saudis, 2,349 Bahrainis, and 784 Emiratis lived in Qatar prior to the crisis and that 1,927 Qataris
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lived in the three neighboring countries. The report said that the committee had received 480 family
separation cases since June 5.
No Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country allows dual nationality, and all discriminate against women
by not allowing women to pass nationality to their children on the same basis as men. Qatar, like other
Gulf states, allows men to pass citizenship to their children, whereas children of Qatari women and noncitizen
fathers can only apply for citizenship under strict conditions. The 2005 acquisition of Qatari
nationality law provides that individuals resident for more than 25 years can apply for nationality, with
priority for those with Qatari mothers, under specific conditions.
“Sami,” a 36-year-old Bahraini man born in Qatar to a Qatari mother and Bahraini father, said, “I was
born here, studied here, and work here.” He applied for Qatari nationality six years ago, but had not been
notified of a decision: “There is a committee. I did a medical test, CID [a check with Criminal
Investigation Department], and paid 3000 riyals (US$823). They said all fine, but said that I have to wait
for government approval. But they didn’t call me.”
Of the 50 Gulf nationals Human Rights Watch interviewed, 22 reported that the travel restrictions cut
them off from immediate family members. Human Rights Watch interviewed 15 people who said they
were married to someone holding another one of these nationalities or were divorced but had children
with them.
“Maher,” a 37-year old Qatari, said the travel restrictions cut him off from his Saudi wife, who had been
visiting her mother in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. He said his wife, who is from his own extended
family, is not allowed to fly because she is in her last trimester of pregnancy, and that Saudi authorities
will not allow her to cross the land border into Qatar: “On Thursday [June 15], I went to the border at
noon and spoke to them, and they said I have to speak with the Interior Ministry. I talked to them on the
number they gave me and they said they would call me back. I waited there 2 hours, from 12 to 2 p.m. ... I
went back [home] eventually because my car had no petrol [left].”
Maher said the situation is complicated by the fact that he never registered his marriage in either country:
“I just want my wife and to be with the baby. We didn’t finish our marriage papers, so there is no
confirmation of marriage for us. Now I can’t complete the papers. I am afraid they will take my child
away and make his nationality Saudi.” He said he also fears potential criminal sanction against his wife
because of her pregnancy. Sexual relations outside of marriage are criminalized in Gulf states, and
flogging penalties can be imposed on Muslims.
“Leila,” a 26-year old Bahraini woman, said that she frequently traveled back and forth between Qatar
and Bahrain with her Qatari husband. She said she delivered a baby girl in Qatar several weeks before the
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A sign indicating a route to Qatar embassy is seen in Manama, Bahrain,
June 5, 2017.
© 2017 Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
travel restrictions were imposed, and was forced to decide between complying with the order to return to
Bahrain or remain with her daughter and husband. She said she was deeply worried over Bahrain’s order
to cancel passports of citizens who remain in Qatar, and hoped she could keep Bahraini authorities from
learning that she is in Qatar. She said she would not travel until the crisis is resolved: “I’m scared to travel
anywhere. What if they get information about me and are able to cancel my passport? I don’t want any
information in the system anywhere.” She said she had tried to call the Bahraini hotline but was told she
had to return to Bahrain and asked for her passport number.
Human Rights Watch interviewed two
Qataris who were forced to return but
were staying in hotels in Doha because
they did not have homes in Qatar.
“Reem” said that she had lived in
Bahrain with her Bahraini husband and
children for 36 years. She called the
Qatari embassy in Manama, which she
says informed her that she had to return
to Qatar. She said that she left behind
her 70-year-old Bahraini husband and
two sons: “There is nobody in Bahrain
to take care of [my husband]. He is 70,
he can barely take care of himself, and my other sons have their own families. They were very upset I was
leaving.”
She said that she brought to Qatar her 25-year old son, a Bahraini national, who suffers from an
intellectual disability and epilepsy and requires regular medical treatment. She said she worries what will
happen if Bahraini authorities discover that he is in Qatar. In Qatar, she has limited foreign currency in
cash that she had difficulty exchanging, and is now dependent on the Qatari authorities and charities to
provide her with accommodation and financial assistance.
Another Qatari man, “Ahmed,” who is married to an Emirati woman and lives in the UAE, said that the
UAE had denied his entry around the time it imposed the travel restrictions and forced him back to Qatar,
where he was staying in a hotel. “Does anyone want this?” he said. “Does this comply with international
laws and customs? In Holy Ramadan [the Muslim holy month], there is a complete lack of mercy and
families are broken apart, children from their father and a husband from his wife.”
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“Nora,” a 36-year old Saudi woman living in Qatar said she has a 3-year-old Qatari son from a previous
marriage to a Qatari. She said that she has legal custody over her son and is entitled to monthly financial
and child support, but that her former husband was encouraging her to return to Saudi Arabia so that he
could regain custody and stop his support payments.
Of the 50 Gulf nationals interviewed, only 12 said that they had attempted to contact the family separation
hotlines. The rest said that they did not think they would receive permission to travel back and forth, or
that they were worried that the hotlines were intended to collect information on which citizens had failed
to return to or from Qatar.
Only 2 of the 12 people who had contacted the hotlines, one Saudi and one Bahraini, said they had
obtained permission to live in Qatar and travel back and forth.
Forced separation of families often violates the right of all individuals to have their established family life
respected. The right to family life is enshrined in article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
article 23 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 23 of the Arab Charter
on Human Rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits states from separating children
from their parents against their will, except when necessary for their own best interests (article 9), and
from discriminating against children on the basis of their parents’ status (article 2). Article 26 of the Arab
Charter states that “[n]o State party may expel a person who does not hold its nationality but is lawfully in
its territory, other than in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and after that person
has been allowed to submit a petition to the competent authority” and that “collective expulsion is
prohibited under all circumstances.”
Interrupted Medical Treatment
Five Gulf nationals said that the travel restrictions disrupted medical treatment for themselves or family
members.
“Amani,” a Qatari woman, said that her 15-year-old daughter was born with a spinal problem and had
undergone a series of operations at two hospitals in Riyadh since she was an infant. She said that in
February, her daughter had brain surgery, and that she was scheduled for another surgery in Riyadh on
June 17, which she missed because of the travel restrictions. She said such specialist treatment is not
available in Qatar: “[There is] no chance to travel and the headaches are becoming more severe. … It
could become paralysis. She needs an immediate solution.… We don’t have money to go elsewhere for
such treatment.”
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“Mahmoud,” a 67-year old Saudi man, said that he has lived and worked in Qatar for more than 10 years.
He said he missed the 14-day deadline as he had medical appointments every day. He said he would
return to Saudi Arabia and forgo follow-up medical treatment because he feared fines or prison: “I have
medical conditions – one in my heart, and one in my kidney. My current medical treatment is in Qatar.…
I have two appointments [in Qatar] that I will miss. … I feel confused, I want to see my family, but I want
to work here. I am scared of actions that may be taken against me.” Shortly after meeting with Human
Rights Watch, he was able to enter Saudi Arabia.
“Walid,” 56, a Qatari, said that his son had been scheduled for required facial surgery at a hospital in
Riyadh on June 9. He said the treatment plan following the operation is not available in Qatar. He said he
would speak with the Qatari Health Ministry to see if they would provide financial support to seek the
surgery and necessary treatment outside the Gulf.
Interrupted Education
Eleven Qataris who had been attending university programs or specialized training courses in the UAE
when the restrictions were imposed all said that their universities summarily withdrew them from their
courses and told them to return to Qatar. They expressed concerns that universities in Qatar or other
countries might not allow them to transfer and accept academic credits for completed courses, or that
certain courses are not available in Qatar.
“Hassan,” 34, said that he was among 13 Qataris attending aviation school in the UAE. He said that his
group had only completed two of the five courses necessary to graduate: “We cannot sit for the exam and
we will not graduate this year. It is the only aviation school in the region with this program, otherwise we
have to go to the UK or US, but I don’t know if the credits would transfer.”
Another Qatari man, “Samer,” one of around 25 to 30 students attending a part-time university degree
course in the UAE, described the problems resulting from his expulsion: “We have rented apartments,
furniture, and clothes that are still there and have to pay internet and telephone bills. The owner [of the
apartment] has our checks – we have to provide four checks in advance which they will take from the
account. The rental contract is one year. If there is no balance left in the account, then the owner can
make a police case file. Anytime you go back you can be arrested…”
“Rana,” a 22-year old Qatari, said that her withdrawal from a prominent university in the UAE had set
back her plan to eventually pursue higher education in France: “All I can say is that this siege has robbed
me of the right to pursue the quality of education that I aimed to achieve. This siege has harmed our
dreams and our futures.”
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Identity Documentation Issues
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt have withdrawn their embassies and staff from Qatar, making
passport renewal difficult for nationals of those countries who do not have permission to remain in Qatar.
They also face significant obstacles obtaining documents for newborn children.
Residency visas in Qatar are linked to valid passports, and some foreign nationals expressed concern
about what will happen to their residency visas once their passports expire.
“Hussein,” a 38-year old Saudi, said that he has lived in Doha for 25 years, and that his wife gave birth to
a son the day the travel restrictions were imposed. His son has a Qatari birth certificate, but Hussein said
he cannot add the baby to his Saudi family book, a form of ID that is commonly used as children’s main
form of identification in the Middle East, or obtain a passport for him, because the process in Saudi
Arabia requires him to come in person. He said, “the system in Saudi Arabia is that a newborn in the first
week must obtain a Saudi ID, but Saudi Arabia requires me to go back to complete [the procedure]. But I
feel in danger going back. How can I leave Saudi Arabia if I go there?”
Another Saudi man, “Assem,” said that his 12-year old sister’s Saudi passport expired, and he worried
that he may not be able to enroll her in school in Qatar, as Qatar requires that foreign students have valid
passports.
All Bahraini interviewees told Human Rights Watch that they feared the consequences of Bahrain’s
announcement that it would revoke the passports of Bahraini citizens who remain in Qatar. One divorced
Qatari woman whose adult children have their father’s Bahraini nationality, but are estranged from him,
said that she cannot travel abroad with her children as she feared that their passports may be invalidated.
Human Rights Watch spoke to seven Egyptian employees of Al Jazeera who said that they cannot renew
their Egyptian passports and therefore are worried about losing their Qatari residency permits. Many of
them moved to Qatar after they were threatened, intimidated, beaten, or arrested by authorities in Egypt.
One journalist said he applied for his Egyptian passport in January, but that Egyptian embassy officials
told him in April that he would not receive the passport. It will expire in one month.
Effects on Non-Gulf Migrant Workers
The isolation of Qatar has negatively affected non-Gulf foreign migrant workers, primarily from South
Asia. Four Qataris interviewed said that migrant workers they sponsor are stranded in Saudi Arabia.
One Qatari, “Omar,” said that he employed two Bangladeshi workers at a 14,000-square meter farm he
owns just over the border in Saudi Arabia. He said the workers are registered in Qatar, but that Saudi
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Arabia previously allowed Qataris to bring workers in for three-month periods for a fee. He said he can
no longer reach his farm and worries about the two workers: “I can send their salaries to Bangladesh, but
how can I feed them? ... The supermarket [in Saudi Arabia] refused to give them anything [because they
have no money], and we are scared the police will take them. There is no way to pay their salaries to
them.” He added, “They are humans, they are calling me every day saying they have nothing to drink or
eat, and they are scared.”
Omar called one of the Bangladeshi men on his phone in front of a Human Rights Watch researcher, and
the man confirmed their plight.
“Salim,” a 50-year old Qatari, said that he owns two houses and 150 camels in Saudi Arabia. He said he
has group of Qatar-registered migrant workers from India, Sudan, and Nepal caring for his camels and
property who are now stranded in Saudi Arabia.
“Anwar,” another Qatari, said that he and his brothers own 50 camels and three cars in Saudi Arabia,
which are looked after by three migrant workers – two from Bangladesh and one from Sudan – who are
stranded. He said he lost contact with them a week into the crisis because they ran out of phone credit. He
said he cannot get their salary to them and is concerned that they are running out of food. “A week before
[the] crisis I gave food for one month. But now they don’t have petrol for the [generator-run] refrigerator
and the air conditioner.” He does not have friends nearby to help.
The problems for these workers are compounded by the fact that in March, Saudi Arabia declared a largescale
campaign, “A Homeland with no Violator,” to locate and expel foreigners violating residency laws.
In addition to the migrants trapped in Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch interviewed 70 migrant
workers – most from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan – at various locations in Doha, including the
Corniche, al-Attiyah Market, and Musheirib. Some reported long-standing abuses such as non-payment or
late payment of salaries or unsanitary living conditions, but nearly all complained that the closure of the
land border had caused a rise in food prices in Qatar that was causing serious economic hardship.
A 43-year-old Nepalese man working in a plumbing shop in Qatar said that from his monthly salary of
1,200 Qatari Riyals (US$327), he normally spends around 200 Riyals ($55) on food, but that the increase
in food prices would cost him an extra 100 to 300 Riyals ($27 to $82) per month, up to a third of his
salary. Another 21-year-old Nepalese construction worker said he earns 800 Riyals ($220) a month but
that his food expenses would increase to 350 Riyals ($96), nearly half of his salary.
Human Rights Watch researchers visited four supermarkets in Doha on June 22-23, including two smaller
markets frequented by migrants, and two high-end supermarkets. Nearly all migrants said that, before the
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land border closure, tomatoes cost between 3-4 Qatari Riyals ($0.82-$1.10) a kilo. For the lower end
supermarkets in migrant worker areas, researchers observed that poor quality tomatoes were now selling
for 6.5 Riyals ($1.79) per kilo in one market and better-quality tomatoes for 8 Riyals ($2.20) in another
market. In the high-end markets, one had no tomatoes in stock, while another sold only expensive
imported tomatoes from Holland, for 24.75 Riyals ($6.80) per kilo. One of the low-end markets was
selling cucumbers for 8 Riyals ($2.20) per kilo, up from 3 Riyals ($0.82) prior to the crisis.
A corporate social responsibility officer at a large company in Qatar said by phone that she heard from
two other companies with migrant worker employees that fruit companies were not selling their produce
“in supermarkets for workers” but did not know why. She said that her company was focused on nutrition
for its migrant workers and looking at alternatives for perishable fruits and vegetables such as fruit juice,
and frozen fruits and vegetables.
Two construction workers also said that their work sites had run out of building materials because of the
land border closure, and that they worried about their companies’ stability.
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More Reading
•
July 1, 2017 News Release
Qatar/Saudi Arabia: Allow Man Trapped at Border to Enter
•
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June 14, 2017 News Release
Media Blocked, Threatened in Dispute with Qatar
Source URL: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/07/13/qatar-isolation-causing-rights-abus…
Links
[1] https://www.hrw.org/view-mode/modal/306542
[2] https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/qatar
[3] https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/saudi-arabia
[4] https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/bahrain
[5] https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/united-arab-emirates
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/23/close-al-jazeera-saudi-ar…
[7] https://apnews.com/3a58461737c44ad58047562e48f46e06/List-of-demands-on-…
[8] https://www.hrw.org/about/people/sarah-leah-whitson
[9] http://www.huffpostarabi.com/2017/06/09/story_n_17015752.html
[10] http://okaz.com.sa/article/1551554/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA…%
D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B8%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AC%D9%88%
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[11] https://twitter.com/jaberalharmi/status/876812452540952576
[12] http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=ar&newsid=1638945
[13] http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=ar&newsid=1638950
[14] http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=ar&newsid=1638949
[15] https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/14/media-blocked-threatened-dispute-qa…
[16] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-14/man-detained-in-bahr…
[17] http://www.nhrc-qa.org/en/report-statement-nhrc-second-report-regarding…-
on-the-state-of-qatar/
[18] http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/542975124.pdf
[19] https://www.hrw.org/view-mode/modal/306561
[20] http://www.huffpostarabi.com/2017/03/19/story_n_15470180.html
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Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on the human
rights of migrants; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of
human rights while countering terrorism; and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education.
REFERENCE:
UA ARE 5/2017
18 August 2017
Excellency,
We have the honour to address you in our capacity as Special Rapporteur on the
promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Special
Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health; Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; Special
Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights
while countering terrorism; and Special Rapporteur on the right to education, pursuant to
Human Rights Council resolutions 34/18, 33/9, 34/21, 34/35, 31/3, and 26/17.
In this connection, we would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s
Government information we have received concerning the adverse situation and the
violations of human rights of Qatari migrants in the United Arab Emirates, as well
as Emirati migrants in the State of Qatar as a result of the United Arab Emirates
government’s decision to suspend ties with the State of Qatar, particularly their
right to movement and residence, family unity, education, work, freedom of
expression, health and the right to property, without discrimination on any basis.
According to the information received:
On 5 June 2017, the United Arab Emirates severed ties with the State of Qatar.
This involved the closure of air, land, and sea routes, in relation to both trade and
migrant residents. Qatari nationals were ordered to leave the United Arab
Emirates within 14 days, whilst Emirati citizens were given the same timeframe to
leave the State of Qatar. An estimated 784 Emirati nationals are allegedly residing
in the State of Qatar. This order has threatened the most vulnerable groups,
including women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. The
Government of Qatar has reportedly not taken action against Emirati citizens.
Mixed-citizenship families have been affected and the order has caused Emirati-
Qatari families to be separated. Divorced Emirati women living in the State of
Qatar whose children have Qatari nationality from their father, are prevented to
return to Qatar. The Emirati order has reportedly affected Qatari women married
HAUT-COMMISSARIAT AUX DROITS DE L’HOMME • OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PALAIS DES NATIONS • 1211 GENEVA 10, SWITZERLAND
2
to approximately 556 Emirati men, as well as Qatari men married to
approximately 3,138 Emirati women. This order threatens to leave children,
women, older persons, sick and persons with disabilities separated from other
family members and in loss of assistance, support and income. Emirati nationals
living in Qatar married to Qatari women are forced to return to the United Arab
Emirates, leaving behind their families and quit their work with no source of
income or compensation. Furthermore, the United Arab Emirates has allegedly
limited the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar from undertaking financial
transfers and postal transactions, thereby blocking financial transfers to dependent
family members, including women and children.
On 11 June 2017, the United Arab Emirates issued a royal order to take into
account the humanitarian situation of mixed Emirati-Qatari families who were
affected by the ban. However, no implementation mechanism has been indicated.
Furthermore, there has been no compensation or alternatives offered to families
and individuals who have had their human rights violated and been affected by the
blockade.
Emirati nationals working in the State of Qatar, as well as Qatari nationals
working in the United Arab Emirates risk losing their jobs following the issued
instructions by the Emirati authorities to leave their jobs and return to their
homeland. Individuals who are dependent on the travel between Qatar and the
United Arab Emirates have also reportedly been affected. For those completely
financially reliant on the flow between both countries, this order has led to a
cutting of their only source of income. For example, business owners have
allegedly had their income levels affected as a result of the halt of trading
convoys, and the expiration of large quantities of food or health supplies.
Reportedly, Emirati nationals working in the public and private sectors in Qatar
have also been forced to return to the United Arab Emirates resulting in the loss of
employment without compensation. Similarly, Qatari nationals working in the
United Arab Emirates have also lost their employment without compensation.
Furthermore, migrant workers relying on free movement between both countries
have allegedly lost their jobs and proper compensation has not been ensured.
Individuals who possess property – from clothing and furniture, to cars or real
estate business – are allegedly denied access to their belongings. Following the 5
June 2017 order, assets and property have reportedly been confiscated,
consequently prohibiting Qatari migrants from using their property or disposing of
it. Qatari migrants fear losing their belongings and are uncertain about the future
for their properties.
Emirati migrants in the State of Qatar working in media outlets have allegedly
been pressured to resign from their jobs by the United Arab Emirates. Those who
3
have not yet submitted their resignation have allegedly been pressured to do so by
the Emirati authorities. In addition, the United Arab Emirates has reportedly
imposed penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment and fines of up to 500,000
dirhams for “sympathising with Qatar”, through a word, a “like” on social media,
or a tweet.
Qatari migrant students in the United Arab Emirates and Emirati migrant students
in the State of Qatar pursuing their studies in schools or universities have been
prohibited from doing so because of the order asking them to leave their country
of residence. Emirati students in the State of Qatar have had their exams
postponed to allow for them to take their exams at a later date. This has allegedly
not been the case for Qatari nationals studying in the the United Arab Emirates,
who have been unable to complete their exams and obtaining educational
documents from their university in the United Arab Emirates.
As a result of the order for Emirati nationals to leave Qatar, Emirati migrants,
including children, older persons or persons with disabilities, that were being
treated in hospitals in the State of Qatar in need of specialised or with ongoing
treatment, have allegedly been asked to return to the United Arab Emirates.
Similarly, Qatari migrants residing in the United Arab Emirates, have allegedly
had their treatments halted and their health subsequently impacted.
While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, and given the
harm this order has on thousands of Qatari residents in the United Arab Emirates and
Emirati residents in the State of Qatar, we consider the alleged situation of extreme
gravity. Serious concerns are expressed at the numerous rights being infringed, including
the right to movement and residence, family reunification, education, work, freedom of
expression, health, freedom of religious practice, and the right to private property,
without discrimination on any basis.
In connection to the above alleged facts and concerns, we would like to draw the
attention of your Excellency’s Government’s to its obligations under the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on
the Rights of the Child and the regional Arab Charter on Human Rights. We would like to
recall that, while States have a sovereign right to determine conditions of entry and stay
in their territories, they also have an obligation to respect and protect the human rights of
all individuals under their jurisdiction, regardless of their nationality, origin or
immigration status.
We would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government Article
7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that states that ‘All are equal
before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this
4
Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.’ We would furthermore
like to stress the obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), acceded to by the United Arab Emirates on 20
June 1974. Article 5 provides for the enjoyment of civil rights including: the right to
freedom of movement and residence within the border of the State; the right to leave any
country, including one’s own, and to return to one’s country; the right to own property;
and, the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It further provides for the enjoyment
of economic, social and cultural rights, including: the rights to work, to free choice of
employment, and to protection against unemployment; the right to housing; the right to
public health, medical care, social security and social services; the right to education and
training; and, the right of access to any place or service intended for use by the general
public, such as transport and hotels.
Furthermore, we would like to bring your attention to the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination’s General
Recommendation No. 30 on discrimination against non-citizens. In specific, the State
Party should “ensure that non-citizens are not subject to collective expulsion, in particular
in situations where there are insufficient guarantees that the personal circumstances of
each of the persons concerned have been taken into account”. In addition, it should
“avoid expulsions of non-citizens, especially of long-term residents, that would result in
disproportionate interference with the right to family life”. State Parties should “ensure
that States parties respect the right of non-citizens to an adequate standard of physical and
mental health by, inter alia, refraining from denying or limiting their access to preventive,
curative and palliative health services”.
We would like to bring your attention to Article 9 and Article 12 of the UDHR
that stipulate that “no one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”. Article
13 articulates that “everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within
the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own,
and to return to his country”. Your Excellency’s Government has further obligations
under the Arab Charter on Human Rights (ACHR), ratified by your Excellency’s
Government on 16 January 2008, Article 26 that provides that “every person lawfully
within the territory of a State Party shall, within the territory, have the right to liberty of
movement and freedom to choose his residence in accordance with applicable
regulations”. Article 27 further articulates that “no one shall be arbitrarily or unlawfully
prevented from leaving any country, including his own, nor prohibited from residing, or
compelled to reside, in any part of his country”.
We would also like to stress that Article 19 of the UDHR provides that everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. This
right applies to “everyone”, regardless of their citizenship or any other status. Its
guarantee regardless of frontiers is further stipulated in Article 32 of the ACHR.
5
Article 23 of the UDHR further expresses the right of everyone “to work, to free
choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection
against unemployment”. Furthermore, the ACHR, articulates the right to work in Article
34, which provides for the freedom to work and equality of opportunity without
discrimination of any kind as to any statuses, including national origin. It states that every
worker has the right to enjoy “just and favourable conditions of work”, and every State
Party shall ensure protection to workers migrating to its territory in accordance with the
laws”. Further, Article 31 of ACHR provides everyone with “a guaranteed right to own
private property”. It further provides that “no person shall under any circumstances be
divested of all or any part of his property in an arbitrary or unlawful manner”.
Concerning the family separation, especially of widowed and divorced women
from their children, we would like to refer to the rights of women. We would further like
to refer your Excellency’s Government to Article 16 of the UDHR that states that “the
family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by
the society and the State”. It provides that the State Party shall take appropriate measures
within its available resources to ensure the realization of this right. Furthermore, Article
10 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which the United Arab
Emirates acceded to on 3 January 1997, which establishes, inter alia, that “applications by
a child or his or her parents to enter or leave a State Party for the purpose of family
reunification shall be dealt with by State Parties in a positive, humane and expeditious
manner”. This should be read in the light of Article 3 of the Convention which provides
that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. In this connection, I
would like to recall to your Excellency’s Government Paragraph 10 of the General
Assembly Resolution 62/156 which “urges States to ensure that repatriation mechanisms
allow for the identification and special protection of persons in vulnerable situations and
take into account, in conformity with their international obligations and commitments, the
principle of the best interest of the child and family reunification”. Moreover, Article 9 of
CRC provides that States Parties “shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his
or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial
review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation
is necessary for the best interests of the child”.
The aforementioned rights are raised again in the ACHR. It states in Article 33
that the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society. The State and society are
obliged to provide for the protection of the family and its members, for the strengthening
of its bonds. They undertake to provide outstanding care and special protection for
mothers, children and the elderly. Young persons have the right to be ensured “maximum
opportunities for physical and mental development”.
Furthermore, we would like to refer to Article 16 of the CRC that stipulates that
“no child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy,
6
family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and
reputation”. The right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health is
recognized in Article 24. It further states that States Parties shall strive to ensure that no
child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services. In addition,
Article 28 provides that State Parties recognize the right of the child to education,
ensuring in particular that primary education is compulsory and available free to all, and
take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out
rates.
The full texts of the human rights instruments and standards recalled above are
available on www.ohchr.org or can be provided upon request.
In view of the urgency of the matter, we would appreciate a response on the initial
steps taken by your Excellency’s Government to safeguard the rights of the abovementioned
person(s) in compliance with international instruments.
As it is our responsibility, under the mandates provided to us by the Human
Rights Council, to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful
for your observations on the following matters:
1. Please provide any additional information and any comment you may have
on the above-mentioned allegations.
2. What measures have been taken to ensure that families with mixed
Emirati-Qatari nationalities are prevented from separation?
3. How has the right to health been guaranteed in relation to Emirati migrants
living in the State of Qatar and Qatari nationals residing in the United
Arab Emirates?
4. What actions have been taken to guarantee access to education for Qatari
migrant students in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Emirati migrant
students in the State of Qatar to pursue their education at schools and
universities, without discrimination on any basis?
5. Please provide information on the compliance with international and
regional instruments in guaranteeing the right of freedom of movement
and residence.
6. Has compensation been provided to migrants, particularly those who own
property and businesses, affected by the severed relations between the
United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar?
7
7. Please provide information on how the criminalization of online
expression based on grounds of “sympathizing with Qatar” is applied and
enforced, and explain how this is legal basis for restricting expression is
compatible with international human rights standards.
8. What measures have been taken to guarantee the aforementioned human
rights of migrants, without discrimination on any basis, in compliance
with your government’s obligations under international law?
While awaiting a reply, we urge that all necessary interim measures be taken to
halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence and in the event that the
investigations support or suggest the allegations to be correct, to ensure the accountability
of any person responsible of the alleged violations. We further urge your Excellency’s
Government to take all necessary steps to ensure the rights of persons affected by the
severed ties and mobility ban are respected.
We wish to inform you that a letter with similar content has been sent to the
authorities of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Your Excellency’s Government’s response will be made available in a report to be
presented to the Human Rights Council for its consideration.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.
Felipe González Morales
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
David Kaye
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion
and expression
Dainius Pūras
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health
Mutuma Ruteere
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance
8
Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering
terrorism
Koumbou Boly Barry
Special Rapporteur on the right to education

PPee rr mm aa nn ee nn tt MM iissssiioo nn
oo ff tt hh ee SS tt aa tt ee oo ff QQ aa tt aa rr tt oo tt hh ee UU nn iitt ee dd
Naa tt iioo nn ss OO ff ff iicc ee iinn GG ee nn ee vv aa -- SS ww iitt zz ee rr ll aa nn dd
عربي
Ho m e > Ne w s
HE the ForeignMinister delivers a
statement before the 36th session of the
Human Rights Council
1 1 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7
HE the Foreign Minister delivers a statement before the 36th session of the Human Rights... Page 1 of 5
http://geneva.mission.qa/en/news/detail/2017/09/17/he-the-foreign-minis…... 6/9/2018
Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani
has underlined that Qatar's national, regional and international bias towards human
rights, public opinion and the right of peoples to self-determination is one of the
most important reasons for attempts to impose guardianship on it and to influence
its foreign policy independence and its media.
Addressing the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today, HE the
Foreign Minister reiterated Qatar's readiness to dialogue to end the Gulf crisis, within
the framework of mutual respect and preservation of the sovereignty of the States,
away fromdictates, but in the form of compromises resulting inmutual collective
obligations.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed Qatar's appreciation and
support for the Kuwaiti mediation, which is being carried out by HH the Emir Sheikh
Sabah Al Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to end the crisis.
HE the Foreign Minister affirmed Qatar's firm belief in the dialogue to resolve the
crisis, despite the depth of the wound in the hearts of the Qatari people, which was
caused by the policies the siege countries , despite the low level of media discourse of
the countries of the blockade and the policy of spreading lies and fabrications, and
despite the official discourse of some officials of the siege countries of respected
international diplomatic framework to an unprecedented level, even in their
speeches towards those who consider them their enemies.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the use of force policy in
all its forms in domestic and foreign policy is a major reason for the waste of justice in
the international system, which reflects negatively on the respect and protection of
human rights as well as the threat of security, peace and peaceful coexistence in the
international community.
HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the State of Qatar has been subjected to
exceptional circumstances and challenges for more than threemonths as a result of
an illegal siege imposed by a number of countries which clearly violate international
human rights laws and conventions, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the United Nations General Assembly resolution, the outcomes of the
World Summit of 16 September 2005, the provisions of international law and the rules
governing relations between States.
He pointed out that this crisis began with the crime of hacking the website of the
Qatar News Agency and spreading false news attributed to HH the Emir of the State
of Qatar Sheikh Tamimbin Hamad Al-Thani, followed by malicious media campaigns
against the State of Qatar, and false accusations are not based on any evidence that
the State of Qatar funds terrorism, stressing that all this confirms the existence of
political intent built behind piracy.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the siege countries had
closed since the first day air, sea and land borders in violation of the provisions of
international law and international trade rules, which had a negative impact on the
freedom of trade and investment, noting that these countries had takenmany illegal
HE the Foreign Minister delivers a statement before the 36th session of the Human Rights... Page 2 of 5
http://geneva.mission.qa/en/news/detail/2017/09/17/he-the-foreign-minis…... 6/9/2018
measures that constitute a grave violation of civil, economic and social rights,
including prohibiting the entry of Qatari citizens into or passing through their
countries, as well as preventing their citizens from traveling to or residing in Qatar. He
added that these measures led to the dispersal of many families and their members,
especially women and children, and the deprivation of many Qatari students of their
right to continue their education in universities after being expelled from them. Many
other basic rights and freedoms, such as the right to work for the siege countries
citizens working in Qatar, who had been forced to return home, the right to own
private property, both for Qatari citizens in the siege countries or for nationals of
these countries in Qatar, and freedom of movement, noting that these violations are
still ongoing.
•
•
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs - Qatar
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6

[Emblem of the State of Qatar]
Address by
His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
Amir of the State of Qatar
At
The General Debate of the 72nd Session of the United
Nations General Assembly
New York 19 September 2017
- 1 -
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
Honorable Attendees,
I am happy to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajcak on assuming the position of
President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, and I wish him every success in his mission.
I wish also to express my appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson for his valuable
efforts in managing the affairs of the 71st Session of the General Assembly.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts of His Excellency the
Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, in enhancing the role of the United Nations.
Mr. President,
Maintaining regional and international peace and security is a foreign policy priority of the
State of Qatar, whose principles and objectives are based on the United Nations Charter and the rules
of international legitimacy, which calls for constructive cooperation among States, mutual respect and
non-interference in internal affairs, good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence and the pursuit
peaceful means to settle disputes.
The issue of settling disputes by peaceful means is still being approached as an incidental and
non-binding recommendation. Perhaps the time has come to impose dialogue and negotiation as a
basis for resolving disputes through the execution of an international convention on peaceful
resolution of disputes between States.
In this context, and after major events such as the Second World War, Rwanda, Burundi, and
the Balkans in the last century, all of humanity is once again threatened with the impunity of
perpetrators of crimes against humanity and genocide becoming the rule rather than the exception.
This is because international legitimacy is subject to political pressures, the interests of the axes and
the dictates of force on the ground, which is a harbinger that the law of force may supersede the force
of law.
- 2 -
In our view, the positions of the major powers should not range between two extremes: direct
occupation to impose their will and policies on other countries, or taking the position of spectators
who refrain from doing anything vis-a-vis wars of genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated
by a fascist, despotic regime, or continuous oppression by an occupying state of people under
occupation.
Lately, a feeling is spreading that peoples who are oppressed are facing their fates alone, as if
the international arena were governed by the law of the jungle, and that the countries under threat
must manage their affairs through their alliances and relations, in the absence of a system to enforce
the provisions of international law and binding conventions and charters.
Mr. President,
We commend the selection of the theme of this session: “Focusing on People: Striving for
Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.”
In this context, I call upon the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the
international community to assume their legal and moral responsibility to take the necessary
measures to stop the violence against the Rohingya minority and to provide them with protection,
repatriate the displaced to their homeland, prevent sectarian or ethnic discrimination against them,
and ensure that they receive all of their full legitimate rights as full-fledged citizens. We also urge all
States to provide humanitarian assistance to them.
Mr. President,
Each time I stand here, I defend constructive international cooperation, just peace, and the
rights of peoples under occupation, as well as those who are subjected to crimes against humanity and
those who are under siege.
This time, I stand here while my country and my people are subjected to a continuing and
unjust blockade imposed since June 5th by neighboring countries. The blockade involves all aspects
of life, including intervention by these countries to sever family ties. Qatar is currently successfully
managing
- 3 -
its life, economy, development plans, and contact with the outside world, thanks to the existence of
sea and air routes that these countries have no control over.
The blockade was imposed abruptly and without warning, prompting the Qataris to view it as
a sort of betrayal.
It appears that those who planned and implemented it imagined that their move would cause a
direct and shocking impact that would bring the State of Qatar to its knees and cause it to capitulate
to complete tutelage to be imposed upon it.
Worse, the architects of the blockade found it necessary to rely on fabricated quotes attributed
to me and planted on the website of Qatar News Agency after it was hacked. The media of these
countries, which is weaponized and servile, was prepared and ready to launch an all-out campaign of
incitement that was prepared in advance, in which all values, morals and norms were violated, and by
which the truth was violated with a torrent of lies. Currently, no expense is being spared on the
creation and dissemination of fabrications in the hope that people will confuse the truth with lies.
Despite the exposure of the hacking and falsification of the statements of the Emir of a
sovereign State, the blockading countries did not back down or apologize for lying, but intensified
their campaign, in the hope that the blockade would have a cumulative effect on the economy and
society of my country, having failed to bring about any direct impact.
The perpetrators of the hacking and falsification of the statements have committed an assault
on a sovereign State. The crime was committed to serve premeditated political aims and was
followed by a list of political dictates that contravene [our] sovereignty, causing worldwide
astonishment.
This disgraceful act has once again raised international questions about digital security and
unruliness in cybercrime and electronic piracy.
- 4 -
It also revealed the anxiety in public and official circles around the world about the absence
of clear-cut international legislation and institutions to regulate this dangerous and vital field and
punish the perpetrators of transnational crimes in this domain.
It is time now to take steps in this regard, and we are prepared to put our capabilities at the
service of a joint effort such as this.
The countries that have imposed the unjust blockade against Qatar have intervened in the
internal affairs of the State by putting pressure on its citizens using food, medicine, and family ties to
force them to change their political positions in order to destabilize a sovereign state. Is this not one
definition of terrorism?
Nor was this illegal blockade confined to economics and a breach of the World Trade
Organization Agreement; it exceeded that to violate the human rights conventions with arbitrary
measures that have caused social, economic and religious distress to thousands of citizens and
residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council states by violating the basic human rights to work,
education, freedom of movement and the right to dispose of private property.
Things did not stop at this point; the blockading countries went beyond this to persecute their
own citizens and residents and punish them with imprisonment and fines for the mere expression of
sympathy with Qatar, even if through social media. This is a precedent that has never before been
seen in the world, and is a violation of the human rights conventions and agreements, which
guarantee the human right to freedom of opinion and expression.
There are states that allow themselves not only to attack a neighboring country to dictate its
foreign and media policy, but also believe that their possession of funds qualifies them to pressure
and extort other states to participate in their aggression. Such [states] are supposed to be held
accountable internationally for what they have done.
The states that have imposed the blockade on the State of Qatar interfere in the internal
affairs of numerous countries and accuse all those who oppose them domestically and abroad of
terrorism. By doing so, they are inflicting damage on the war on terror. At the same time, they
oppose reform and
- 5 -
support tyrannical regimes in our region, from whose prisons terrorists graduate.
We were not taken by surprise alone by the imposition of the blockade. Many countries were
also surprised, and their leaders have questioned [the blockade’s] motives and reasons. The
blockading countries have promised all parties who asked them about the reasons for the blockade to
provide them with evidence of their absurd allegations and fabrications against Qatar, which have
varied depending on the identity of the addressee. Everybody is still waiting for evidence that did not
and will not arrive because it does not exist. To the contrary, there is plentiful evidence of Qatar's
contributions in the war against terrorism, as recognized by the entire international community.
The State of Qatar has fought terrorism, and the entire international community bears witness
to this. Indeed, it is still fighting and will continue to do so. It stands in the camp of those who are
fighting it through security and believes that it is necessary to fight it ideologically as well. It also
goes beyond such means by participating in draining its sources by providing education to seven
million children around the world to prevent them from falling prey to ignorance and radical ideas.
We have refused to yield to dictates made through pressure and siege; our people expect no
less. At the same time, we have taken an open attitude towards dialogue without dictation, and have
expressed our willingness to resolve our differences through compromises based on common
undertakings. The resolution of conflicts by peaceful means is one of the existing priorities of our
foreign policy. At this juncture, I renew the call for unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect
for sovereignty and I greatly value the sincere and appreciated mediation, which the State of Qatar
has supported since the beginning, which was initiated by my brother, His Highness Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the sisterly State of Kuwait. I also thank all of the countries
that have supported this mediation.
Allow me, on this occasion and from this podium, to express my pride in my Qatari people,
along with the multinational and multicultural residents of Qatar.
- 6 -
The people have been steadfast under the conditions of siege. They have rejected the
dictations with resolve and pride, insisted on the independence of Qatar's sovereign decision, and
strengthened its unity and solidarity, maintaining their refined manners and progress despite the
fierceness of the campaign against them and their country.
I reiterate my thanks to the sisterly and friendly countries that recognize the significance of
respecting the sovereignty of nations and the rules of international law for their appreciated positions
which were and continue to be supportive of the Qatari people during this crisis.
Mr. President,
Terrorism and extremism are among the most serious challenges facing the world.
Countering them requires us all to work together against terrorist organizations and their extremist
ideology to maintain security for humanity and stability for the world.
The governments of the world have no choice but to cooperate in the security confrontation
with terrorism. Halting the production of terrorism and extremism must be achieved by addressing its
social, political and cultural root causes.
We must also be careful not to allow the fight against terrorism to be an umbrella for
reprisals or bombardment against civilians.
The fight against terrorism and extremism was and will continue to be one of our highest
priorities. This is affirmed by the effective contributions of the State of Qatar in regional and
international efforts through the implementation of the measures included in the United Nations
strategy adopted in 2006, the implementation of all Security Council resolutions and measures
related to the fight against terrorism and its financing, and through participation in the International
Coalition, regional organizations and bilateral relations with the United States and many countries of
the world. The State of Qatar will continue and further develop its regional and international efforts
in this regard.
- 7 -
While we reaffirm our condemnation of all forms of extremism and terrorism, we reject the
use of double standards with this phenomenon depending on the identity of the perpetrators and
linking it to any particular religion, race, civilization, culture or society.
Mr. President,
The issues of the Middle East continue to be among the greatest threats to international peace
and security, due to the vital importance of this region to the world.
Israel still stands in the way of achieving a lasting, just and comprehensive peace and rejects
the Arab Peace initiative. The Israeli government continues its intransigent approach and strategy to
create facts on the ground by expanding settlement construction in the occupied territories, Judaizing
Jerusalem and restricting the performance of religious rituals in Al-Aqsa Mosque—a serious,
provocative act—and continuing its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The international community must give high priority to the resumption of peace negotiations
based on ending the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories within a specified time frame and
reaching a just, comprehensive and final settlement in accordance with the two-state solution agreed
upon by the international community, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the
Arab Peace initiative.
This can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on
the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
I renew my appeal to the Palestinian brothers to complete their national reconciliation and to
unify their positions and words in confronting the threats and challenges facing the Palestinian cause
and the future of the Palestinian people.
- 8 -
Mr. President,
The international community remains unable to find a solution to the Syrian crisis despite its
consequences and serious repercussions on the region and the world. Political efforts continue to
falter due to conflicting international and regional interests. This conflict protects those against whom
we are supposed to stand united. The international community has relinquished its legal and moral
responsibilities, including the implementation of its decisions, in submission to the logic of might.
What is required is to work seriously to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that fulfills the
aspirations of the Syrian people for justice, dignity and freedom, and maintains the unity and
sovereignty of Syria in accordance with the Geneva I affirmations.
Qatar will spare no effort in providing support and assistance to alleviate the humanitarian
suffering of our Syrian brothers and to implement our humanitarian pledges within the framework of
the United Nations.
The international community has given up the task of protecting civilians. Will it also
hesitate to hold war criminals accountable? Impunity on their part would have dire consequences on
the situation in Syria and the region, which would affect the behavior of future dictatorships toward
their peoples in the absence of any deterrent.
On the Libyan issue, a national Libyan consensus that would preserve Libya's unity,
sovereignty and social fabric and restore its stability can be achieved by combining domestic and
international efforts. We must all intensify our efforts and support the Government of National
Accord, which was established with the support of United Nations, in its efforts to restore stability
and counter terrorism and its grave consequences. The State of Qatar has supported international
mediation efforts and will support them in the future to achieve the aspirations of the Libyan people.
Concerning the brotherly state of Iraq, we support the efforts of the Iraqi government in its
efforts to achieve security, stability and unity of the territory and people of Iraq. We commend its
achievements in its fight against terrorism and affirm that the State of Qatar will provide it with the
- 9 -
necessary support to complement these victories with the realization of the aspirations of the people
of Iraq for equality among its citizens and the restoration of its role at the regional and international
levels.
Concerning Yemen, we stress the importance of maintaining Yemen’s unity, security and
stability, ending the state of infighting and war, and adopting dialogue, political solution and national
reconciliation as a basis for ending this crisis and implementing Security Council Resolution 2216.
We call upon the international community to facilitate the access of humanitarian assistance
to all regions of Yemen. The State of Qatar supports the efforts of the UN Envoy to end this crisis
and realize the aspirations of the brotherly Yemeni people for unity, security and stability.
In order to achieve security and stability in the Gulf region, we renew the call that we
launched from this podium for constructive dialogue among the Gulf Cooperation Council States and
Iran on the basis of common interests, the principle of good neighborliness, and respect for the
sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
Mr. President,
Within the framework of the international efforts to tackle the humanitarian crises, the State
of Qatar has continued to contribute to the response to the growing humanitarian needs in the world.
We have increased our financial contributions to the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to enable the United Nations to implement UN
programs and provide humanitarian relief to those in need around the world. The State of Qatar ranks
third on the list of major donors to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs in 2017.
We have continued to provide support to countries facing challenges to help them to
implement their development plans. It should be noted that the State of Qatar ranked first in the Arab
world and 33rd in the world in the field of human development. This proves the effectiveness of our
humanitarian and development policy. We look forward to achieving the goals of the United Nations
Sustainable
- 10 -
Development Agenda, to the realization of which we have all committed ourselves.
In conclusion, we reiterate that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in working to strengthen
the role and efforts of the United Nations to achieve the aspirations of the international community
with respect to peace and security, to promote human rights, and to advance development. Qatar will
remain, as always, a safe haven for the oppressed, and will continue its mediation efforts to find just
solutions in conflict zones.
Thank you. May peace and the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.

[email protected]
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CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that the attached translation is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a true
and accurate translation from Arabic into English of the attached Address by His Highness
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.
Richard Keating, Senior Managing Editor
Geotext Translations, Ltd.
9 June 2018
1
OHCHR TECHNICAL MISSION TO
THE STATE OF QATAR
17- 24 November 2017
Report
On the impact of the Gulf Crisis on human rights
December 2017
2
Contents
I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................3
II. Background ............................................................................................................................4
IV. Main human rights issues arising from the crisis ...................................................................5
A. Instrumentalization of the media and restrictions of freedom of expression ................... 5
B. Suspension and restrictions of freedom of movement and communications with Qatar.. 7
C. Separation of families and related issues of nationality and residence............................ 9
D. Impact on economic rights and the right to property.................................................... 10
E. Impact on the right to health........................................................................................ 11
F. Effect on the right to education.................................................................................... 13
G. Long-standing human rights issues ............................................................................. 13
V. Observations and findings ....................................................................................................14
3
I. Introduction
1. Since the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Bahrain and Arab Republic of Egypt (hereafter the
Quartet) took the decision, on 5 June 2017, to cut diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar,
OHCHR has been closely monitoring the consequences of that decision on the enjoyment of
human rights. On 14 June, the High Commissioner issued a press statement urging “all the
States involved to solve this dispute as quickly as possible through dialogue, to refrain from
any actions that could affect the well-being, health, employment and integrity of their
inhabitants, and to respect their obligations under international human rights law”. He
further held meetings with the Quartet’s Permanent Representatives in Geneva, urging them
to take immediate corrective measures, including by establishing hotlines to look into
individual cases.
2. Various international human rights organizations and mechanisms have expressed
concern about the detrimental impact of the decision on individuals’ civil, political, social,
economic and cultural rights. The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of Qatar has
been very active in monitoring and documenting allegations of human rights violations
reported to them by Qatari citizens and residents since 5 June, particularly those living in
neighbouring countries.
3. On 14 September 2017, the Chairperson of the NHRC invited the High Commissioner
to dispatch a technical mission to Qatar, as soon as possible, to assess the impact of the crisis
on human rights. Subsequently, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Section informed
the Permanent Missions of KSA, UAE and Bahrain about the invitation, expressing the
readiness to conduct similar missions. The MENA Section further informed the United
Nations Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Task Force on the Gulf crisis and
other relevant actors about OHCHR’s engagement with the States concerned.
4. Consequently, an OHCHR team (hereafter the Team) visited Qatar from 17 March to 24
November 2017, with the following objectives:
i. To engage with Government institutions, the NHRC, civil society representatives
and other actors, with a view to gathering information about the impact of the
ongoing crisis on human rights;
ii. To explore opportunities to provide technical assistance to national actors, including
the NHRC, and;
iii. To report to the High Commissioner and recommend concrete actions.
5. The mission was facilitated by the NHRC, whose support was highly appreciated. The
4
team also met with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Defence; Interior;
Economy and Trade; Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs; Education;
Health; Religious Affairs; the Customs Authority; the Chamber of Commerce; the Qatar
University; the Qatar Foundation; the Director of the Salwa crossing point with Saudi Arabia;
the Qatar News Agency, editors in chiefs of all main local newspapers, staff of Al Jazeera
and the High Audio-visual Authority; the compensation claims commission (established to
provide legal advice to individuals filing claims related to the crisis); migrant communities,
and Qatar Airways. The team also met with the regional representatives of UNESCO and
UNODC.
6. Moreover, based on cases filed with the NHRC, the team interviewed about 40
individuals to get a better understanding of their situation. It also reviewed a large number of
other cases, documents and data provided by various entities.
II. Background
7. Although rooted in long-standing tensions among KSA, UAE and Qatar in particular,
the emergence of the current crisis has been attributed to comments aired initially in Qatari
media on 24 May 2017, reportedly made by the Emir of Qatar, denouncing the hostile
remarks made by the President of the United States of America towards Iran during his visit
to KSA. The Government of Qatar has declared that these statements were planted by
hackers. The Governments of KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have dismissed this
explanation.
8. On 5 June 2017, the Governments of KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced they were
cutting diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar, ordering their citizens to leave Qatar, declaring
a ban on all travel to and from Qatar, and instructing Qatari residents and visitors to leave
their territories within 14 days. The four States gave Qatari diplomats 48 hours to evacuate.
While the Governments of KSA, UAE and Bahrain withdrew their diplomatic personnel from
Qatar, Egypt maintained a limited number of staff under the protection of the Embassy of
Greece in Doha. Qatar was subsequently expelled from the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen.
Kuwait and Oman have remained neutral, with Kuwait engaging in mediation efforts to solve
the crisis.
9. As of 5 June, the Governments of KSA, UAE and Bahrain closed all air, sea and land
transportation links with Qatar. These measures have had a significant impact on Qatar’s
economy and residents, particularly during the first weeks of the crisis due to the
considerable dependence of the country on KSA and the UAE.
10. While the Emir of Kuwait endeavoured to engage with all the States concerned so as to
ease tensions and avoid any escalation, dialogue appears to have stalled. Many people met by
5
the team expressed disappointment with the passivity of regional organizations, notably the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States. The crisis has generated
particular distrust in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which had thus far been the
medium of numerous cooperation agreements among its members.
11. On 9 June, the Quartet designated 59 individuals and 12 institutions alleged to have
financed terrorist organizations and to have received support from Qatar. On 23 June, and
according to online reports, the Quartet further issued a 10-day ultimatum on Qatar to abide
by a list of 13 demands, including closing down Al Jazeera among other things, cutting
diplomatic and commercial ties with Iran, shutting down the Turkish military base in Qatar
and, ending any form of support and assistance to the Muslim Brotherhood. On 5 July, the
Quartet replaced this initial list of demands with six broader “principles” that still include the
shutting down of the permanent Turkish military base in Qatar, and the closure of Al Jazeera
and other Qatar-backed news outlets which the Quartet accuses of spreading extremist views
and providing platforms for dissidents.
III. Main human rights issues arising from the crisis
12. The 5 June decision and related measures undertaken by the Quartet had immediate
negative, intertwined effects on a number of human rights, as described in the present
chapter.
13. There are four categories of victims of the crisis:
 Qatari individuals who were residing in KSA, UAE, Bahrain (and studying in Egypt),
and were compelled to rapidly exit these countries, leaving behind their family,
businesses, employment, property, or being forced to interrupt their studies.
 KSA, UAE and Bahrain nationals who resided in Qatar (including many married to
Qataris) and felt compelled to move to their country of origin, and have consequently
been separated from their family, source(s) of income and/or property.
 Migrant workers and their families, who constitute the majority of the population of
Qatar, some of whom have lost their employment and have been facing increased
economic pressure.
 The population of Qatar, KSA, UAE and Bahrain at large due to the suspension of
freedom of movement between their countries and the repercussions on various civil,
economic, social and cultural rights.
1. Instrumentalization of the media and restrictions of freedom of expression
14. The instrumentalization of the media, particularly in KSA and UAE, has been a
prominent feature of the crisis. The Mission was informed by all interlocutors that the
6
Quartet’s unilateral measures have been accompanied by a widespread defamation and hatred
campaign against Qatar and Qataris in various media linked to the four countries as well as
on social media, and by the introduction of criminal sanctions in KSA, UAE and Bahrain
against people expressing sympathy for Qatar and Qataris.
15. Most media professionals the Mission met described the instrumentalization of foreign
media networks by the authorities of KSA and UAE, particularly to convey anti-Qatar and
anti-Qatari editorial lines. Most interlocutors were of the view that this media and social
media campaign was premeditated and organized to “generate a general feeling of hostility
and hatred towards Qatar”.
16. The Mission was informed that at least 1,120 press articles and some 600 anti-Qatar
caricatures were published in KSA, UAE and Bahrain between June and October 2017,
which has been documented by media professionals and the NHRC. Such material included
accusations of Qatar’s support to terrorism, calls for a regime change or a coup d’état, attacks
against leading figures and symbols of Qatar, as well as appeals for attacks on, and murder of
Qataris. For instance, a Saudi tweeter with five million followers has been issuing “religious
opinions” calling for the killing of the Emir of Qatar. Another Saudi tweeter warned he could
send one million Yemeni suicide bombers to Qatar.
17. Entertainment programmes have also been used to air anti-Qatar messages. For
example, Rotana media company produced songs by popular artists stigmatizing Qatar
(“Qulo la Qatar”- “Tell Qatar”, and “Sanoalem Qatar”- “We will teach Qatar”) and wellknown
television series on MBC and Rotana channels (“Selfie” and “Garabeb Sood”)
conveyed negative messages on Qatar, which have been regularly and widely broadcast.
18. The team met the editor-in-chief of the Qatari daily newspaper Al Arab, Mr. Jaber Al
Mirri, who has been listed No. 18 on the list of 59 individuals accused by Quartet’s as a
terrorists. He reported having received 10 death threats since then and described the
psychological impact on his family.
19. The Governments of KSA, UAE and Bahrain announced, via their respective news
agencies, that any individuals within their jurisdiction expressing empathy vis-à-vis Qatar
would be subjected to criminal sanctions in the form of hefty fines and/or detention. A group
of editors-in-chief of Qatari newspapers met by the team stated that an Adviser to the Royal
Court in KSA, reportedly, was orchestrating the media campaign against Qatar, referring to
the mobilization of a “social media army”. They also alleged that person had been urging
people, via tweeter, to denounce individuals supporting Qatar or Qataris through a hotline
number, which had reportedly generated 800 calls.
20. The effect of this media campaign may amount to a form of incitement. It has also
undoubtedly created anxiety among many people in KSA, UAE and Bahrain who have had
7
close family, amical or commercial ties with Qataris. Most journalists met by the team
referred to the fear this situation has instilled among their colleagues and friends in KSA,
UAE and Bahrain. Several interlocutors further noted they would be contacted by relatives
and friends in KSA through non-KSA phone numbers for fear of being tracked.
21. The Governments of KSA, UAE and Bahrain have suspended the circulation and
broadcasting of all Qatari and Qatar-based media and, as satellite diffusion cannot be
controlled, they prohibited commercial entities (such as hotels) to offer access to such media
(namely Al Jazeera, BEIN Sports and associated channels). The case of Al Jazeera is
emblematic as the closure of this broadcaster and affiliate stations remains one of the
requirements set by the Quartet to restore diplomatic ties with Qatar.
22. All interlocutors met by the team stated that the Government of Qatar had clearly
instructed all Qataris, Qatari based institutions, companies and media not to criticize the
citizens of KSA, UAE and Bahrain. The Qatari and Qatar-based media met by the team,
including Al Jazeera, all declared they had encouraged their staff members from the Quartet
countries to remain in Doha. The editor-in-chief of Al Raya Al Qataria, a daily newspaper,
noted that 50 to 60 per cent of his journalists were Egyptians and that while all had left Qatar
after the call of their Government on its citizens to come home, 40 per cent of them had
returned to Qatar after obtaining formal approval from the Egyptian authorities. Al Jazeera
reported that only three of their 26 journalists from KSA had left while its 349 Egyptian and
three Bahraini employees had continued to work for the broadcaster.
2. Suspension and restrictions of freedom of movement and communications
23. One of the most immediate and visible impact of the decision of 5 June has been the
border closures (air, sea and land), with considerable effects on freedom of movement to and
from Qatar. On 17 November, the team was informed that the Government of KSA had
closed down its border with Qatar. Some interruption of telecommunications (namely phone
connections) was also reported to the team. Besides the economic implications for Qatar, the
suspension and restrictions of freedom of movement and communications have affected the
exercise of various rights, as described in subsequent sections of this chapter.
24. On 5 June, the authorities of KSA and UAE notified their ports and shipping authorities
they would not receive Qatari vessels or ship owned by Qatari companies or individuals. The
KSA General Authority of Civil Aviation prohibited the landing of any Qatari planes in KSA
airports, while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, Dubai-based fly-Dubai and long-haul carrier
Emirates announced the suspension of flights to Qatar. Qatar Airways was forced to suspend
all flights to KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt until further notice, and to reroute most of its
West-bound flights.
25. Shortly thereafter, the Government of Qatar issued a statement assuring that Qatar’s
8
seaports would remain open for trade, and airspace for trade, transport and travel, except with
the countries that had closed their borders and airspace with Qatar. The statement indicated
that the Government of Qatar would not take any measures of reprisal against citizens of
KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt working in Qatar.
26. The considerable restrictions on movement of people and goods had an immediate
impact on various human rights. Some had a punctual effect but most have had continuing
implications to date. These measures first constituted a direct violation of freedom of
movement, particularly as they were not communicated formally and were not legally
motivated. The lack of freedom of movement between Qatar and the other countries is
sanctioning Qataris and residents of Qatar, as well as residents of KSA, UAE and Bahrain. At
least temporarily, the restrictions of movement disrupted the exercise of freedom of religion
as they were imposed in the midst of Ramadan and the Hajj pilgrimage. The implications for
family life are also important given the bonds between the countries concerned. Moreover,
many young people were forced to interrupt their studies or could not take exams. Durable
consequences of the restrictions of movement are a deprivation of the rights to work and to
access to property for those who were residing, working and / or engaged in trade crossborder.
These aspects are described in the subsequent sections of this chapter.
27. While the Government of Egypt did not issue a formal order to Qatari citizens to leave
its territory, Qatari students who tried to return to Egypt in August 2017, after the summer
holiday, were not issued visas or were requested to apply for security clearance upon
obtaining visas. Students interviewed by the team and the NHRC stated they still had not
obtained security clearance. On 18 November, the National Council for Human Rights in
Egypt informed the NHRC of Qatar that it had lifted restrictions for some categories of the
Qatari population and that students would be granted visas. At the time of the mission, it was
too early to assess whether this measure was being implemented.
28. More broadly, the suspension of movement of people and goods between Qatar and the
three Gulf countries of the Quartet has had considerable implications for Qatar’s economy,
impeding trade and financial flows, and considerably increasing the costs of transportation
and goods as the Government (and individuals) has had to resort to alternative options.
29. Although imports from the other Gulf States were modest, the bulk of trade flow before
the crisis occurred through KSA and UAE in particular (via land, sea and air), including
overland from Jordan and Lebanon, and via cargo ship that would dock at ports in KSA and
UAE, from which merchandise would be transported by trucks to other Gulf destinations,
including Qatar. Thus, Qatar was heavily dependent on its two neighbours to access items
vital for the subsistence of its population, such as food and medicines, and for its economy.
Qatari officials met by the team, notably the Customs Authority, underlined that the abrupt
closure by the authorities of KSA of their border with Qatar had left any vehicles transporting
perishable food items and other merchandise stranded in KSA. According to the Ministry of
9
Economy and Trade, before the crisis, some 800 trucks used to cross the land border from
KSA into Qatar on a daily basis. In the couple of weeks that followed the 5 June decision,
this situation caused some panicked reactions, with people rushing to supermarkets to stock
up food.
30. In a meeting with Director’s Managing Team of Qatar Airways, the team was informed
that the closure of airspace was a major irritant as Qatar is largely surrounded by the airspace
of KSA, UAE and Bahrain, with only a narrow corridor to the north available, requiring
Qatar Airways' flights to be routed through Iran and then flow wide around Saudi Arabia to
access destinations to the west and south. This, combined with the end of flights to and from
KSA, UAE ab Bahrain has significantly reduced Qatar's accessibility by air and increased
travel times and costs.
31. While telecommunications between the three countries and Qatar have generally
remained operational, some people reported experiencing difficulties in contacting people in
KSA, UAE and Bahrain, or have been using foreign phone numbers to call people in Qatar
for fear of sanctions. Some interlocutors also stated that they would be no response when they
would contact institutions in KSA and UAE (for instance universities). Postal services have
ceased to function between Qatar and the three countries, and access to some Qatari websites
has been blocked by the authorities in KSA, UAE and Bahrain.
3. Separation of families and related issues of nationality and residence
32. The decision of 5 June has led to cases of temporary or potentially durable separation of
families across the countries concerned, which has caused psychological distress as well as
some difficulties for some individuals to economically support their relatives left in Qatar or
the other countries.
33. Moreover, the crisis has underscored the urgency of addressing the long-standing issues
of nationality and residence in the Gulf countries, including in Qatar. Indeed, the non-Qatari
spouses and children of Qataris have faced acute uncertainties, even if the majority have
reportedly remained in Qatar. The NHRC received a high number of calls, particularly in
June, from women who were afraid to be unable to apply for the renewal of their national
passport and Qatar residence ID, and feared being expelled from Qatar or compelled to return
to their country of origin, and being consequently separated from their husband and children.
34. As of 5 June 2017, according to official data, the State of Qatar counted some 6,474
mixed marriages involving citizens of Qatar, KSA, UAE and Bahrain (5,137 Qatari men and
1,337 Qatari women). The authorities of KSA, UAE and Bahrain ordered their citizens to
leave Qatar within 14 days, with their children, under threat of civil penalties, including
deprivation of their nationality, and criminal sanctions. However, the team did not get any
information that such cases had occurred.
10
35. Many of those who have not returned, fearing separation from their family, were
concerned they may not be able to renew their passport, particularly given the closure of the
KSA, UAE and Bahrain Embassies. This generated particular anxiety for those whose
passport was close to expiring as a valid passport was required to apply for and obtain the
extension of a residence permit in Qatar (which is valid for 10 years) and to access various
services. However, the Ministry of Interior informed the team that the after the 5 June crises
the Government of Qatar had lifted such a condition to address the situation of non-Qatari
residents from KSA, UAE and Bahrain.
36. In addition, the possible forfeiture of nationality risks making these people stateless.
Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini women whose husband and children are Qatari fear pressure
from their State of origin for them to leave Qatar. Those who contacted their embassies
within the 14 days following 5 June were reportedly instructed to return alone to their country
of origin.
37. The team was informed that in response to some reports of family separations, the
Governments of KSA, UAE and Bahrain had stated they would grant exceptions for
‘humanitarian cases of mixed families’ to travel back and forth between Qatar and their
territories. Yet, Qatari Government officials, including the Director of the Salwa border cross
point with KSA, informed the team that such measures remained inappropriate, inefficient
and random. Some families reported not using the hotlines, fearing to be identified by the
KSA authority as citizens who remained in Qatar and to be subjected to intimidation.
38. Many people with relatives in KSA, UAE and Bahrain, including elderly or sick parents
for instance, have reportedly refrained from traveling to these countries, fearing they would
not be allowed to return to Qatar.
4. Impact on economic rights and the right to property
39. According to information received by the team, individuals from Qatar working in
KSA, UAE and Bahrain, and / or with business interests in these countries, were forced to
return to Qatar, reportedly with no access to their companies and other sources of activity and
income since then. While the authorities could not determine the number of individuals
affected with certainty, a national compensation claims commission established following the
5 June decision had documented at least 1,900 cases related to the right to property by the end
of November 2017, with claims pertaining to private residences, stockshares, financial assets
and livestock).
40. The team conducted interviews with some of the claimants, mostly Qatari nationals who
have property in KSA and UAE, particularly commercial entities. They confirmed that
financial transactions between Qatar and KSA, UAE and Bahrain had been suspended,
11
preventing people from receiving salaries or pensions, perceiving rents, paying bills, or
supporting relatives. They also highlighted the absence of any formal and available litigation
mechanism to claim and/or manage their assets. Indeed, legal cooperation has been
suspended, including power of attorney. Furthermore, lawyers in these countries are unlikely
to defend Qataris as this would likely be interpreted as an expression of sympathy towards
Qatar.
41. The Chamber of commerce of Qatar described how it dealt with the impact of the crisis
on entrepreneurs so as to mitigate the consequences on their work and property. From 5 June
to 9 July, it identified supplies and alternatives to businesses that were blocked as a
consequence of the 5 June decision. The Government of Qatar took measures to support
entrepreneurs and coordinate logistical support. It shared a questionnaire with the 350.000
companies registered in Qatar and set up a hotline working 24/7 to receive complaints. It
received 700 complaints. Since 10 July, the Chamber of Commerce has been trying to put in
contact these entrepreneurs with potential contractors, mostly from Asia. It prioritized
companies involved in the production of food, medicines and construction equipment. It also
sent letter to creditors requesting a delay in payments and the waiving of penalties resulting
from such delays.
42. The Customs authorities provided the team with statistics covering the period of 17
January to 30 June 2017, on products which were mainly imported from the Gulf countries,
such as sugar (76 per cent was imported from these countries), oil (67 per cent), and dairy
products (59 per cent), construction material (93 per cent), timber and gravel (47 per cent),
cables for construction (51 per cent), showing the dependence of Qatar on its neighbours. The
Qatar authorities immediately referred the situation to the World Organization of Customs.
While the total importation from KSA, UAE and Bahrain amounted to some QAR 11.9
billion (USD 3 billion) in May 2017, it represented QAR 392 million (USD 107 million) in
September 2017. This situation has provoked an increase of the price of commodities of 83
per cent (although the Government of Qatar has intervened to maintain it below the threshold
of 3 per cent). Since June, the customs authorities have had no communications with the
customs of the other Gulf countries.
5. Impact on the right to health
43. The team met with representatives of the Ministry of Health who raised some
humanitarian consequences of the 5 June crises. As of 23 November, it had received 130
individuals reporting medical issues related to the crisis.
44. For instance, an individual previously treated in KSA and who returned to Qatar, had to
travel to Germany to receive treatment as his means of payments from KSA were blocked in
Qatar. Two patients from Qatar, who resided in KSA prior to the crisis, were transferred to
Turkey and Kuwait to undergo surgery as they were reportedly unable to pursue their medical
12
treatment in KSA.
45. Medical services in Qatar are known to be of high quality. Since September 2017, the
Ministry of health recorded 388.000 visits to public health services by patients, including by
260.000 patients from KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt whose residents in Qatar. The Qatar
authorities stated they will continue to provide treatment to patients from these countries
without any discrimination.
46. Medical public services employ 3.000 employees from the Quartet countries. Medical
authorities also noted that Qatari individuals who will comply with the decision to leave or
return to Qatar would affect their employment status and therefore their access to medical
insurance or capacity to pay for medical services.
47. The suspension of trade has also affected Qatar’s access to medicines (including lifesaving
items) and medical supply. Before 5 June, 50 to 60 per cent of Qatar pharmaceutical
stock came from 20 suppliers companies based in the Gulf countries with most international
pharmaceutical companies based in UAE. While the shortage of most drugs lasted only one
day due to the Government’s prompt identification of new suppliers, the Ministry of Health
informed the team is was still seeking alternatives for 276 medicines. An illustrative case is
that of anti-venom largely used in Qatar for snakebites, which can only be produced with
snakes from the region and is therefore unavailable.
48. Recourse to suppliers from outside the region has led to an increase of the costs of
products, transportation and insurance fees, and has incurred delays in getting some items.
The State of Qatar has thus far been covering the extra cost to limit the impact on consumers.
49. Finally, the opening of new hospitals has been delayed due to construction material and
other equipment being blocked in Dubai.
6. Effect on the right to education
50. The expulsion of Qatari students who were studying in KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt
has had a detrimental effect on the right to education as Qatari students who were prevented
from either pursuing their studies or passing their exams. Students in KSA, Bahrain, and
reportedly particularly in UAE, were ordered to immediately return to Qatar, often by the
administration of universities. According to information collected by the team, this was
generally not followed by any formal or personalized communication.
51. The management and professors of Qatar University informed the team that the
university had initially received 171 requests for the placement of students who had had to
leave KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. It reported being able to accommodate 66 students
13
while it transmitted the 105 other cases to the Ministry of Education for the review of the
students’ transcripts. The NHRC and the team followed up on some cases of students whose
file was under review. They declared having been provided with at least two options by the
Qatar University, namely to integrate that institution, usually by taking additional credit
hours, or to be placed in a university abroad, for instance in Jordan and Malaysia. The efforts
of Qatar University and the Ministry of Education to promptly identify solutions for each
student are to be commended.
52. The Ministry of Education and Qatar University
reported that students who had been enrolled in
universities in UAE and Egypt were unable to get their
transcripts, which hampered their placement as they
were unable to produce any evidence of previous
studies or examinations. Some UAE universities
reportedly blocked access to their websites to Qatari students”. In Egypt, the University of
Cairo told Qatari students that they should collect their transcripts in person although the
authorities were not providing visas to Qataris.
53. The Ministry of Education of Qatar on its part estimates that at least 201 Qatari students
were not able to pursue their studies, mainly due to the lack of transcripts, different credit
systems or because their specialization is not available in Qatar. For instance medical studies
were only recently introduced at Qatar University and students reaching their fifth year are
not able to enrol.
7. Long-standing human rights issues
54. During the mission, the team raised a number of long-standing human rights issues with
relevant authorities, namely regarding the rights of migrant workers and the issue of
citizenship.
55. The team raised the case of those who have been stripped from their Qatari citizenship
in 2004, the authorities informed that most of them (mainly those that did not possess another
nationality) had regained their Qatari citizenship in 2005. The authorities further noted that
approximately 100 cases are still pending to date.
56. The team also raised the case of two individuals (Sheikh Taleb bin Lahem bin Shraim
and Mr. Bin Al Shafi) who, according to reports received by the team before the mission,
have been arbitrarily stripped from their Qatari citizenship in connection with their political
opinion in the context of the current crisis. Qatari counterparts confirmed that this decision
was taken by executive decrees in accordance with Law No. 38/2005 on the acquisition of
Qatari Nationality. This implies it was taken without any due process, with no possible
14
remedies.
57. Many of the people met by the team described how Qatar had managed to turn the crisis
into an opportunity, notably to accelerate the reform agenda of the Emir, including on human
rights. Efforts are underway to develop a road map for an effective implementation of
migrant and domestic laws; to prepare a new law on asylum, and to possibly ratification of
the Refugee Convention of 1951; to review of the nationality law to provide additional rights
to the children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris; to increase engagement with
international human rights mechanisms. The team was encouraged by the Government
renewed commitment to further strengthen its cooperation with OHCHR in promoting and
protecting human rights in Qatar.
58. The team’s discussions on the aforementioned issues are to be reflected in a separate
report or other form of communication.
IV. Findings and observations
59. All Interlocutors met by the team mostly referred to the decision of 5 June as a
“blockade”, and some evoked an “embargo”, a “boycott” or “unilateral sanctions” against the
State of Qatar and its inhabitants (nationals and residents). Most emphasized the
unprecedented divide and distrust this situation has generated, not least given the tight family
bonds across the Gulf region. They also expressed concern about the uncertain and farreaching
consequences, with fears that this crisis may become protracted and/or deteriorate.
60. The team found that the unilateral measures, consisting of severe restrictions of
movement, termination and disruption of trade, financial and investment flows, as well as
suspension of social and cultural exchanges imposed on the State of Qatar, had immediately
translated into actions applying to nationals and residents of Qatar, including citizens of
KSA, UAE and Bahrain. Many of these measures have a potentially durable effect on the
enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of those affected. As there is no
evidence of any legal decisions motivating these various measures, and due to the lack of any
legal recourse for most individuals concerned, these measures can be considered as arbitrary.
These actions were exacerbated by various and widespread forms of media defamation and
campaigns hated against Qatar, its leadership and people.
61. The majority of the measures were broad and non-targeted, making no distinction
between the Government of Qatar and its population. In that sense, they constitute core
elements of the definition of unilateral coercive measures as proposed by the Human Rights
Council Advisory Committee: “the use of economic, trade or other measures taken by a
State, group of States or international organizations acting autonomously to compel a change
of policy of another State or to pressure individuals, groups or entities in targeted States to
15
influence a course of action without the authorization of the Security Council”. Moreover,
measures targeting individuals on the basis of their Qatari nationality or their links with Qatar
can be qualified as non-disproportionate and discriminatory.
62. The considerable economic impact of the crisis takes over the dimension of an
economic warfare, with significant financial losses for the State, companies and individuals,
and the confidence of investors being eroded. To date, the wealth of Qatar and its human
potential have allowed the country to promptly absorb the shock and protect the population
from potentially disastrous economic and social consequences. However, the shock of the
decision and the immediate and serious effect of unilateral coercive measures on many
individuals have had a major psychological impact on the overall population. This has been
exacerbated by a hostile media campaign that flared up from early June and is ongoing. All
interlocutors met by the team evoked the lack of trust or even fear this situation has
generated, and concerns about the social fabric of very closely-knit societies eroding.
63. In some cases, Qatari institutions, notably the NHRC, have proactively sought prompt
solutions, especially for individuals whose studies were interrupted. The NHRC immediately,
and for several weeks following 5 June, received a considerably number of complaints. They
undertook a series of communications with regional and international mechanisms and have
endeavoured to engage with the national human rights institutions of KSA, UAE, Bahrain (to
no avail to date) and Egypt (the latter has reportedly cooperated). The team received a
detailed report prepared by the National Compensation Claims Commission on the impact of
the crisis on individuals (including on human rights impact), and was informed that the
National Compensation Claims Commission had hired a private American law firm company
to look at options for potential legal actions against the States of KSA, UAE and Bahrain.
The commission indicated that the legal file was in the hands of the Government for its
consideration.
64. The majority of cases remain unresolved and are likely to durably affect the victims,
particularly those having experienced family separation, loss of employment or who have
been barred from access to their assets.
65. The crisis has been characterized by the absence of dialogue among the States
concerned, with the mediation efforts initiated by Kuwait having stalled. The team noted
strong resentment about the lack of action by regional organizations and about the role of the
GCC, which many considered as de facto defunct. Given the origins and ramifications of the
crisis in KSA, UAE and Bahrain, it would be critical to pursue opportunities to engage with
the Governments of these countries to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the
situation, notably of the actions they have taken and the impact on their own citizens and
residents.
Doha, Qatar
6 MONTHS OF VIOLATIONS
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
THE FOURTH GENERAL REPORT ON THE VIOLATIONS OF
HUMAN RIGHTS ARISING FROMTHE BLOCKADE
ON THE STATE OF QATAR
DECEMBER 5, 2017
[logo:] NHRC 1 Copyright reserved by the National Human Rights Committee, Doha, Qatar, 2017
Table of Contents
One Summary
Two A brief overview of the Committee
Three Methodology
Four
The most significant violations:
a. Splitting-up of families, particularly women and children
b. Stoppage of continuing education
c. Stoppage of work
d. Violation of freedom of opinion and expression
e. Violation of the right of movement and residence
f. Violation of property rights
g. Deprivation of the right to perform religious observances
h. Incitement to violence and coercion
i. Violation of the right to health, particularly for women, children, and the disabled
j. The right to litigation
Five Conclusions and legal characterization
Six Recommendations
[logo:] NHRC 2
ONE: SUMMARY
The inhumane blockade imposed upon the State of Qatar has been ongoing since June 5, 2017 and it continues to
this day by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as the
Arab Republic of Egypt. The violations associated with it have also continued without any responsiveness on the
part of those countries to remedy these violations.
It is for this reason that the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has compiled a series of special reports
regarding these violations and has observed and recorded their humanitarian effects and the social and economic
ramifications associated with them.
In this regard, the NHRC has contacted some 450 human rights entities and governmental and non-governmental
national and regional organizations to plead with them to take urgent action to deal with the effects of the
humanitarian crisis that is being caused by the blockade. The NHRC has also conducted 33 visits to European and
world capitals to make them aware of the scale of the violations taking place in Qatar by the blockading countries.
This is the fourth general report issued by the NHRC to document these violations, and it joins the series of general
reports already prepared by the NHRC:
1. The First Report on Human Rights Violations arising from the blockade of the State of Qatar dated June
13, 2017;
2. The Second Report on Human Rights Violations arising from the blockade of the State of Qatar dated July
1, 2017; and
3. The Third Report on human rights violations arising from the blockade of the State of Qatar dated August
30, 2017.
These are in addition to the special reports on the violations:
1. The Report on the Violation of the Right to Education dated September 5, 2017;
2. The Report on the Deprivation of the Right to Perform Religious Observances dated August 24, 2017;
3. The Report on the Violation of the Right to Own Property dated August 30, 2017; and
4. The Report on the Violation of the Right to Food and Medicine dated September 3, 2017.
This report is based on new testimony of new victims who have suffered violations of their basic rights as a
consequence of the blockade. The NHRC will continue to update the basic report while the blockade continues and
the stream of complaints from its victims continues to flow.
The NHRC has met with numerous international human rights organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental,
such as the Technical Delegation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the
United Nations (OHCHR) during the period from November 18-23, 2017, the office of Amnesty International twice
during the periods from June 6-8, 2017 and November 28-30, 2017, the office of Human Rights Watch (HRW)
during the period from June 19-20, 2017, and the international organization AFD during the period from July 22-25,
2017. The NHRC has also met with parliamentary delegations from European countries in order to familiarize them
with the violations taking place against the State of Qatar due to the blockade.
According to information we have obtained, approximately 11,387 nationals of the three blockading Gulf
States reside in the State of Qatar and 1,927 Qatari nationals reside in those states.
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TWO: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (NHRC)
The NHRC is one of what is known as the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), which were established in
accordance with the so-called Paris Principles, which were endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly.
These organizations obtain membership in the Global Alliance of Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) after having
been subjected to an accreditation process approved by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the GANNRI
Alliance under the supervision of the National Institutions, Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Section (NRCS)
of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), which is the equivalent of the General
Secretariat of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the GANHRI alliance. The NHRC was established in
2002 and vested with powers and jurisdiction to protect and uphold human rights in accordance with the Paris
Principles, and obtained a rating of “A” in 2010 for five years. It was again given the same rating in 2015 for a
period of 5 years, which is the highest rating that can be awarded to a national organization and serves to confirm
its reliability, independence, and complete adherence to the Paris Principles.
THREE: METHODOLOGY
The blockade against the State of Qatar has been in place for 184 days as of this date, and the NHRC’s official
headquarters in the Qatari capital, Doha, continues to receive complaints from victims who have been harmed by
the decisions of the blockading countries, which have committed violations of a number of human rights in the
following areas: Family reunification, education, property rights, movement and residence, performance of
religious rituals, health, employment, and others.
The decisions of the blockading states and their consequences have caused harm at all levels of society and
constitute a violation of all of provisions on human rights under all international laws, statutes, and customs. These
measures, which were suddenly announced publicly on June 5 of last year, forced the citizens of the State of Qatar
to leave the three Gulf States within 14 days. Qatari citizens were prohibited from entering their territories and, in
some cases, women were separated from their husbands, and mothers from their children. This struck a
devastating blow against legal and humanitarian principles and standards.
 It should be mentioned here that single individuals have certainly, in some cases, been subjected to more
than one type of violation. Therefore, the combined files are more than a collection of reports on a group
of individuals; we have also recorded incidents in which an individual has been separated from his/her
family, cases in which education has had to be discontinued, and others where movement has been
prohibited. In some of these cases, a single individual has suffered from all three of these violations.
 When the Committee receives reports from the victims of the blockade, it documents the violations
against their rights and then shares these violations on an ongoing basis with the competent legal and
human rights bodies.
 The NHRC monitors the responsiveness of the blockading countries to its reports.
 The NHRC monitors instances of violations reported to the competent international legal and human
rights bodies and continues to report them. We will cover this in detail for each right.
In this report we shine a light on the most important violations that have been inflicted on the State of Qatar as a
result of the currently ongoing blockade. We have selected and presented the testimony of a selection of victims
of each type of violation in order to keep the report within a manageable size. However, we confirm that it is
possible for the competent authorities to obtain adequate supporting forms. In this report, we refer to individuals
by their initials in order to protect their privacy, security, and safety.
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At this juncture, we must point out that the Qatari Government has not taken any similar action against the
nationals of the blockading states, and the NHRC has received no complaint in this regard. The State of Qatar set
up a Compensation Claim Committee for damages arising from the blockade on June 22, 2017. That committee
has been tasked with the following:
1. To receive complaints and claims for compensation from individuals, private organizations, and the public
sector;
2. To investigate complaints from a legal point of view to ascertain whether it was the blockade that caused
harm to the injured parties;
3. To instruct international law firms to investigate the possibility of initiating lawsuits against the blockading
states to obtain compensation for the injured parties;
4. To supervise and coordinate among state authorities, the private sector, individuals, and law firms in order to
ensure that they are furnished with the documentation they need; and
5. To closely monitor the claim filed by the State of Qatar to the World Trade Organization and provide the
requirements thereof.
A cooperative relationship exists between the NHRC and the Compensation Claim Committee, to which the NHRC
refers all of the complaints it receives. Numerous meetings continue to be held with it in order to categorize the
victims in order to redress injuries in accordance with the relevant international and regional treaties.
As part of ongoing efforts to deal with the violations, the NHRC has corresponded with the following:
 The Saudi National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), September 24, 2017;
 Three letters were sent to the Emirates Human Rights Association:
1. October 8, 2017,
2. October 15, 2017,
3. October 23, 2017; and
 The Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), October 2, 2017.
The NHRC sent to the above organizations all lists of the victims in order to help them to contact the authorities in
their own countries for assistance with the violations. However, the Committee has not received any response as
of the present time, apart from the Egyptian NCHR, which responded positively to our letter. We point out that
there have been continuous but unsuccessful attempts to contact the Bahraini National Human Rights Committee
(NHRC).
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FOUR: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VIOLATIONS
The following table shows a breakdown of the violations recorded by the NHRC, which amount to 3,970 reports as
of the date of publication of this report. They have been classified by the country that committed the violation and
according to the type of violation against the rights of the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar:
Date of record
Violations
Violating
country
Education Ownership Family
Reunification Movement Health
Perform
Religious
Observances
Work Residence Total
December 5, 2017
Saudi
Arabia 62 677 336 753 19 163 66 57 2,133
Emirates 146 423 80 334 4 - 6 4 997
Bahrain 28 52 213 126 14 - 37 32 502
Various
others 268 22 - 39 - - - - 329
Total - - - 9 - - - - 9
504 1,174 629 1,261 37 163 109 93 3,970
This table sets out the latest statistics of the violations against the State of Qatar since the beginning of the
blockade on June 5, 2017 until December 5, 2017. There were 504 violations against the right to education, 1,174
violations against the right to ownership, 629 violations against the right of family unity, 1,261 violations against
the right to movement, 37 violations against the right to health, 163 violations against the right to perform
religious observances, 109 violations against the right to work, and 93 violations against the right to residence.
A. FAMILY REUNIFICATION, PARTICULARLYWOMEN AND CHILDREN
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
June July August November
This chart shows the increase in violations of family unity from June to November 2017.
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The Committee has received thousands of complaints about violations caused by the blockade imposed upon the
State of Qatar. The most common among them were those relating to the violation of the right to keep members
of the same Gulf families together, which have resulted in the separation of women, children, people with
disabilities, and the elderly, and deprivation of parents of the right to remain with their children.
The citizens of the Gulf are interconnected by familial bonds of kinship that have existed for hundreds of years. The
demand that Qatari citizens should leave the blockading states and that the citizens of the blockading states
should leave Qatar has created inhumane situations, quite apart from constituting a violation of the right to travel
as provided by numerous international conventions. This effectively means compulsory deportation and splitting
of families and prevention of mothers from being able to remain with their children.
Due to these violations, the NHRC has recorded 629 cases relating to families that have been separated, but it is
certain that the true figure must be much higher. There are certainly some instances of violations where families
have been permitted to enter but for only one time and in a random fashion without any clear mechanism, after
which the borders have been firmly sealed.
 Mr. S.F. is a Saudi national and sound engineer born in the State of Qatar in 1991. He contacted the NHRC
in a state of great anxiety, saying: “My family and I were greatly affected by the news of the blockade. We
have been ordered to leave the State of Qatar and have been forced to leave our family and extended
family to comply with the orders. My wife is six months pregnant and is Qatari. I am suffering
psychological distress.”
 According to the testimony of Mrs. I. R. to the NHRC, she was banned from travelling to see her children
because she is a Qatari national. “I am a Qatari mother who is divorced from her Bahraini husband. I have
children with him and I travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain four times a year to see my children. After this
decision, I am unable to do so and the father is unwilling to send the children to Qatar so I can see them.”
 Mrs. A. F., a Qatari national born in 1987, gave testimony to the NHRC in which she set out in detail the
nature of the violations she has been subjected to: “I was married to an Emirati citizen. When he divorced
me, he initiated a lawsuit to deprive me of custody of my children and has now married another woman.
After the decision to impose the blockade, the judge in the Emirates ordered that I should be deprived of
custody without justification, and I have been deprived of all of my rights.”
 Mr. Kh. A., a Qatari national born in 1968, visited the headquarters of the NHRC and made a statement in
which he detailed the violations he and his family have been subjected to: “My wife is Saudi and I am
Qatari. Ever since the decision to impose the blockade, when all [Saudi] citizens were ordered to return to
Saudi Arabia and leave Qatar, I have been unable to get my wife back because my situation does not allow
it.”
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B. STOPPAGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
June July August November
This chart shows the statistical increase in violations of stoppage of continuation of education from June to
November 2017.
The Committee has been inundated by complaints under this heading concerning some 236 cases where Qatari
students who were studying at universities in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Bahrain have found themselves
deprived of the opportunity to continue their studies; they have been forced to return to their countries after the
decision of these countries to sever relations with Qatar on June 5, 2017. Due to those arbitrary measures and
decisions, hundreds of students have been deprived of the opportunity to complete their studies, which
constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to education. The blockading countries have also forced their students
studying at Qatar University to return to their own countries (Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Bahrain) and have
prevented 706 male and female students from completing their university studies.
 H. A., a student of Qatari nationality born in 1986 told the NHRC: “I am a student at the University of
Applied Sciences in Bahrain and this is the last semester before graduation. I have two courses to
complete and then I should receive my degree. There are lectures to attend and examinations to take but
I have not been able to go because of the decision to impose the blockade, which has seriously disrupted
my studies.”
 N.M., a Saudi female student at Qatar University born in 1995, told the NHRC: “I am married to a Qatari
husband. My father died four years ago and we have two children together. I am a student at Qatar
University. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asked me to return to the territory of the
Kingdom but I am unable to leave my children and my university studies.”
 H. A. was born in the State of Qatar in 1986 and is another victim of the blockade. He told the NHRC: “I am
a student at the American University in the Emirates but due to the decision to impose a blockade on the
State of Qatar I am unable to complete my university studies in the Emirates, in addition to the monetary
losses and psychological stress I have suffered.”
The continuing monitoring by the NHRC of instances of violations of the right to education shows that the Emirates
has not permitted students from the State of Qatar to resume their studies in any way, aside from some
international universities which have transferred their students to other branches outside the Emirates at
increased costs of travel and living to the students and their dependents, and with financial and psychological costs
suffered by those concerned.
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The NHRC has also documented the response of the Qatari universities, which have accommodated some 64
affected students. The Qatari Ministry of Education has also made some exceptions for other students who have
suffered as a consequence of the blockade.
STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE [ARAB] REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
The NHRC has also recorded some 268 complaints from students who are Qatari nationals or residents who are
enrolled at Egyptian universities and have been prevented from completing their studies. Some of these students
were also prevented from sitting for the end-of-year academic examinations in September 2017. This prohibition is
due to the actions taken by the Egyptian authorities, which have put restrictions on Qatari students enrolled at
Egyptian universities by making it a condition that they must each obtain a security clearance before granting them
entry visas.
The NHRC has corresponded with the Director of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights concerning this
matter in order to help the students complete their studies and alleviate the difficulties they are facing. The NHRC
has been successful in convincing the Egyptian authorities to remove the restrictions placed on their studies and
the Egyptian authorities have now issued new directives ordering entry visas to be granted to the students and the
requirement for prior security clearance has been revoked.
VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION
RECEIVED BY THE COMMITTEE TO DATE
504
total complaints
Saudi Arabia: 62 complaints
The UAE: 146 complaints
Bahrain: 28 complaints
Arab Republic of Egypt: 268 complaints
Students who are nationals of the four
countries enrolled in schools in the
State of Qatar
Students from the four countries
concerned residing in the State of
Qatar who, as a consequence of the
decisions made by those countries,
have been affected with respect to the
right to education
706 at Qatar University 4600
As of 12/5/2017
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Some examples of the complaints received by the NHRC:
 A. F., a Qatari national born in 1992, is a student in Egypt. He recounted to the NHRC the details of the
violation he suffered: “I am a Qatari student studying law at Ain Shams University since 2015. I am now in
my third year and have been prevented from completing my education in the Arab Republic of Egypt due
to the current crisis. Because I am Qatari, I have been banned for security reasons and am unable to enter
[Egypt] without a security visa. I have contacted the Egyptian embassy to obtain one, but so far one has
not been issued.”
 S. H., a Qatari national born in 1982, has been deprived of the opportunity to continue his higher
education at the University of Alexandria in Egypt, even though he is in the final year of his Masters
studies. He gave the following testimony to the NHRC: “The Egyptian authorities made an arbitrary
decision to prohibit Qatari students from attending its universities. We are not permitted to enter the
country without a security visa and this has affected us and caused psychological and material damage
amounting to some 12 thousand dollars.”
 H. M., a female Palestinian national born in 1997, visited the headquarters of the NHRC and provided
details on how she has been deprived of the right to education by the decision to sever relations with the
State of Qatar: “I am a student at Cairo University under an open education program and have completed
a year and a half of my studies, which have been stopped because of the blockade. So far, five months
have passed without receiving a reply from Cairo University regarding my requests and my rights.”
 A. H., a Qatari national and born 1982, complains of the violation he suffered as a consequence of the
blockade of the State of Qatar by Egypt. In his complaint, he told the NHRC: “I am a student at Cairo
University in Egypt at the Faculty of Law, and I am in my fourth year of studies. I have been harmed by the
blockade of the State of Qatar because I have been unable to complete my studies at Cairo University.”
C. STOPPAGE OF WORK
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
June July August November
This chart shows the statistical increase in violations of the right to work from June to November 2017.
The inhumane actions and violations committed by the blockading countries against Qatari citizens or residents
have not stopped there, but have also extended into all areas, including violations of the right to work.
The right to work is one of the most important economic and social rights; it is an economic right because it
provides an individual with financial and economic security and enables the individual to pay for life’s necessities.
It is also a social right because it contributes to the stability of society.
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These violations have had a negative effect on the business sector because commercial and labor interests are
closely intertwined. The decisions made by the blockading countries have caused hundreds of people to lose their
jobs, which has affected their livelihoods and their families’ circumstances. There is a continuous stream of
complaints being received from this sector because the countries concerned suddenly imposed orders designed to
cause maximum damage to all areas of business. More seriously, there are entire families that depend for their
livelihood on the transportation business among the Gulf States and whose sole means of earning a living was cut
off at a stroke. None of the three countries concerned has acted to compensate any of those people or find them
an alternative.
Additionally, there is a large number of citizens and residents who are employed in public, private, or
governmental companies who had been able to work and move freely between those countries whose source of
income has also been cut off at a stroke. They have become unemployed without any compensation from the
three countries that imposed the blockade.
The NHRC has recorded no fewer than 109 cases of people who have been deprived of the right to continue to
work as a consequence of those arbitrary decisions. Among these, 66 are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 6 are in
the Emirates and 37 are in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
 Mrs. J. S., an Emirati national born in the year 1977, suffered a violation of her right to work. She told the
NHRC when she visited it: “I am a resident in Doha and I work there. My children were born in the State of
Qatar. My husband is Bahraini and also works in Qatar. We are unable to return because of the decisions
imposed upon us as a consequence of the blockade of the State of Qatar and because the source of our
livelihood is here.”
 Mr. Y. A., a Bahraini national born in 1986, spoke to the NHRC about the violation he has suffered, saying:
“I am a Bahraini citizen and have been a resident of the State of Qatar for ten years with my family and
my new-born baby daughter. I work here and I can’t leave my work and family because of the decisions
made by those countries that have imposed a blockade on the State of Qatar.”
 Mr. F. A., a Saudi national born in 1996, expressed to the NHRC his great anxiety and concern about the
violation he has suffered, saying: “I was born in the State of Qatar and am a Saudi national. My mother is
Qatari. I am a resident of and work in the State of Qatar. The decision taken by my country that I should
leave Qatar will have an effect on my work because I live with my mother.”
D. VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION
From the outset, it must be emphasized that it is not the NHRC’s function to record violations of freedom of
opinion and expression in the three blockading states and Egypt. We record only those violations and punishments
suffered by the citizens of those countries that have reached unprecedented extremes, such as criminalizing any
expression of sympathy with Qatar on social media, shutting down and blocking media outlets funded by the State
of Qatar, including sports channels, that certainly do not broadcast news or political programs. This is an indication
of the abyss into which freedom of opinion and expression has fallen in the three blockade states and Egypt.
The United Arab Emirates has enacted penalties of 3-15 years in prison and fines of up to AED 500,000 just for
showing sympathy for the State of Qatar with a comment, “like,” or tweet on social media, in an unprecedented
threat to freedom of expression. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior followed that up by threatening 5 years’
imprisonment. As for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it considers such acts an Internet crime subject to up to 5 years
in prison and a fine of up to SAR 3 million.
These extreme and harsh measures demonstrate the frailty of the grounds and legitimacy of the blockade decision
by those three states. They demonstrate that the authorities in those states are afraid of their citizens’ freedom to
express an opinion contrary to the will of the authorities. This is blatantly at odds with several international and
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regional declarations and covenants, which will be addressed in the section on Legal Characterization.
In the media sector alone, NHRC recorded 103 cases of media figures from the three countries who used to work
at a number of visual media outlets in the State of Qatar who were all subjected to various types of violations,
including pressuring them to resign. Based on such pressure, 10 media figures were forced to submit their
resignations, consequently losing their jobs and source of income. Great pressure is still exerted against those who
have not resigned. These actions are a blatant violation of freedom of the press, the freedom to work, freedom of
residency, and freedom of opinion all at the same time.
It should also be mentioned that the blockading states blocked Qatari channels, governmental and private. This
was carried out through decrees issued by the blockade states’ governments to warn all parties to delete all
channels from the State of Qatar and the imposition of a fine of 100,000 riyals against any person who violates
these directives. The channels covered by the decree include:
 Qatar Television channel
 Al-Rayyan channel
 Al-Kass channel
 Al-Jazeera Satellite Network
 beIn Sports channel
E. VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT OF MOVEMENT AND RESIDENCE
June July August November
This chart shows the rising numbers of violations in deprivation of movement and residence between June and
November 2017.
The definition of this right is that an individual must be able move within or beyond the territorial boundaries of
his or her state and have the right to return to that state without restrictions or barriers. The blockading states
have violated this right with its unjust blockade on the State of Qatar by preventing Qatari citizens and residents
from moving within or residing in those states.
There reside in the State of Qatar 11,387 citizens of the three Gulf States, and approximately 1,927 Qataris live in
those states. All persons forced to return to their home countries were harmed in various ways.
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
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The blockading states have imposed penalties and issued decrees compelling them to exit their countries and
prohibiting passage through their entry points. This caused many of the violations recorded by NHRC, totaling
1,354 cases related just to this right alone.
The blockading states also closed all Qatar Airways offices in their countries as soon as the blockade was
announced, without prior warning to the people employed at those offices that would have allowed them to take
their belongings from their offices.
Although the Saudi authorities had partially opened the Salwa border crossing on an individual, intermittent basis,
it reverted and closed the crossing completely, even in the face of humanitarian cases such as patients, crossborder
families, and individuals with disabilities. The crossing remains completely closed as of the writing of this
report, which is a persistent violation of this right by the Saudi authorities.
 Mr. A.F., an Egyptian national, told NHRC when he gave his testimony: “On 11/19/2017, I reserved five plane
tickets to Egypt for 7,400 riyals. I was surprised that the airline on which I made the reservation cancelled
them and refunded the amount paid because I reside in the State of Qatar. This prevented me and my children
from traveling.”
 Ms. E.A., a Jordanian national, told NHRC about being denied freedom of movement, stating: “My mother and
I were unable to perform the [religious] obligation of Umrah despite paying the visa fee because the land
crossing between Qatar and Saudi Arabia was closed and the process of transporting my car from Jordan to
the State of Qatar was stopped.”
 Mr. A.M., a Bahraini national born in 1993, visited NHRC headquarters and recounted the details of the
violation he suffered: “I was born in the State of Qatar and studied there until high school. My father is a
businessman, and we have no family in the Kingdom of Bahrain. My mother’s family is in Qatar, and my sister
is married to a Qatari man. The decision to blockade the State of Qatar and the order to return to the Kingdom
of Bahrain is hard on us because of all of these connections.”
F. VIOLATION OF OWNERSHIP RIGHTS
June July August November
This chart shows the increasing number of ownership rights violations between June and November 2017.
The right to property is one of the rights that a citizen enjoys within his or her own country or outside it and has
the right to use or dispose of the property he or she owns without pressure from any party.
The sudden blockade laws imposed by the three states caused tens of thousands of people to suffer exorbitant
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losses of funds and property. This indicates the decision makers’ total recklessness and indifference to
fundamental rights when making these decisions. Money and property have been snatched away because their
owners were unable to travel to them. All persons prevented from traveling are no longer able to use or dispose of
their property.
Given the extensive interaction and interconnectedness among the Gulf States, which might not be noticed by
many organizations and countries, but there are hundreds of workers employed for Qataris and doing business in
Saudi Arabia whose Qatari supervisors can no longer pay their wages because of the stoppage of money transfers,
and so their work has stopped.
Another extreme example is the loss of real estate purchased in instalments, including land, buildings, and
apartments, particularly in the Emirate of Dubai. Due to the freezing of Qatari citizens’ assets in those countries,
check debits have been stopped. If this situation continues, it could result in the complete loss of the property and
even to the owner being legally prosecuted due to non-payment of obligatory monthly instalments, without the
slightest misdeed on the part of the owner.
In addition to the above, the three states went so far as to prohibit financial transfers and postal money orders for
any citizen or resident of the State of Qatar in order to shut the door on the possibility of forestalling financial
losses. In our opinion, all of this demonstrates that the three blockading states’ decisions were not spontaneous;
they intentionally violated basic freedoms and sought to do so from the outset. This is underlined by the fact that
no measures have been taken thus far to eliminate the grave repercussions on citizens of the three states and
citizens of the State of Qatar.
The NHRC also recorded the existence of a large number of workers with Qatari residency who work for companies
owned by Qatari citizens in those states. After the blockade was imposed, these workers were prevented from
returning to Qatar. They are no longer working and no one is spending on them. We provide a few examples to
illustrate the magnitude of the violations. For instance, the complaints we have received include:
 Ms. N.A., a Qatari national born in 1971, told the NHRC the details of the violation she suffered: “I bought a
villa in a residential development in Dubai. I am now prohibited from entering Dubai and enjoying my own
property, despite the fact that I made the first payment. I request a refund of the full amount.”
 Mr. A.H., a Qatari national born in 1960 who has property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, came to the NHRC’s
headquarters and gave us his testimony, detailing the violation he has suffered: “I have camels and cars in
Saudi Arabia, and workers whose residency ended. Because of the blockade on the State of Qatar, I can’t go.”
 Mr. N.A., a Qatari national born in 1952, visited the NHRC’s headquarters and detailed the property rights
violation he suffered: “I have 200,000 riyals at the Bahrain Islamic Bank. I couldn’t withdraw the money from
the bank because we were not allowed to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain after the blockade decision against
the State of Qatar.”
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G. DEPRIVATION OF THE RIGHT TO PERFORM RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
June July August November
This chart shows the increasing numbers of property rights violations between June and November 2017.
Mecca and Medina, two cities that are holy to all Muslims, are located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and they
are a constant destination for Muslims to perform the rites of the Hajj and the Umrah.
The blockade decision, to which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a party, has deprived approximately 1.5 million
Muslims living in the State of Qatar of their right to engage in their religious observances, which is a flagrant
violation of the right to worship.
The Saudi authorities made no exceptions from the unjust blockade measures for anyone wishing to exercise his or
her right to perform the rites of the Hajj and the Umrah. Instead, they involved religious observances in political
and diplomatic disputes and used the observances as a tool to exert political pressure, blatantly violating
international human rights agreements.
In light of the continued blockade, air embargo, land border closure, along with the abusive measures taken by the
Saudi authorities regarding the right to worship and engage in religious observances, starting with actions to:
 Prevent Qatari Umrah performers from entering Saudi territory during last Ramadan to perform the rites of
the Umrah;
 Compel those present in the Kingdom to exit Saudi territory quickly without completing those rites;
 Stop dealing with Qatari currency and Qatari bank cards;
 Mistreat Qataris at land and air entry and exit points in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and
 Prevent Qatar Airways aircraft from landing at airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in
Qatari Umrah performers returning to Doha via Saudi Arabia, who were forced to return on other airlines
through the State of Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman without consideration for humanitarian cases such as
patients, women, children, elderly persons, and individuals with disabilities.
It should be noted that all of the abusive measures carried out during last Ramadan led [Qatari] citizens and
residents to fear to perform their religious observances if they were allowed to do so, out of concern that
events would be repeated.
 This is in addition to the actions of the authorities during the 2017 Hajj season:
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
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With the approach of the 2017 Hajj season, the Saudi authorities erected impediments and barriers to Qatari
citizens and residents wishing to perform the obligation of the Hajj, “the fifth pillar of Islam.”
These barriers amounted to a prohibition, because the authorities refused to work or coordinate with the Ministry
of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar to enable those wishing to perform the
obligation to do so.
The authorities have continued thus far to erect impediments and barriers to performing religious rites and
observances before Qatari citizens and residents. This is in addition to the complaints submitted by the owners of
Hajj and Umrah carriers in the State of Qatar about the complications and difficulties that have beset the
performance of Umrah rituals for residents of the State, including:
 Closure of the electronic registration portal for the Hajj and Umrah and all Umrah performers from the State
of Qatar not being allowed to register;
 Prevention by the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of monetary transfers between Qatari carriers
and Saudi Umrah agents authorized to grant Umrah permits; and
 The Saudi authorities’ continued refusal to work or coordinate with the Ministry of Religious Endowments and
Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar.
All of this definitively confirms that the Saudi authorities are continuing the policy of politicizing religious
observances, which has inflicted enormous harm and financial losses on the State of Qatar since the beginning
of the blockade because performance of Hajj and Umrah is prevented. Such harm and financial loss is
exemplified in:
 The loss to the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs in connection with Hajj and Umrah
affairs, which amounts to approximately SAR 4,500,000, and other losses resulting from the blockade imposed
on the State of Qatar; and
 Burdensome losses to Hajj and Umrah carriers. We have communicated with nine carriers and obtained an
accounting of their losses for this year:
Carrier Name Monetary Losses
Al-Forgan Carrier 7 million
Fifth Pillar Carrier 4 million
Al-Hamadi Carrier 2 million
Labbaik Carrier 6 million
Al-Hoda Carrier 2.7 million
Tawba Carrier 2.7 million
Qatar Carrier 400 thousand riyals
Hatem Carrier 2.7 million
Al-Quds Carrier 3 million
Total QAR 30.5 million
In connection with material harm and losses, there is definite, serious psychological and intangible harm that have
befallen all Qatari citizen and resident Muslims as a result of their being deprived of their right to work and engage
in religious observances, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bears full religious, moral, rights-based, and legal
responsibility therefor.
[logo:] NHRC 16
Since the start of the blockade up to this day, the NHRC has noted 163 violations. Here are some testimonies of
victims who suffered such violations:
 Mr. A. Sh., a Qatari national born in 1978, visited the NHRC’s headquarters and gave his testimony, detailing
the violation he suffered: “I made a reservation at a hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and I bought travel tickets
for 27,000 riyals in order to perform the obligation of the Umrah, but the decision prevented me from
performing this religious observance, and the hotel refused to refund the money for my reservation.”
 Ms. F.A., a Palestinian born in 1950, expressed her regret that she could not perform the obligation of the Hajj
in 2017. She gave her testimony to the NHRC: “After waiting five years to perform the Hajj obligation, my
children and I were barred from performing it this year, and I am a sick and elderly widow.”
 Mr. A.A., a Qatari national born in 1981, detailed the violation he suffered to the NHRC: “I made reservations
at a hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and I paid 104,650 riyals for hotel reservations. I booked travel tickets to go
for the Umrah, but I was blocked from going because of the blockade decision against the State of Qatar that
bars its citizens from traveling to the blockading states.”
H. INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE AND HATRED
The NHRC has recorded hundreds of instances of hate speech which, in some cases, reached the level of
incitement and provocation to commit terrorist bombings in the State of Qatar. Some television series have
resorted to inciting children against the neighboring country of Qatar. We have also recorded discriminatory
speech that aims to disparage and shame Qatari citizens. Such speech has increased dramatically due to the
blatant involvement of some official advisors and media personalities in it. Indeed, merely wearing the uniforms of
FC Barcelona or Paris Saint Germain has come to be viewed as an expression of sympathy, and the wearer is
punished due to the presence of the names and logos of Qatar Airways and QNB on those uniforms.
We can summarize the cases of hate speech and incitement of violence as follows:
 Use of hate speech in songs, television series, and documentary films;
 Use of social media celebrities to disparage the State of Qatar, including its people and symbols;
 Disparagement of the symbols of the State in newspaper cartoons in neighboring states; and
 Incitement to conduct acts of sabotage and terrorism in the State of Qatar, and incitement to strike the State
of Qatar and its media with missiles.
It is no secret that all of this media and artistic effort to incite hatred and violence will generate extreme reactions
among the various segments of society that may bring about the commission of criminal acts not just against
Qatari citizens, but also may generate reactions among the Qatari population against the three states and Egypt.
This poses a threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region. We at the NHRC have recorded the
names and capacities of every person who has incited violence and hatred that our researchers have been able to
identify. We hold them responsible for any act of discriminatory terrorist violence that harms any Qatari citizen or
any citizen of the three states and Egypt.
International law clearly criminalizes hate speech and violence, as provided by Article 20 of the International
[logo:] NHRC 17
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as does Article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prohibits any call for national, racial, or religious hate, and deems such calls
to be incitement of hostility and violence.
Due to the incitement of violence and hate speech by the blockading states, Qataris in the blockading states have
been subject to defacement of their vehicles and have had stones thrown at them. Further, hatred, hostility, and
discrimination toward Qatari citizens by some citizens of neighboring states has been a result.
D. VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO HEALTH, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE DISABLED
40
35
25
20
15
10
5
0
June July August November
This chart shows the increase in violations of the right to health from June to November 2017.
Hundreds of patients from the three blockade countries who were being treated in Qatari hospitals were harmed,
as well as Qataris who were receiving treatment in these three countries’ hospitals. Citizens were instructed to
leave without any exceptions for cases of illness or special groups such as pregnant women, young children, or
even infants and the handicapped. This clearly demonstrates the extent of the blatant recklessness being shown by
the three blockading countries toward their own ailing citizens, and the depth of their disregard for the most
fundamental human rights. The most basic right to health is the right not to be discriminated against. Therefore,
the three blockade countries have no right to expel Qatari patients based on a political disagreement. The right to
health is explicitly provided for in several international charters and treaties, including Article 25 of the
International Declaration of Human Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.
 Mrs. N. A., a citizen of the UAE who has a Qatari son, stated: “I can’t go to the UAE because of the blockade on
the State of Qatar. My passport will expire in two months, and I can’t travel for fear that I might not be able to
return to Qatar. I’m sick and I need to be treated outside the country, but because of my passport [being
about to] expire, I haven’t been able to go for treatment because I’m currently receiving treatment in Qatar.”
 A young man, R. M., a Qatari national born in 1994, told the NHRC, “I had an operation on my right cornea in
Bahrain in January this year, and now I have pain in the eye after the stitches on the cornea opened up. When
I
[logo:] NHRC 18
went to a hospital in Qatar, they told me I would need to see the doctor who performed the procedure in
Bahrain, but because of the blockade against Qatar, I haven’t been able to. I need to do so as soon as possible
because the pain is getting worse, and I have infections [in the wound].”
 Mrs. R. T., a Qatari woman born in 1986, told the NHRC she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to complete
treatment in Bahrain. “I had an operation in Bahrain in January, and I need to complete the remaining part of
the operation during the same year, but I haven’t been able to travel because of relations with Qatar being cut
off.”
J. THE RIGHT TO LITIGATION
The right of access to the judiciary is the legitimate and legal means of protecting human rights, preventing human
rights violations, keeping them from recurring, and ensuring justice for victims in keeping with the principle of
reparation set forth in human rights agreements through recourse to litigation and through the provision of
procedures necessary to achieve this end. Given the consequences of the blockade against Qatar, however, Qatari
citizens and residents have not been able to access the courts in the blockade countries.
What has happened as a result of the blockade being imposed against Qatar has caused many violations which
require recourse to the blockading countries’ local judiciaries. Such violations include the following:
1. Violation of the right to ownership. These individuals possess the right to litigation because they have
properties and businesses due to previous commercial activities or inheritances. However, they have been
prevented from completing the necessary litigation procedures or following up on cases already before the courts.
2. The right to education. These individuals were studying in the blockading countries, and some of them had
paid their tuition as well as their residency fees. However, they have not been able to recover their money.
3. Hotel and airplane reservations were made, and the victims have not been able to claim their rights.
The NHRC has recorded egregious violations of the right to litigation. The following are the most salient aspects of
these violations:
 Hindering Qatari citizens and residents from exercising their right to litigation before the courts in the
blockading countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
 Not allowing Qatari citizens and residents to appear before the courts by preventing them from entering the
blockade countries. This constitutes a violation of their right to litigation and other rights related thereto, such
as the right to defense.
 Making it difficult for their legal representatives to initiate legal proceedings on their behalf.
 Refusal by law firms in the blockade countries to take on the cases of litigants who are Qatari citizens or
residents and neglecting to follow up on cases they had already taken on.
 Non-implementation of verdicts issued in favor of Qatari citizens.
 Nullification of verdicts issued in favor of Qatari citizens and residents due to their inability to pursue their
cases and exercise their right to litigation and legal defense.
 Mr. (I. A.), a Qatari national born in 1964, told the NHRC, “I have land, real estate, and private automobiles in
the UAE, so I need to check on my property, collect financial returns, and follow up on committees and real
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estate administrative procedures. However, because of the blockade and the fact that Qatari citizens aren’t
allowed into the blockade countries, I’ve faced fines, I’ve been delayed in my ability to make use of facilities, and
my real estate properties have been frozen. This has caused me major financial harm, including a monthly loss of
around 40,000 riyals, and a commercial loss of more than 16 million UAE dirhams.”
 Mr. (B. Th. [and] A. M.), both Qatari nationals, presented their complaint to the NHRC, saying, “We inherited
several real estate properties from our late father in the UAE (Sharjah). But the properties are still in our
father’s name, and still haven’t been transferred. There is an executive case, as well as approximately 133
million dirhams, bearing in mind that the real estate properties are located in the industrial zone, and some of
them are being rented out.”
Fifth: Conclusions and legal profile:
Through their arbitrary decisions and illegal measures, the governments of the blockade countries have violated,
and continue to violate, several rules and principles of international human rights law. They have, for example,
clearly violated several articles of the International Declaration of Human Rights, and articles of both the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, as well as articles of other legal instruments, the most salient of these being:
The Arab Human Rights Charter, the Declaration of Human Rights of the Gulf Cooperation States, and the
Economic Agreement Between the Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council
The blockade countries have also violated the Chicago Agreement by banning Qatari civil aircraft from flying over
their regions without justification, war-related necessity, or reasons of relevance to public security.
The articles which the three Gulf countries have violated are as follows:
First: The International Declaration of Human Rights:
Articles 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 19, 23, 25, and 26
Second: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
Part II (Article 2), and Part III (Articles 9, 12, 13, 14, 20, 23, and 24)
Third: The International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights:
Part III (Articles 6, 10, 12, and 13)
Fourth: The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination:
Article 4
Fifth: The Arab Human Rights Charter:
Article 3
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1. Every state which is party to this Charter pledges to guarantee to each individual under its mandate the rights
and freedoms provided for in this Charter without discrimination based on race, color, gender, language,
religious belief, opinion, thought, national or social origin, wealth, birth, or physical or mental disability.
Article (8)
1. No person may be tortured physically or psychologically, or subjected to cruel, degrading, demeaning, or
inhumane treatment.
Article (11)
All persons are equal before the law and have the right to be protected thereby without discrimination.
Article (12)
1. All persons are equal before the judiciary, and Party States shall guarantee the independence of the judiciary
and protect judges from any interference, pressures, or threats. They shall also guarantee the right to
litigation in its various degrees to every person under their mandate.
Article (13)
1. Every person shall have the right to a fair trial with sufficient guarantees by a competent, independent, and
partial court previously established by law in the face of any criminal accusation raised against him or her, or
to rule on his or her rights and obligations. Moreover, each Party State shall guarantee that those who are
financially incapable will receive legal aid to defend their rights.
2. The trial shall be public unless, in exceptional circumstances, the interests of justice dictate otherwise in a
society which respects freedoms and human rights.
Article (26)
1. Every person legally present in the territory of a Party State shall enjoy freedom of movement and the
freedom to choose where he or she shall reside in said territory within the limits of the laws in force.
Article (32)
1. This Charter guarantees the right to [access] the media, freedom of thought, opinion, and expression, as well
as the right to obtain news and transmit it to others by any means and without consideration for geographical
boundaries.
2. These rights and freedoms shall be exercised within the framework of the fundamental components of society
and shall only be subject to those restrictions imposed by respect for others’ rights or reputation, or by the
need to preserve national security or public order, health or morals.
Article (33)
1. The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society. The basis for the family’s formation is marriage
between a man and a woman, who, from the time when they reach marriageable age, shall have the right to
marry and establish a family in keeping with the conditions and pillars of marriage. Marriage shall only take
place with the full consent of both parties thereto, and without compulsion. The man’s and the woman’s
rights and duties shall be regulated by the legislation in force when the marriage goes into effect, throughout
its duration, and upon its dissolution.
2. The state and society shall guarantee families’ protection, strengthen their bonds, protect the individuals
belonging to them, and prohibit all forms of violence and mistreatment by its members, particularly against
women and children. Mothers, young children, the elderly, and those with special needs shall be ensured the
necessary protection and care, while teenagers and young adults shall be guaranteed maximum opportunities
for physical and mental development.
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3. Party States shall take all legislative, administrative, and judicial measures necessary to guarantee a child’s
protection, survival, development and welfare in an atmosphere of freedom and dignity. The child’s best
interest shall be the fundamental criterion for determining all measures taken in this connection in all
circumstances and whether he or she is delinquent or liable to become so.
Sixth: The Declaration of Human Rights of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Article (6)
Freedom of religious faith and practice is the right of every person in keeping with the Law insofar as the exercise
of such freedom does not prejudice public order or public morals.
Article (9)
Freedom of opinion and expression is the right of every person, and the exercise of this right is guaranteed to
everyone insofar as it is consistent with Islamic Law, public order, and the laws regulating such matters.
Article (14)
The family, consisting of a man and a woman and governed by religion, morals, and love of country, is the natural
and fundamental unit of society. The family entity is preserved, and its ties strengthened, by religion, which
protects mothers, young children, and other members of the family from all forms of abuse and domestic violence.
The protection of the family is to be ensured by society and the State.
Article (24)
Work is a right of every able-bodied person. Each individual shall have the right to choose the type [of work he or
she engages in] in keeping with the requirements of dignity and the public interest. The fairness of the terms of
employment and the rights of both employees and employers shall be guaranteed.
Article (27)
Private property is protected. No person shall be prevented from disposing of his or her personal property beyond
the bounds of the Law. Nor may anyone’s property be wrested from him or her except in the service of the public
interest and in return for just compensation.
Article (32)
People are equal before the judiciary, and the right to litigation is guaranteed to everyone within a fully
independent judiciary.
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Sixth: Recommendations of the National Human Rights Council:
Freedom of religious faith and practice is the right of every person in keeping with the Law insofar as the exercise
of such freedom does not prejudice public order or public morals.
To the international community:
It is vital that immediate action is taken to end the blockade, and that every possible effort be made to mitigate its
repercussions for the residents of Qatar and citizens of the blockade countries.
To the United Nations and the High Commission on Human Rights:
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights constituted and sent a technical mission to Doha from November 18
and 23 2017 to determine the effects of the blockade on the human rights situation of the citizens and residents of
Doha, Qatar and some citizens of the GCC countries. On this basis we demand:
First: That the blockade countries be addressed concerning the need to cease and desist their blockade of Qatar;
that they correct the violations caused by the arbitrary, unilateral measures they have taken; and that they ensure
justice for the victims and compensate them for the material and psychological damages they have suffered.
Second: That a presentation be made of the reports and statements documenting the various types of violations
that have affected huge numbers of people, particularly as they relate to the splitting of families. Such reports and
statements should address the alarming implications of family disintegration for women and children, and the
blockade countries should be pressed to respect the basic freedoms of those residing in their territories.
Third: That a detailed report on human rights violations be submitted to the Council on Human Rights, state
rapporteurs, and contractual mechanisms to address these violations and ensure that they are not repeated.
To the Human Rights Council:
 To issue a resolution, take all possible measures toward lifting the blockade, put an end to the violations
to which it has led, and provide compensation to all individuals who suffered damages.
 To form a fact-finding committee and conduct direct interviews with the victims.
To the special rapporteurs on the Human Rights Council:
First: To respond quickly to the reports of the National Human Rights Council and to letters from victims, and
issue urgent and joint calls to act in this connection.
Second: To urge the governments of the blockading countries to eliminate the violations and extend justice to the
victims.
Third: To make field visits to Qatar and the blockading countries to gather information on the human rights
violations resulting from the blockade.
Fourth: To record the violations committed by the blockading countries in the periodic reports that are submitted
to the Human Rights Council.
To the Secretariat-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council:
To call upon the legal affairs sector in the Secretariat-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, an in particular its
Human Rights Bureau, to demand that the blockading countries eliminate the violations, extend justice to the
victims, and put a stop to any new arbitrary measures.
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To the blockade countries:
First: Commit to respect the pledges listed in the human rights agreements which you have ratified and joined.
Second: Cease these violations, correct them, and extend justice to the victims.
Third: Respond to the NHRC’s reports and international reports.
Fourth: Allow international organizations and missions to make field visits to familiarize themselves closely with
the humanitarian situations, identify responsibilities, and extend justice to the victims.
Fifth: Cease allowing politics to impact humanitarian and social conditions and stop using them as a bargaining
chip because doing so is a violation of international law and international human rights law.
To the Government of Qatar:
First: Take all possible steps at the international level, at the level of the Security Council, and before the
international courts and arbitration tribunals to lift the blockade on Qatar’s citizens and residents, and to provide
justice for the victims.
Second: Call upon the Compensation Commission to expedite litigation procedures in order to ensure justice for
the victims.
Third: Facilitate procedures to integrate students into Qatari universities and the Qatari educational system and
address the humanitarian situations of those who have been injured.
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Doha, Qatar
٦ أشهر من الانتهاكات ..
ماذا بعد؟!
التقرير العام الرابع لانتهاكات
نسان جراء حصار دولة C حقوق ا
قطر
٥ ديسمبر ٢٠١٧ م
1
فهرس التقرير
أولاً ملخص
نبذة تعريفية عن اللجنة ? ثاني
منهجية التقرير ? ثالث
أهم الانتهاكات التي وقعت:
طفال L النساء وا ? سر، خصوص L ألف: قطع شمل ا
باء: التوقف عن متابعة التعليم
تاء: التوقف عن العمل
ثاء: انتهاك حرية الرأي والتعبير
قامة _ جيم: انتهاك الحق في التَّنقل و ا
حاء: انتهاك حق الملكية
خاء: الحرمان من تأدية الشعائر الدينية
دال: التحريض على العنف والكراهية
عاقة _ طفال وذوي ا L ذال: انتهاك الحق في الصحة، خاصة النساء وا
راء: الحق في التقاضي
? رابع
الاستنتاجات والتوصيف القانوني ? خامس
التوصيات ? سادس
سان، الدوحة – قطر، ٢٠1٧ 􀁿 جميع حقوق الطباعة محفوظة للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الان
٢
أولاً: ملخص:
ض على دولة قطر منذ تاريخ 5 يونيو ٢٠1٧ م و حتى يومنا هذا من 􀀺 ساني المفرو 􀁿 سار غير الاإن 􀂁 ستمر الح 􀁿 ي
صر 􀂁 سافة اإلى جمهورية م 􀀺 سعودية وا إ لامارات العربية المتحدة ومملكة البحرين بالاإ 􀁿 قبل كل من المملكة العربية ال
ستمر معه الاإنتهاكات دون اأية تجاوب من هذه الدول لمعالجتها 􀁿 العربية. كما ت
سد 􀀹 سة بتلك الاإنتهاكات ، ور 􀀹 سلة تقارير خا 􀁿 سل 􀀷 ب إ اعداد NHRC سان 􀁿 و لهذا تقوم اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سادية المترتبة عليها . 􀂁 سانية، والتداعيات الاجتماعية والاقت 􀁿 وتوثيق ا آ لاثار الاإن
نحو 45٠ جهة حقوقية ومنظمات دولية NHRC سان 􀁿 ض خاطبت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀹 سو 􀂁 و بهذا الخ
سبب بها 􀁿 سانية التي ت 􀁿 سدةً لهم بالتحرك العاجل لمعالجة آ اثار ا أ لازمة الاإن 􀀸 واإقليمية حكومية وغير حكومية منا
سم أ اوروبية وعالمية لتعريفهم بحجم الانتهاكات القائمة على دولة قطر 􀀹 سار. وقامت ب 33 زيارة لعوا 􀂁 الح
سدره اللجنة لتوثيق هذه الانتهاكات بجانب 􀂁 سار. وهذا هو التقرير الرابع العام الذي ت 􀂁 من قبل دول الح
أعدتها:- 􀀫 لتي 􀀫 لعامة 􀀫 لتقارير 􀀫 سلة 􀁿 سل 􀀷
. سار 13 يونيو ٢٠1٧ 􀂁 سان لدولة قطر جراء الح 􀁿 1. التقرير الاأول لانتهاكات حقوق ا إ لان
. سار 1يوليو ٢٠1٧ 􀂁 سان لدولة قطر جراء الح 􀁿 ٢. التقرير الثاني لانتهاكات حقوق ا إ لان
. ض ٢٠1٧ 􀁿 سط 􀁿 سار 3٠ اأغ 􀂁 سان لدولة قطر جراء الح 􀁿 3. التقرير الثالث لانتهاكات حقوق ا إ لان
سة:- 􀀹 لخا 􀀫 لانتهاكات 􀀫 ساً تقارير 􀂬 أي􀀫
. سبتمبر ٢٠1٧ 􀀷 1. تقرير انتهاك الحق في التعليم 5
. ض ٢٠1٧ 􀁿 سط 􀁿 سعائر الدينية ٢4 اأغ 􀂀 ٢. تقرير الحرمان من تاأدية ال
. ض ٢٠1٧ 􀁿 سط 􀁿 3. تقرير انتهاك الحق في الملكية 3٠ اأغ
. سبتمبر ٢٠1٧ 􀀷 4. تقرير انتهاك الحق في الغذاء والدواء 3
سار ، 􀂁 سية من جراء الح 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سحايا جدد انتهكت حقوقهم ا أ لا 􀂫 سهادات جديدة ل 􀀸 سيتطرق هذا التقرير اإلى ذكر 􀀷 و
سار، 􀂁 ستمر الح 􀀷 سي طالما ا 􀀷 سا 􀀷 بتحديث هذا التقرير ا أ لا NHRC سان 􀁿 سمر اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 ست 􀀷 . كما
سحايا . 􀂫 سكاوى من ال 􀂀 ستمر تدفق ال 􀀷 وا
سان الحكومية 􀁿 العديد من المنظمات الدولية لحقوق ا إ لان NHRC سان 􀁿 ستقبلت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 وقد ا
OHCHR سان با أ لامم المتحدة 􀁿 سامية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سية ال 􀀺 منها و غير الحكومية مثل البعثة الفنية التابعة للمفو
مرتين خلال الفترة من )Amnesty( ٢3 نوفمبر ٢٠1٧ ، بعثة منظمة العفو الدولية - خلال الفترة من 18
خلال الفترة من HRW ض􀂀 ض وت 􀁿 3٠ نوفمبر ٢٠1٧ ، وبعثة منظمة هيومن راي - 8-6 يونيو ٢٠1٧ و ٢8
ستقبلت اللجنة 􀀷 ٢5 يوليو ٢٠1٧ . كما ا - الدولية خلال الفترة ٢٢ AFD ٢٠-19 يونيو ٢٠1٧ ، ومنظمة
ض الاطلاع على الانتهاكات 􀀺 ساً وفود برلمانية من دول اأوروبية بغر 􀂫 اأي NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سار. 􀂁 سبب الح 􀁿 الواقعة على دولة قطر ب
لخليجية 􀀫 سار 􀂁 لح􀀫 طناً من دول 􀀫 بة 11387 مو 􀀫 سلنا عليها، يُقيم في دولة قطر قر 􀂁 لتي ح 􀀫 لبيانات 􀀫 سب 􀁿 بح
لدول، 􀀫 طناً قطرياً في تلك 􀀫 بة 1927 مو 􀀫 لثلاث، ويُقيم قر 􀀫
3
نسان _ : نبذة تعريفية عن اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق ا ? ثاني
سان 􀁿 سات الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 س􀀷 هي جزء مما يعرف بالم ؤ و NHRC سان بدولة قطر 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق ا إ لان
سل هذه 􀂁 ض والتي اعتمدتها الجمعية العامة ل أ لامم المتحدة، وتح 􀁿 سمى بمبادئ باري 􀁿 ساأ وفق ما ي 􀂀 التي تُن ،NHRIs
سوعها 􀂫 بعد خ GANHRI سان 􀁿 سات الوطنية لحقوق ا إ لان 􀁿 س􀀷 سوية في التحالف العالمي للم ؤ و 􀂫 سات على الع 􀁿 س􀀷 الم ؤ و
سات 􀁿 س􀀷 سم الموؤ 􀁿 صراف ق 􀀸 وباإ ،GANNRI التابعة للتحالف SCA لعملية اعتماد من اللجنة الفرعية للاعتماد
OHCHR سان 􀁿 سامية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سية ال 􀀺 التابع للمفو NRCS الوطنية والاآليات ا إ لاقليمية والمجتمع المدني
ساأت 􀂀 واأن ،GANHRI في التحالف )SCA( سكرتارية اللجنة الفرعية للاعتماد 􀀷 وهي بمثابة ا أ لامانة العامة و
سان كما حددتها 􀁿 ساتها وولايتها لحماية وتعزيز حقوق الاإن 􀀹 سا 􀂁 في عام ٢٠٠٢ باخت NHRC اللجنة الوطنية
مرة A سنيفها ب 􀂁 سنوات، وتم اإعادة ت 􀀷 في عام ٢٠1٠ لمدة 5 A سنيف 􀂁 سلت على ت 􀂁 ض وح 􀁿 مبادئ باري
ستقلالية 􀀷 سداقية والا 􀂁 سة وطنية ويدل على الم 􀁿 س􀀷 سنيف يعطى لم ؤ و 􀂁 سنوات، وهو أ اعلى ت 􀀷 أ اخرى في ٢٠15 لمدة 5
ض. 􀁿 والامتثال التام لمبادئ باري
: منهجية التقرير: ? ثالث
تتلقى في مقرها NHRC سان 􀁿 سار دولة قطر 184 يوماً، ولازالت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂁 مر على ح
سببت في 􀁿 سار التي ت 􀂁 صررين من قرارات دول الح 􀂫 سحايا مت 􀀺 سكاوى من 􀀸 سمة القطرية الدوحة 􀀹 سمي بالعا 􀀷 الر
صر، التعليم، الملكية، التنقل والاإقامة، 􀀷 سمل الاأ 􀀸 لتالية: لم 􀀫 لمجالات 􀀫 سان طالت 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 نتهاكات عدة لحقوق 􀀫
سحة، والعمل وغيرها من الانتهاكات ا أ لاخرى. 􀂁 سعائر الدينية، وال 􀂀 سة ال 􀀷 وممار
سانية، انتهاكاً لجميع بنود 􀁿 سعدة الاإن 􀀹 صرار على كافة الاأ 􀀺 سار وما ترتب عليها من اأ 􀂁 وتعتبر قرارات دول الح
صرائع والقوانين وا أ لاعراف الدولية، و أ اجبرت تلك ا إ لاجراءات 􀂀 ض عليها في كافة ال 􀀹 سو 􀂁 سان المن 􀁿 حقوق ا إ لان
سون 􀂫 سي مواطني دولة قطر على الخروج من الدول الخليجية الثلاث في غ 􀀺 المعلنة فجاأة في 5 من يونيو الما
ست أ احيانا بالتفريق بين المرء وزوجه 􀂫 سيها، وق 􀀺 14 يوما، ومنعت أ اي مواطن قطري من الدخول إ الى اأرا
سانية. 􀁿 ض الحائط بجميع المبادئ والمعايير الحقوقية والاإن 􀀺 صرب عر 􀂫 وا أ لام ووليدها، وذلك بقرارات ت
سيلة 􀂁 ض لاأكثر من نوع واحد من الانتهاكات، وبالتالي ف إ انَّ ح 􀀺 لابُدَّ من التذكير هنا أ ان الفرد الواحد قد يتعرَّ 􀁴
ض 􀀺 سجلنا حوادث تعرَّ 􀀷 الملفات التي تُعبِّرر عن جميع الانتهاكات هي بالتاأكيد أ اكبر من مجموع ا أ لافراد، فقد
سلة تعليمه، ومن التَّنقل، فهذه ثلاثة انتهاكات وقعت على فرد 􀀹 صرته، ومُنع من موا 􀀷 صرُّد عن اأُ 􀂀 فيها الفرد للت
واحد.
ساركة حالات تلك 􀂀 سار وتوثيق الانتهاكات الواقعة بحقهم، بم 􀂁 سحايا الح 􀂫 ستقبالها ل 􀀷 تقوم اللجنة بعد ا 􀁴
سة. 􀂁 الانتهاكات على نحوٍ متتالٍ مع الجهات الحقوقية والقانونية الدولية المخت
.NHRC سان 􀁿 سار مع تقارير اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂁 متابعة مدى تجاوب دول الح 􀁴
التي تم رفعها للجهات الحقوقية NHRC سان 􀁿 متابعة حالات الانتهاكات من قبل اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁴
سل لكل حق على 􀂁 سكلٍ مف 􀂀 سنذكره ب 􀀷 سة ومحاولة رفع الانتهاك عنها، وهذا ما 􀂁 والقانونية والدولية المخت
حده.
سار و التي لا تزال 􀂁 سوء على أ اهم الانتهاكات التي وقعت على دولة قطر جراء الح 􀂫 سلطنا ال 􀀷 وفي هذا التقرير
سحايا لكل نوع من اأنواع الانتهاكات، حفاظاً 􀂫 ض ال 􀂫 سهادات بع 􀀸 ض 􀀺 ستمرة حتى ا آ لان، وذلك باختيار وعر 􀁿 م
ستمارات والوثائق كافة، 􀀷 سول على الا 􀂁 سة الح 􀂁 على حجم مُعيَّن للتقرير، مع التاأكيد أ انَّ ب إ امكان الجهات المخت
سلامتهم. 􀀷 سياتهم واأمنهم و 􀀹 سو 􀂁 سحايا حفاظاً خ 􀂫 سماء ال 􀀷 سارة إ الى ا أ لاحرف ا أ لاولى من اأ 􀀸 كما قمنا بالاإ
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سار، ولم نتلقَ في اللجنة 􀂁 وننوه هنا ب أ ان الحكومة القطرية لم تَقُم ب أ اي إ اجراء مماثل بحق مواطني دول الح
ساء لجنة المطالبة 􀂀 ض. كما قامت دولة قطر باإن 􀀹 سو 􀂁 سكوى في هذا الخ 􀀸 اأية NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
للجنة بالاآتي:- 􀀫 ص هذه 􀂁 سار بتاريخ ٢٢ يونيو ٢٠1٧ ، وتخت 􀂁 صرار الناجمة من الح 􀀺 سات عن الاأ 􀂫 بالتعوي
سة والقطاع العام. 􀀹 سات الخا 􀁿 س􀀷 سات من قبل الافراد والموؤ 􀂫 سكاوى المطالبة بالتعوي 􀀸 ستقبال 􀀷 1. ا
صررين. 􀂫 ساب المت 􀀹 صرر الذي ا 􀂫 سبب في ال 􀀷 سار 􀂁 سكاوى من الناحية القانونية بحيث يكون الح 􀂀 ٢. البحث في تلك ال
صررين. 􀂫 ض المت 􀂫 سار لتعوي 􀂁 3. تكليف مكاتب محاماة دولية لبحث أ اوجه اإمكانية رفع دعاوى على دول الح
ض والافراد وبين مكاتب المحاماة لتزويدهم بالوثائق 􀀹 سيق بين جهات الدولة والقطاع الخا 􀁿 صراف والتن 􀀸 4. الاإ
اللازمة.
5. المتابعة عن كثب دعوى دولة قطر في منظمة التجارة العالمية وتزويدها باللازم.
سات حيث تقوم 􀂫 و لجنة المطالبة بالتعوي NHRC سان 􀁿 وهناك علاقة وتعاون بين اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
ستمرارية عقد العديد من 􀀷 صررين إ اليها وا 􀂫 ستقبلتها من المت 􀀷 سكاوى التي ا 􀂀 اللجنة الوطنية باإحالة كافة ملفات ال
ض عليه في الاتفاقيات الدولية 􀀹 سو 􀂁 صرر المن 􀂫 سحايا وتحقيق مبد أ ا جبر ال 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 الاجتماعات معها، من اأجل اإن
والاإقليمية.
بمخاطبة كلاً NHRC سان 􀁿 سعيها الدائم إ الى معالجة الانتهاكات قامت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 وفي اإطار
من:
. سبتمبر ٢٠1٧ 􀀷 سعودية بتاريخ ٢4 􀁿 سان – ال 􀁿 الجمعية الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁴
سان وجهت لها ثلاث خطابات:- 􀁿 جمعية ا إ لامارات لحقوق الاإن 􀁴
. 1. بتاريخ 8 اأكتوبر ٢٠1٧
. ٢. بتاريخ 15 اأكتوبر ٢٠1٧
3. بتاريخ ٢3 اأكتوبر ٢٠1٧
صر بتاريخ ٢ اأكتوبر ٢٠1٧ م. 􀂁 سان بم 􀁿 ض القومي لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 المجل 􀁴
سل مع 􀀹 سعي و التوا 􀁿 ض ال 􀀺 سحايا بغر 􀂫 كافة قوائم ال NHRC سان 􀁿 سلت لهم اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 حيث أ ار
ض القومي 􀁿 سلطاتهم لمعالجة تلك الانتهاكات، ولم تتلقى اللجنة اأي ردود من طرفهم حتى ا آ لان، عدا المجل 􀀷
سل 􀀹 ستمرة للتوا 􀁿 سير هنا إ الى محاولات اللجنة الم 􀂀 صر الذي تعامل باإيجابية مع خطابها ، ون 􀂁 سان بم 􀁿 لحقوق ا إ لان
في مملكة البحرين دون جدوى. NHRC سان 􀁿 سة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 س􀀷 مع الم ؤ و
نوفمبر
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٥٠٠
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
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: أهم الانتهاكات التي وقعت: ? رابع
والتي NHRC سان 􀁿 سجلتها اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 سب الانتهاكات التي 􀁿 يُظهِرُ الجدول التالي فرزاً بح
سب الدولة التي قامت بالانتهاك، 􀁿 سلت إ الى 39٧٠ حالة حتى تاريخ اإعداد هذا التقرير، وقد تم توزيعها بح 􀀹 و
سب نوع كل انتهاك وقع بحق مواطني ومقيمي دولة قطر: 􀁿 وبح
سار الموافق 􀂁 سة بالانتهاكات الواقعة على دولة قطر منذ بداية الح 􀀹 سائيات الخا 􀂁 سح هذا الجدول آ اخر الاإح 􀀺 يو
سمبر ٢٠1٧ ، حيث وقع 5٠4 انتهاكاً للحق في التعليم ، 11٧4 انتهاكاً للحق في 􀁿 5 يونيو ٢٠1٧ وحتى 5 دي
سحة، 􀂁 صر ، 1٢61 انتهاكاً للحق في التنقل، 3٧ انتهاكاً للحق في ال 􀀷 سمل الاأ 􀀸 الملكية، 6٢9 انتهاكاً للحق في لم
سعائر الدينية، 1٠9 انتهاكاً للحق في العمل، و 93 انتهاكاً للحق في الاإقامة. 􀂀 سة ال 􀀷 163 انتهاكاً للحق في ممار
طفال: L النساء وا ? سر، خصوص L ألف: قطع شمل ا
سهر يونيو وحتى نوفمبر 2017 􀀸 سر من 􀀷 لاأ 􀀫 سمل 􀀸 لانتهاكات في قطع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 رتفاع ن 􀀫 سح 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
تاريخ
حصائية _ ٥ ديسمبر ٢٠١٧ ا
الانتهاك
البلد التي قامت
بالانتهاك
التعليم الملكية لم شمل
سرة التنقل الصحة L ا
ممارسة
الشعائر
الدينية
جمالي _ قامة ا _ العمل ا
السعودية ٢١٣٣ ٥٧ ٦٦ ١٦٣ ١٩ ٧٥٣ ٣٣٦ ٦٧٧ 62
٩٩٧ ٤ ٦ - مارات ٤ ٣٣٤ ٨٠ ٤٢٣ 146 _ ا
٥٠٢ ٣٢ ٣٧ - البحرين ١٤ ١٢٦ ٢١٣ ٥٢ ٢٨
٣٢٩ - - - - ٣٩ - متنوع 22 268
٩ - - - - المجموع - - - 9
٣٩٧٠ ٩٣ ١٠٩ ١٦٣ ٣٧ 1261 ٦٢٩ ١١٧٤ ٥٠٤
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ض على دولة قطر ، و أ ابرزها تلك التي طالت 􀀺 سار المفرو 􀂁 ساأن انتهاكات الح 􀂀 سكاوى ب 􀂀 تلقت اللجنة اآلاف ال
ساء، والاأطفال، 􀁿 ستيت الن 􀂀 صر الخليجية الواحدة، و نتج عن ذلك ت 􀀷 صر الاأُ 􀀹 سمل ، حيث قطعت أ اوا 􀀸 الحق في لم
سن، وحرمان الاأمهات وا آ لاباء من البقاء مع اأبنائهم واأطفالهم. 􀁿 ض ذوي الاإعاقة، وكبار ال 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 والاأ
سبب طلب مغادرة 􀁿 سنين، حيث ت 􀁿 ساهرة تعود لمئات ال 􀂁 سب وقرابة وم 􀁿 ويرتبط مواطنو دول الخليج بعلاقات ن
ساع غير 􀀺 سار من دولة قطر باإيجاد اأو 􀂁 ساً ترحيل مواطني دول الح 􀂫 سار واأي 􀂁 المواطنين القطريين لدول الح
سافراً لعدة مواد في القوانين الدولية، من خلال الترحيل الاإجباري للعائلات 􀀷 سانية عدا عن كونها انتهاكاً 􀁿 اإن
ستيتها، وحرمان الاأمهات والاآباء من اأبنائهم واأطفالهم. 􀂀 وت
صر 􀀷 سمل الاأ 􀀸 ستمارة تتعلق بحالات قطع 􀀷 سان قرابة 6٢9 ا 􀁿 سجلت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق ا إ لان 􀀷 سبب هذا الانتهاك 􀁿 وب
ض حالات الانتهاك 􀂫 سكل كبير. مع العلم باأن هناك بع 􀂀 سخم ب 􀀺 سيلة الحقيقية اأ 􀂁 ستيتها، لكنَّها على ثقة أ انَّ الح 􀂀 وت
سحة، وتم اإغلاق 􀀺 سوائية ومن دون آ الية وا 􀂀 ُسمح لها بالدخول، ولكن لمرة واحدة فقط و بطريقة ع 􀀷 صرية 􀀷 الاأ
الحدود تماماً بعدها.
سوت يتحدث مع اللجنة 􀀹 ض 􀀷 سية، من مواليد دولة قطر لعام 1991 م يعمل كمهند 􀁿 سعودي الجن 􀀷 ض. ف( 􀀷 سيد ) 􀁿 ال 􀁴
سار 􀂁 سماع خبر الح 􀀷 سى قائلاً: "قد ت أ اثرت اأنا وعائلتي كثيراً بعد 􀀷 بكل اأ NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
صرنا وعائلاتنا و أ اطفالنا لتنفيذ تلك القرارات، وزوجتي 􀀷 الذي اأمرنا من خلاله بمغادرة دولة قطر وترك اأ
سية". 􀁿 سطرابات نف 􀀺 ض وهي قطرية واأنا اأعاني من ا 􀀷 ساد 􀁿 سهر ال 􀂀 حامل بال
سفر إ الى 􀁿 سان فقد تمَّ حرمانها من ال 􀁿 سيدة )اإ . ر( التي أ ادلت بها للجنة الوطنية لحقوق ا إ لان 􀁿 سهادة ال 􀀸 سب 􀁿 وبح 􀁴
سية، ولدي اأطفال منه ، 􀁿 سية القطرية: " اأنا أ ام قطرية مطلقة من زوج بحريني الجن 􀁿 أ اطفالها كونها تحمل الجن
ستطع ذلك ولم 􀀷 سنة إ الى مملكة البحرين من اأجل ر ؤ وية أ اطفالي، لكن بعد القرار لم أ ا 􀁿 واأذهب أ اربع مرات في ال
سال ا أ لاولاد لقطر من اأجل أ ان أ اراهم". 􀀷 يقبل ا أ لاب باإر
،NHRC سان 􀁿 سهادتها للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂀 سية من مواليد عام 198٧ ب 􀁿 سيدة ) أ ا. ف( قطرية الجن 􀁿 أ ادلت ال 􀁴
سية ورفع مطلقي علي 􀁿 ست له : "كنت متزوجة من مواطن إ اماراتي الجن 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعر 􀀹 وذكرت تفا
سي في دولة 􀀺 سار أ امر القا 􀂁 سانة أ ابنائي وهو متزوج من امر أ اة اخرى ، وبعد قرار الح 􀂫 سقاط ح 􀀷 سية إ ا 􀂫 ق
سبب وجردني من جميع حقوقي". 􀀷 سانة عني بدون اأي 􀂫 سقاط الح 􀀷 الاإمارات ب إ ا
،NHRC سان 􀁿 سية القطرية مقرَّ اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد )خ. ع( من مواليد 1968 يحمل الجن 􀁿 زارَ ال 􀁴
سية، وبعد قرار 􀁿 سعودية و أ انا قطري الجن 􀀷 ض له هو وعائلته من انتهاك: "زوجتي 􀀺 سيل ما تعرَّ 􀀹 وذكر تفا
سعي 􀀺 ستطع اإرجاع زوجتي أ لان و 􀀷 سعودية ومغادرة قطر، لم اأ 􀁿 سار وقرار رجوع كافة المواطنين اإلى ال 􀂁 الح
سمح بذلك". 􀁿 لا ي
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باء: التوقف عن متابعة التعليم:
سهر يونيو وحتى 􀀸 لتعليم من 􀀫 لانتهاكات في حق متابعة 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
نوفمبر 2017
سكاوى حيث بلغت ما يقارب ٢36 حالة من طلاب قطريين 􀂀 سيلاً من ال 􀀷 ستقبلت اللجنة في انتهاك هذا الحق 􀀷 ا
ستهم، 􀀷 سهم فجاأة محرومين من متابعة درا 􀁿 سعودية وا إ لامارات والبحرين، وجدوا أ انف 􀁿 سون في جامعات ال 􀀷 يدر
. ض من يونيو ٢٠1٧ 􀁿 بل أ اجبروا على المغادرة إ الى وطنهم، بعد قرار تلك الدول قطع علاقاتها مع قطر في الخام
سكل هذا انتهاكاً 􀀸 ستهم 􀀷 ستكمال درا 􀀷 سفية في حرمان المئات من الطلبة من ا 􀁿 سبب ا إ لاجراءات والقرارات التع 􀁿 وب
سين في جامعة قطر على العودة إ الى 􀀷 ساً طلابها الدار 􀂫 سار اأي 􀂁 سارخاً للحق في التعليم. حيث أ اجبرت دول الح 􀀹
ستهم الجامعية ويبلغ عددهم ٧٠6 طابب 􀀷 ستكمال درا 􀀷 سعودية، ا إ لامارات، والبحرين( ومنعتهم من ا 􀁿 دولهم )ال
وطالبة.
التالي: " NHRC سان 􀁿 سية من مواليد عام 1986 للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 يقول الطالب )ح.ع( قطري الجن 􀁴
سالة 􀀷 سي للتخرج، بقي لي مادتان ور 􀀷 سل درا 􀂁 أ انا طالب في جامعة العلوم التطبيقية في البحرين وهذا آ اخر ف
سار الذي اأدى إ الى عرقلة 􀂁 سبب قرار الح 􀁿 ستطع الذهاب ب 􀀷 صرات وامتحانات ولم أ ا 􀀺 التخرج، هناك محا
ستي". 􀀷 درا
سية، طالبة 􀁿 سعودية الجن 􀀷 وهي من مواليد عام 1995 م، NHRC سان 􀁿 تقول )ن.م( للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁴
ض في 􀀷 سنوات ولدي ولدان منه، واأدر 􀀷 سية وتوفي قبل 4 􀁿 في جامعة قطر: " أ انا متزوجة من زوج قطري الجن
ستطيع أ ان 􀀷 ض المملكة واأنا لا اأ 􀀺 سعودية العودة إ الى أ ارا 􀁿 سفارة المملكة العربية ال 􀀷 جامعة قطر. وقد طلبت مني
ستي الجامعية". 􀀷 أ اترك اأولادي ودرا
سته للجنة 􀂁 سار، يروي ق 􀂁 سحايا الح 􀀺 سحية أ اخرى من 􀀺 )ح، أ ا( من مواليد دولة قطر لعام 1986 م وهو 􀁴
سار 􀂁 سبب قرار الح 􀁿 ض في الجامعة ا أ لامريكية في دولة الاإمارات وب 􀀷 اأدر " :NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سائر 􀁿 سافة اإلى الخ 􀀺 ستي الجامعية في دولة الاإمارات بالاإ 􀀷 على دولة قطر لم أ اتمكن من الذهاب لاإكمال درا
المادية والمعنوية".
سمح دولة الاإمارات 􀁿 لحالات انتهاك الحق في التعليم، لم ت NHRC سان 􀁿 ومع متابعة اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
ض الجامعات الدولية التي حولت الطلبة 􀂫 سكال، عدا بع 􀀸 سكل من الاأ 􀀸 ستهم باأي 􀀷 ستئناف درا 􀀷 لطلبة من دولة قطر با
سة أ اكبر، مما كبد الطلبة ومرافقيهم 􀂀 سفر ومعي 􀀷 سين فيها إ الى أ افرع أ اخرى خارج ا إ لامارات ولكن بتكاليف 􀀷 الدار
سوم مادية ومعنوية اأكثر من ذي قبل. 􀀷 متطلبات ور
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
سان تجاوب الجامعات القطرية التي قامت باإدماج ما يقارب 64 طالبا 􀁿 سدت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق ا إ لان 􀀹 كما ر
سار. 􀂁 صررين جراء الح 􀂫 ستثناءات للطلاب ا آ لاخرين المت 􀀷 ض الا 􀂫 صررا ، حيث قامت وزارة التعليم القطرية ببع 􀂫 مت
سر􀂁 سون في جمهورية م 􀀷 ر􀀫 لد 􀀫 لطلاب 􀀫
صرية 􀂁 سون بالجامعات الم 􀀷 سكوى من طلاب قطريين ومقيمين في دولة قطر يدر 􀀸 سدت اللجنة حوالي ٢68 􀀹 كما ر
سبتمبر 􀀷 سهر 􀀸 سي في 􀀷 سهم من دخول امتحانات نهاية العام الدرا 􀂫 ستهم، كما منع بع 􀀷 ستكمال درا 􀀷 منعوا من ا
سعها قيودا على الطلبة 􀀺 صرية من و 􀂁 سلطات الم 􀁿 سبب ا إ لاجراءات التي قامت بها ال 􀁿 ٢٠1٧ ، وقد جاء هذا المنع ب
سيرة 􀀸 سول على موافقة اأمنية قبل منحهم تاأ 􀂁 صرط الح 􀀸 صرية تمثلت في 􀂁 سون بالجامعات الم 􀀷 القطريين الذين يدر
صرية واأداء الامتحانات بها . 􀂁 ستهم بالجامعات الم 􀀷 ستكمال درا 􀀷 دخول لا
صر في هذا 􀂁 سان بم 􀁿 ض القومي لحقوق ا إ لان 􀁿 ض المجل 􀁿 رئي NHRC سان 􀁿 وقد خاطبت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
ض القومي بذلك 􀁿 سعاب أ امامهم ، وقد قام المجل 􀂁 ساتهم وتذليل ال 􀀷 ساعدة الطلاب لاإكمال درا 􀁿 س أ ان من أ اجل م 􀂀 ال
سة ، وذلك بقيام 􀀷 صرية برفع ا إ لاجراءات التي أ اعاقت انتظامهم في الدرا 􀂁 سلطات الم 􀁿 سعي لدى ال 􀁿 ، عن طريق ال
سيرة دخول و إ الغاء الموافقة الامنية المطلوبة 􀀸 سي بمنح الطلبة تاأ 􀂫 سدار تعليمات جديدة تق 􀀹 صرية ب إ ا 􀂁 سلطات الم 􀁿 ال
سابقاً. 􀀷 منهم
8
9
-:NHRC سان 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 لوطنية لحقوق 􀀫 للجنة 􀀫 لتي كانت قد تلقتها 􀀫 سكاوى 􀂀 ل􀀫 أمثلة 􀀫 ومن
صر، للجنة 􀂁 ض في جمهورية م 􀀷 سية القطرية ويدر 􀁿 ذكر الطالب )ع. ف( من مواليد عام 199٢ ، يحمل الجن 􀁴
ض له: " أ انا طالب قطري التحقت بجامعة عين 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعرَّ 􀀹 تفا NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سية الثالثة وتم منعي من 􀀷 سنة الدرا 􀁿 ض منذ عام ٢٠15 لاإكمال تعليمي في مجال القانون، و أ انا الان في ال 􀁿 سم 􀀸
سباب امنية ، ولا 􀀷 سبب ا أ لازمة الحالية ولاأني قطري تم منعي لاأ 􀁿 صر العربية ب 􀂁 تكميل تعليمي من قبل جمهورية م
سدر إ الى ا آ لان". 􀂁 سدارها ولم ت 􀀹 صرية إ لا 􀂁 سفارة الم 􀁿 ستطيع الدخول الا بفيزا امنية، وراجعت ال 􀀷 ا
ساته العليا في 􀀷 سية من مواليد عام 198٢ ، للحرمان من متابعة درا 􀁿 ض . ح ( قطري الجن 􀀹 ض الطالب ) 􀀺 تعر 􀁴
سهادته للجنة 􀂀 ستير، وقد اأدلى ب 􀁿 سنة ا أ لاخيرة من الماج 􀁿 صر وهو في ال 􀂁 سكندرية في جمهورية م 􀀷 جامعة الا
صرية 􀂁 سلطات الم 􀁿 ض له: "لقد اتخذت ال 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعرَّ 􀀹 وذكر تفا NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سماح بدخول الدولة إ الا بفيزا اأمنيه 􀁿 سفياً بمنع الطلاب القطريين من الالتحاق بجامعاتها. وعدم ال 􀁿 قراراً تع
سائر مادية تقارب 1٢ األف دولار". 􀁿 سية وخ 􀁿 سدمة نف 􀀹 سبب لنا 􀀷 وهذا ما أ اثر علينا و
سطينية وهي من مواليد عام 199٧ م، مقرَّ اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق 􀁿 سية الفل 􀁿 زارَت الطالبة )ح. م( تحمل الجن 􀁴
ست له من حرمان للتعليم في ظلِّر قرار قطع العلاقات مع دولة 􀀺 سيل ما تعرَّ 􀀹 وذكرت تفا ،NHRC سان 􀁿 الاإن
سار 􀂁 سبب الح 􀁿 ستي ب 􀀷 سف وتوقفت درا 􀂁 سنة ون 􀀷 ض في جامعة القاهرة للتعليم المفتوح، أ اكملت 􀀷 قطر: "اأنا اأدر
ستجب جامعة القاهرة لمطالبنا أ او لحقوقنا". 􀁿 سهر ولم ت 􀀸 سة اأ 􀁿 ومرت إ الى ا آ لان خم
سار على 􀂁 سكي الانتهاك الذي وقع عليه جراء الح 􀂀 سية، مواليد عام 198٢ م، ي 􀁿 الطالب )ع.ح( قطري الجن 􀁴
سكواه: "اأنا طالب في 􀀸 في NHRC سان 􀁿 صر، قائلاً للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂁 دولة قطر من قبل جمهورية م
سل على دولة قطر حيث لم 􀀹 سار الحا 􀂁 صرر من الح 􀂫 سنة رابعة، مت 􀀷 صر في كلية الحقوق 􀂁 جامعة القاهرة بم
ستي في جامعة القاهرة". 􀀷 سنى لي اإكمال درا 􀁿 يت
تاء: التوقف عن العمل:
سهر يونيو وحتى نوفمبر 2017 􀀸 لعمل من 􀀫 لانتهاكات في حق 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
سار بحق المواطنين القطريين أ او المقيمين 􀂁 سانية التي ترتكبها دول الح 􀁿 سات اللااإن 􀀷 لم تتوقف الانتهاكات والممار
سمنها الحق في العمل. 􀀺 سعدة ومن 􀀹 سها عند حد ما، بل امتدت لكافة المجالات والاأ 􀀺 على اأر
سادية، لاأنه ي ؤ ومن الفرد 􀂁 سادية والاجتماعية؛ فهو من الحقوق الاقت 􀂁 ويعد الحق في العمل من أ اهم الحقوق الاقت
سته. وهو من الحقوق الاجتماعية لارتباطه الوثيق بالمجتمع. 􀂀 سادياً ويوفر له متطلبات معي 􀂁 مادياً واقت
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
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سالح التجارية والعمالة، كما ترتب على قرارات 􀂁 سابك الم 􀂀 سلباً على قطاع الاأعمال، نظرا لت 􀀷 وهذا الانتهاك أ اثر
صرهم، ومازالت التداعيات 􀀷 سع اأ 􀀺 ستهم وعلى و 􀂀 ض لوظائفهم مما أ اثر على معي 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 سار فقدان مئات الاأ 􀂁 دول الح
صرر ممكن- 􀀺 ستمر، فقد أ اوقفت البلدان وعلى نحو مفاجئ؛ -بهدف إ احداث اأكبر 􀁿 سكل م 􀂀 على هذا القطاع تتوالى ب
جميع القوافل التجارية، لكن ا أ لاخطر اأن هناك عائلات ب أ اكملها تعتمد على مهنة النَّقل بين البلدان الخليجية، وقد
ض هوؤلاء أ او اإيجاد بدائل لهم. 􀂫 سها الوحيد، ولم تُبادر اأيٌّ من الدول الثلاث بتعوي 􀂀 سدر عي 􀂁 انقطع م
سة، أ او 􀀹 صركات عامة اأو خا 􀀸 سافة إ الى ذلك ف إ ان هناك عدداً كبيراً من المواطنين والمقيمين الموظفين في 􀀺 اإ
سبحوا عاطلين عن العمل، 􀀹 سدر دخلهم، و أ ا 􀂁 حكومية، كانوا يعملون ويتنقلون بحُريَّة بين تلك البلدان وقد قطع م
سار. 􀂁 سات من الدول الثلاث التي قامت بالح 􀂫 دون أ اية تعوي
ض حُرموا من متابعة 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 ستمارة، لاأ 􀀷 ما لا يقل عن 1٠9 ا NHRC سان 􀁿 سجلت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 وقد
سعودية، و 6 في دولة الاإمارات، و 3٧ 􀁿 سفية. منهم 66 في المملكة العربية ال 􀁿 أ اعمالهم جراء هذه القرارات التَّع
في مملكة البحرين.
ست لانتهاك حقها في العمل، ذكرت للجنة 􀀺 سية من مواليد عام 19٧٧ و تعر 􀁿 ض( إ اماراتية الجن 􀀹 سيدة )ج. 􀁿 ال 􀁴
عند زيارتها قائلة: " أ انا مقيمة في الدوحة واأعمل فيها، و أ ابنائي من مواليد NHRC سان 􀁿 الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سة 􀀺 سبب القرارات المفرو 􀁿 ستطيع العودة ب 􀁿 ساً. ولا ن 􀂫 سية ويعمل في قطر اأي 􀁿 دولة قطر، وزوجي بحريني الجن
سدر رزقنا هنا". 􀂁 سار على دولة قطر، ولان م 􀂁 علينا جراء الح
NHRC سان 􀁿 سية من مواليد عام 1986 تحدث للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد )ي . أ ا( وهو بحريني الجن 􀁿 ال 􀁴
سنوات مع عائلتي 􀀷 صر 􀂀 ض له من انتهاك حيث قال: " أ انا مواطن بحريني مقيم في دولة قطر لمدة ع 􀀺 عن ما تعر
سادرة من دولتي 􀂁 سبب القرارات ال 􀁿 ستطيع ترك عملي وعائلتي ب 􀀷 وطفلتي حديثة الولادة، واأعمل هنا، ولا أ ا
سار دولة قطر". 􀂁 جراء ح
عن قلقه NHRC سان 􀁿 سية للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سعودي الجن 􀀷 سيد )ف.ع( من مواليد 1996 ، 􀁿 أ اعرب ال 􀁴
سية واأمي 􀁿 سعودي الجن 􀀷 سديدين من ما حدث له من انتهاك ذاكراً ا آ لاتي: " أ انا من مواليد دولة قطر و 􀂀 سفه ال 􀀷 و أ ا
ض 􀂀 سوف ت ؤ وثر على عملي و كوني أ اعي 􀀷 قطرية، مقيم وموظف في دولة قطر، وقرارات دولتي بمغادرة قطر
مع والدتي ".
ثاء: انتهاك حرية الرأي والتعبير:
سجيل 􀁿 سها ت 􀀹 سا 􀂁 ض من اخت 􀁿 لي NHRC سان 􀁿 لابدَّ بداية من الت أ اكيد على أ ان اللجنة الوطنية القطرية لحقوق الاإن
ض له مواطنو تلك 􀀺 سجِّرل فقط ما تعرَّ 􀁿 صر، ونحن نُ 􀂁 سار الثلاث وم 􀂁 انتهاكات حرية الر أ اي والتعبير لدول الح
سل 􀀹 سائل التوا 􀀷 سبوقة كتجريم التعاطف عبر و 􀁿 سلت إ الى حدود غير م 􀀹 الدول من انتهاكات وعقوبات ، و
سية والتي بالتاأكيد 􀀺 سائل إ اعلام ممولة من دولة قطر، بما فيها القنوات الريا 􀀷 الاجتماعي، بل واإغلاق وحجب و
سقطت فيها حرية الر أ اي والتعبير 􀀷 صر عن الهاوية التي 􀀸 سية، وهذا موؤ 􀀷 سيا 􀀷 صرات أ او برامج اإخبارية اأو 􀂀 لا تبثُّ ن
صر. 􀂁 سار الثلاث وم 􀂁 لدول الح
سل إ الى 􀂁 15 عاماً وغرامة مالية ت - سجن ما بين 3 􀁿 سل إ الى ال 􀂁 سنَّت دولة ا إ لامارات العربية المتحدة عقوبات ت 􀀷 لقد
سل 􀀹 سفحات التوا 􀀹 5٠٠ أ الف درهم لمجرد التعاطف مع دولة قطر، ولو بالكلمة أ او ا إ لاعجاب أ او التغريد على
ض 􀁿 سجن خم 􀁿 سبوق لحرية التعبير، تلتها وزارة الداخلية البحرينية حيث هدَّدت بال 􀁿 الاجتماعي، في تهديد غير م
سعودية فقد اعتبرت ذلك جريمة جنائية من جرائم الاإنترنت، وعاقبت عليها 􀁿 سنوات، أ اما المملكة العربية ال 􀀷
سعودي. 􀀷 سل إ الى 3 ملايين ريال 􀂁 سنوات وغرامة مالية ت 􀀷 سجن 5 􀁿 سل إ الى ال 􀂁 بعقوبة ت
سار من قبل تلك الدول 􀂁 صروعية قرار الح 􀂀 سعف حجة وم 􀀺 سير اإلى 􀂀 سوة تُ 􀁿 سدة والق 􀂀 إ انَّ هذه ا إ لاجراءات بالغة ال
سلطات تلك الدول من حرية المواطنين في التعبير عن ر أ اي يُخالف اإرادتها ، وهذا 􀀷 سية 􀂀 الثلاث، ويعبر عن خ
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سيف القانوني. 􀀹 سيرد في فقرة التو 􀀷 سارخ للعديد من ا إ لاعلانات والمواثيق الدولية والاإقليمية كما 􀀹 سكل 􀂀 مخالف ب
1٠3 حالات إ لاعلاميين من NHRC سان 􀁿 سجلت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 وفي المجال ا إ لاعلامي وحده
سائل ا إ لاعلام المرئي الموجودة في دولة قطر، 􀀷 مواطني البلدان الثلاثة، والذين كانوا يعملون في عدد من و
ستقالتهم، 􀀷 سغط عليهم بهدف إ اجبارهم على تقديم ا 􀂫 سوا جميعاً لاأنواع مختلفة من الانتهاكات، من بينها ال 􀀺 تعر
ستقالاتهم، وبالتالي فقدوا 􀀷 سوخ، وقدموا مجبرين ا 􀀺 سطر 1٠ إ اعلاميين منهم للر 􀀺 سغط ا 􀂫 وبناءً على هذا ال
ستقالته، وفي هذا 􀀷 ض على كل من لم يُقدم ا 􀀷 سغوطات كبيرة تمار 􀀺 سدر رزقهم، ومازالت هناك 􀂁 أ اعمالهم وم
سحافة، والعمل، والاإقامة، والر أ اي، في آ ان واحد. 􀂁 سارخ لحرية ال 􀀹 صرف انتهاك 􀂁 الت
سة، 􀀹 سواءً كانت هذه القنوات حكومية اأو خا 􀀷 سار بحجب القنوات القطرية 􀂁 ساً قيام دول الح 􀂫 ومما يجب ذكره اأي
ض غرامة 􀀺 سار منوهةً الجميع اإلى حذف قنوات دولة قطر وفر 􀂁 وهذا ما اأتى في قرارات حكومات دول الح
ر:- 􀀫 لقر 􀀫 سملها 􀀸 لتي 􀀫 ت 􀀫 لقنو 􀀫 سمن 􀀺 مالية قدرها 1٠٠ األف ريال لمن يخالف هذه التوجيهات. ومن
قناة قطر التلفزيونية. 􀁴
قناة الريان. 􀁴
ض. 􀀷 قناة الكاأ 􀁴
سائية. 􀂫 سبكة الجزيرة الف 􀀸 􀁴
سبورت 􀀷 قناة بي اإن 􀁴
قامة: _ جيم: انتهاك الحق في التَّنقل وا
سهر يونيو 􀀸 لاإقامة من 􀀫 لتنقل و 􀀫 لحرمان من 􀀫 لانتهاكات في 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
وحتى نوفمبر 2017
سد بهذا الحق أ ان يتمكن الفرد من التنقل في حدود اإقليم دولته اأو خارجها مع حرية العودة اإليها من دون 􀂁 يق
سارها الجائر على دولة قطر بمنع 􀂁 سار من خلال ح 􀂁 قيود اأو موانع، وهذا الحق قامت بانتهاكه دول الح
ض دولة قطر من التنقل وا إ لاقامة في تلك الدول. 􀀺 ا أ لافراد القطريين أ او المقيمين على أ ار
حيث يقيم في دولة قطر 1138٧ مواطنا من الدول الخليجية الثلاث ، ويقيم نحو 19٢٧ قطرياً في تلك الدول،
صرروا في نواح مختلفة. 􀂫 صراً إ الى اأوطانهم ت 􀁿 ض عليهم العودة ق 􀀺 وجميع هوؤلاء ممن فر
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
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سبب في كثير من 􀁿 سار عقوبات وقرارات بمغادرة بلدانها وعدم العبور من منافذها، وهذا ما ت 􀂁 ست دول الح 􀀺 فر
والتي بلغت 1354 حالة انتهاك فيما يتعلق NHRC سان 􀁿 سجلتها اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 الانتهاكات التي
فقط بهذا الحق تحديداً.
سة بدولة قطر في بلدانها بمجرد إ اعلان قرار 􀀹 ساً ب إ اغلاق كافة مكاتب الطيران الخا 􀂫 سار اأي 􀂁 كما قامت دول الح
سة بمكاتبهم. 􀀹 سابق إ انذار لمن يعملون في هذه المكاتب، من غير اأخذ اأي ممتلكات خا 􀀷 سار، ومن دون 􀂁 الح
سكل فردي على فترات اإلا اأنها عادت 􀂀 سلوى الحدودي جزئياً وب 􀀷 سعودية بفتح منفذ 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 ورغم قيام ال
ض من 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 ستركة والاأ 􀂀 صر الم 􀀷 سى والاأ 􀀺 سانية بما فيها المر 􀁿 سكل كامل و تام حتى اأمام الحالات الاإن 􀂀 و أ اغلقته ب
سكل كامل حتى تاريخ إ اعداد هذا التقرير، مما يعد اإمعاناً من جانب 􀂀 ذوي ا إ لاعاقة، ولايزال المعبر مغلقاً ب
سعودية في انتهاك هذا الحق . 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 ال
سهادته: 􀂀 عندما اأدلى ب NHRC سان 􀁿 سية للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 صري الجن 􀂁 سيد )ع. ف( م 􀁿 سب ما ذكر ال 􀁿 وح 􀁴
صر بمبلغ ٧.4٠٠ ريال وفوجئت بعد ذلك 􀂁 ٢٠1٧ م قمت بحجز 5 تذاكر طيران إ الى م /11/ "اأنه في يوم 19
سبب 􀁿 صركة الطيران التي حجزت عليها قامت بوقف الحجوزات وارجاع كافة المبلغ المدفوع وذلك ب 􀀸 ب أ ان
سفر" . 􀁿 اإقامتي في دولة قطر، وهذا ما منعني و أ اولادي من ال
الحرمان من التنقل الذي NHRC سان 􀁿 سية للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيدة )اإ. ع( أ اردنية الجن 􀁿 كما ذكرت ال 􀁴
سدار الفيزا و 􀀹 سم اإ 􀀷 سة العمرة لي ولوالدتي على الرغم من دفع ر 􀂫 ست له: "عدم القدرة على أ اداء فري 􀀺 تعر
سيارتي من ا أ لاردن الى دولة قطر". 􀀷 سا عملية نقل 􀂫 سعودية توقفت اأي 􀁿 سبب إ اغلاق المعبر البري بين قطر وال 􀁿 ب
NHRC سان 􀁿 سية من مواليد عام 1993 م زار مقر اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد )ع.م( بحريني الجن 􀁿 ال 􀁴
ست اإلى الثانوية فيها، ووالدي رجل 􀀷 ض له: "اأنا من مواليد دولة قطر ودر 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعر 􀀹 ذكر تفا
ض لدينا أ اي عائلة في مملكة البحرين، ووالدتي اأهلها في قطر و أ اختي متزوجة من قطري فقرار 􀁿 اأعمال ولي
سبب كل هذه الارتباطات". 􀁿 سعباً علينا ب 􀀹 سار على دولة قطر والاأمر بالعودة إ الى مملكة البحرين يعد 􀂁 الح
حاء: انتهاك حق الملكية:
سهر يونيو وحتى نوفمبر 2017 􀀸 لملكية من 􀀫 لانتهاكات في حق 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
ستعمال أ او 􀀷 الحق في الملكيّة هو أ احد الحقوق التي يتمتّع بها الفرد المواطن في دولته اأو خارجها، ويحق له ا
سغط من اأي جانب. 􀀺 صرف بما يملكه دون اأيّ 􀂁 الت
صرات 􀂀 سائر فادحة في ا أ لاموال وا أ لاملاك لع 􀁿 ستها الدول الثلاث بخ 􀀺 سار المفاجئة التي فر 􀂁 سببَّت قوانين الح 􀁿 ت
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سية 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سانع القرار في مراعاة الحقوق الاأ 􀀹 ستهتار كامل وعدم مبالاة لدى 􀀷 سير اإلى ا 􀂀 ض، وهذا يُ 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 اآلاف الاأ
سفر إ اليها، ولم يعد بمقدور 􀁿 سحابها من ال 􀀹 ُسلِبَت اأموال واأملاك نظراً لعدم تمكن اأ 􀀷 عند اتخاذ هذه القرارات، لقد
صرف بها. 􀂁 ستعمال اأملاكهم أ او التَّ 􀀷 سفر ا 􀁿 جميع من مُنعوا من ال
سابك الكبير في الاأعمال بين دول الخليج -وهذا ا أ لامر قد لا يكون ملحوظاً لدى كثير من 􀂀 ونظراً للتداخل والتَّ
سعودية لم يعد 􀁿 صرون أ اعمالا في ال 􀀸 المنظمات والدول- هناك مئات العمال الذين يعملون لدى قطريين ويبا
سية دفعَ رواتبهم؛ نظراً إ لايقاف تحويل ا أ لاموال، وبالتالي فقد توقف عملهم . 􀁿 بمقدور مدرائهم قطريي الجن
سقق، 􀀸 ٍض، أ او أ ابنية اأو 􀀺 سيط، من اأرا 􀁿 صرا ؤ وها بالتق 􀀸 سارة الممتلكات العقارية التي تم 􀁿 سارخ، وهو خ 􀀹 مثال آ اخر
سحب 􀀷 سدة المواطنين القطريين في تلك البلدان، فقد توقفت عملية 􀀹 سة في اإمارة دبي، فنظراً لتجميد اأر 􀀹 وخا
ساحبه 􀂁 سارة العقار بالكامل، بل قد يوؤدي ب 􀁿 سبب ذلك في خ 􀁿 ستمرَّ الحال على ما هو عليه؛ فقد يت 􀀷 سيكات، و إ اذا ا 􀂀 ال
سهرية وذلك دون اأدنى ذنب منه. 􀀸 ساط 􀁿 سداد ما عليه من اأق 􀀷 سبح ملاحقاً قانونياً؛ نظراً لعدم 􀂁 اإلى أ ان ي
سل بها الحد إ الى منع الحوالات المادية، والبريدية 􀀹 سبق فقد تمادت الدول الثلاث وو 􀀷 سافة إ الى كل ما 􀀺 اإ
سائر 􀁿 لاأيٍّ من المواطنين أ او المقيمين في دولة قطر، وذلك إ لاغلاق الباب اأمام اأية حالة من حالات تدارك الخ
سار الثلاثة، لم تكن عفوية بل تعمَّدت انتهاك الحريات 􀂁 سير براأينا إ الى أ انَّ قرارات دول الح 􀂀 المادية، وكلُّ هذا يُ
سية، وهدفت اإلى ذلك منذ اللحظات ا أ لاولى، ومما يعزز ذلك عدم اتخاذها أ اية إ اجراءات حتى ا آ لان إ لازالة 􀀷 سا 􀀷 ا أ لا
سات الخطيرة على مواطني الدول الثلاث ومواطني دولة قطر. 􀀷 الانعكا
صركات يمتلكها 􀀸 سجلت اللجنة الوطنية وجود عدد كبير من العمال الذين يحملون إ اقامة قطرية ويعملون في 􀀷 كما
سار مُنع هوؤلاء العمال من العودة إ الى قطر، وقد 􀂁 ض إ اجراءات الح 􀀺 مواطنون قطريون في تلك الدول، وبعد فر
سبيل 􀀷 سح حجم الانتهاكات، فعلى 􀂫 سا من النماذج ليت 􀂫 توقفوا عن العمل، ولا يوجد من يُنفق عليهم. ونورد بع
سكاوى: 􀂀 المثال ومما ورد إ الينا من ال
NHRC سان 􀁿 سية القطرية مواليد عام 19٧1 للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيدة )ن. ع( التي تحمل الجن 􀁿 ذكرت ال 􀁴
سكني في دبي واأنا الاآن ممنوعة من دخول دبي 􀀷 صروع 􀂀 ستريت فيلا في م 􀀸 ست له من انتهاك: "ا 􀀺 سيل ما تعر 􀀹 تفا
سة بي، مع العلم ب أ اني دفعت الدفعة ا أ لاولى من المبلغ واأطالب برد المبلغ لي كاملاً". 􀀹 والتمتع بالملكية الخا
صر 􀂫 سعودية ، ح 􀁿 سية، مواليد عام 196٠ م ولديه أ املاك في المملكة العربية ال 􀁿 سيد )ع. ه( وهو قطري الجن 􀁿 ال 􀁴
ض له: 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعرَّ 􀀹 سهادته وذكر تفا 􀂀 واأدلى ب ،NHRC سان 􀁿 إ الى مقرِّر اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سار على دولة قطر لم أ اتمكن من 􀂁 سبب الح 􀁿 ساً عمال انتهت اإقامتهم وب 􀂫 سيارات واأي 􀀷 سعودية و 􀁿 " لدي اإبل في ال
الذهاب".
وذكر NHRC سان 􀁿 سية، مقر اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد )ن.ع( من مواليد 195٢ قطري الجن 􀁿 زارَ ال 􀁴
ض له: "يوجد لدي مبلغ وقدره ف ٢٠٠.٠٠٠ أ الف ريال في بنك 􀀺 سيل انتهاك حق الملكية الذي تعر 􀀹 تفا
سماح لنا بدخول مملكة البحرين بعد 􀁿 سبب عدم ال 􀁿 سحب المبلغ من البنك وذلك ب 􀀷 ستطع 􀀷 سلامي، ولم أ ا 􀀷 البحرين ا إ لا
سار على دولة قطر". 􀂁 قرار الح
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خاء: الحرمان من تأدية الشعائر الدينية:
سهر يونيو وحتى نوفمبر 2017 􀀸 لملكية من 􀀫 لانتهاكات في حق 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
سلمين، 􀁿 سبة لعموم الم 􀁿 ستان بالن 􀀷 سعودية مدينتا مكة والمدينة المنورة، وهما مدينتان مقد 􀁿 تقع في المملكة العربية ال
سك الحج والعمرة. 􀀷 ستمر أ لاداء منا 􀁿 سكل م 􀂀 سدونهما ب 􀂁 ويق
سلم مقيم 􀁿 سعودية في حرمان قرابة 1.5 مليون م 􀁿 ساركت فيه المملكة العربية ال 􀀸 سار الذي 􀂁 سبَّب قرار الح 􀁿 وقد ت
سيماً للحق في العبادة. 􀁿 سعائرهم الدينية، بما يمثل انتهاكاً ج 􀀸 سة 􀀷 في دولة قطر من حقهم في ممار
سك الحج والعمرة من إ اجراءات 􀀷 سة حقه في أ اداء منا 􀀷 ستثناء من يرغب في ممار 􀀷 سعودية با 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 لم تقُم ال
ستعملتها كاأداة 􀀷 سية و ا 􀀷 سية والدبلوما 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 سعائر الدينية في الخلافات ال 􀂀 سار الجائر، بل قامت بالزج بال 􀂁 الح
سان. 􀁿 سارخ للاتفاقيات الدولية لحقوق الاإن 􀀹 سي في انتهاك 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 سغط ال 􀂫 لل
سفية التي تم 􀁿 سار والحظر الجوي و إ اغلاق الحدود البرية اإلى جانب ا إ لاجراءات التع 􀂁 ستمرار الح 􀀷 وفي ظل ا
ية من قيامها : 􀀫 سعائر الدينية،بد 􀂀 سة ال 􀀷 س أ ان الحق في حرية العبادة وممار 􀂀 سعودية ب 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 اتخاذها من قبل ال
سك العمرة. 􀀷 سعودية لاأداء منا 􀁿 سي ال 􀀺 سي من دخول الاأرا 􀀺 سان الما 􀂫 سهر رم 􀀸 بمنع المعتمرين القطريين في 􀁴
سعودية دون إ اتمام تلك 􀁿 سي ال 􀀺 صرعة مغادرة الاأرا 􀀷 إ اجبار الموجودين منهم بالفعل داخل المملكة على 􀁴
سك. 􀀷 المنا
سحب ا آ لالي القطرية. 􀁿 وقف التعامل بالعملة القطرية وبطاقة ال 􀁴
سعودية. 􀁿 سوء التعامل مع القطريين في منافذ الدخول والخروج البرية والجوية بالمملكة العربية ال 􀀷 􀁴
سعودية، ما اأدى إ الى 􀁿 منع الطائرات التابعة للخطوط الجوية القطرية من النزول بمطارات المملكة العربية ال 􀁴
ستخدام خطوط بديلة 􀀷 سطرارهم للعودة با 􀀺 سعودية، وا 􀁿 سعوبة عودة المعتمرين القطريين إ الى الدوحة عبر ال 􀀹
ساء 􀁿 سى و الن 􀀺 سانية من المر 􀁿 سحاب الحالات ا إ لان 􀀹 سلطنة عُمان دون مراعاة لاأ 􀀷 عن طريق دولة الكويت و
ض ذوي الاإعاقة . 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 سن والاأ 􀁿 والاأطفال وكبار ال
سي اأدت إ الى تخوف المواطن 􀀺 سان الما 􀂫 سهر رم 􀀸 سفية التي تمت خلال 􀁿 يلاحظ اأن كل هذه ا إ لاجراءات التع
سية تكرار ما حدث. 􀂀 ُسمح لهم بذلك خ 􀀷 سعائرهم الدينية إ اذا 􀀸 والمقيم من تاأدية
لحج للعام 2017 􀀫 سم 􀀷 سلطات في مو 􀁿 ل􀀫 بما قامت به تلك 􀀫 مرور ً 􀁴
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
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سعودية المعوقات والعراقيل أ امام الراغبين في اأداء 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 سعت ال 􀀺 سم الحج للعام ٢٠1٧ و 􀀷 فمع قدوم مو
ض دولة قطر بما 􀀺 سلام" من المواطنين القطريين والمقيمين على اأر 􀀷 ض من اأركان الاإ 􀁿 سة الحج "الركن الخام 􀂫 فري
ارتقى
سلامية بدولة قطر من اأجل 􀀷 سئون ا إ لا 􀂀 سيق مع وزارة الاأوقاف وال 􀁿 ست التعامل أ او التن 􀂫 اإلى درجة المنع، حيث رف
سة . 􀂫 تمكين الراغبين في أ اداء تلك الفري
سع المعوقات والعراقيل أ امام المواطنين القطريين والمقيمين بدولة 􀀺 آ لان في و 􀀫 إلى 􀀫 سلطات تتمادى 􀁿 ل􀀫 إن تلك 􀀫
سحاب حملات الحج والعمرة في دولة قطر 􀀹 سافة لما تقدم به اأ 􀀺 سعائر الدينية، هذا بالاإ 􀂀 سك وال 􀀷 قطر أ لاداء المنا
سك العمرة أ امام المقيمين بالدولة من:- 􀀷 سعوبات التي تعتري أ اداء منا 􀂁 سايقات وال 􀂫 سكاوى حول الم 􀀸 من
سجيل فيه لكافة المعتمرين من 􀁿 سماح بالت 􀁿 سجيل الحج والعمرة وعدم ال 􀁿 ض بت 􀀹 سار ا إ لالكتروني الخا 􀁿 إ اغلاق الم 􀁴
دولة قطر.
سعودية بين الحملات القطرية 􀁿 سلطات في المملكة العربية ال 􀁿 إ الي جانب منع التحويلات المالية من قبل ال 􀁴
ساريح العمرة. 􀂁 سعوديين المخولين بمنح ت 􀁿 ووكلاء العمرة ال
سلامية بدولة 􀀷 سئون ا إ لا 􀂀 سيق مع وزارة الاأوقاف وال 􀁿 ض التعامل أ او التن 􀂫 سعودية في رف 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 ستمرار ال 􀀷 ا 􀁴
قطر.
سعائر الدينية. وقد لحقت 􀂀 ض ال 􀁿 سيي 􀁿 سة ت 􀀷 سيا 􀀷 سعودية في 􀁿 سلطات ال 􀁿 ستمرار ال 􀀷 سكل قاطع على ا 􀂀 كل هذا ي ؤ وكد ب
سك الحج والعمرة تمثلت في: 􀀷 سبب منع ت أ ادية منا 􀁿 سار ب 􀂁 سائر مالية كبيرة بدولة قطر منذ بداية الح 􀁿 صرار وخ 􀀺 اأ
سك الحج والعمرة بلغت ما يقارب 􀀷 سئون منا 􀂀 سلامية متعلقة ب 􀀷 سئون ا إ لا 􀂀 سة بوزارة الاأوقاف وال 􀀹 سائر خا 􀁿 خ 􀁴
سار على دولة قطر. 􀂁 ض الح 􀀺 سبب فر 􀁿 سائر أ اخرى نتجت ب 􀁿 سعودي وخ 􀀷 4.5٠٠.٠٠٠ ريال
سيلة 􀂁 سلنا منهم على ح 􀂁 سعة حملات وح 􀁿 سلنا مع ت 􀀹􀀫 سيمة لحملات الحج والعمرة، وقد تو 􀁿 سائر مالية ج 􀁿 خ 􀁴
لعام: 􀀫 􀀫 سائرهم لهذ 􀁿 خ
سابت عموم 􀀹 سيمة أ ا 􀁿 سية ومعنوية ج 􀁿 صرار نف 􀀺 صرار المادية، وهناك بالقطع اأ 􀀺 سائر والاأ 􀁿 هذا فيما يتعلق بالخ
ض دولة قطر، جراء حرمانهم من حقهم في العبادة 􀀺 سلمين من المواطنين القطريين والمقيمين على أ ار 􀁿 الم
س ؤ وولية الدينية وا أ لاخلاقية والحقوقية 􀁿 سعودية الم 􀁿 سعائرهم الدينية، وتتحمل المملكة العربية ال 􀀸 سة 􀀷 وممار
والقانونية كاملة جراء ذلك.
اسم الحملة الخسائر المالية
حملة الفرقان ٧ مليون
حملة الركن الخامس ٤ مليون
حملة الحمادي ٢ مليون
حملة لبيك ٦ مليون
حملة الهدى ٢٫٧٠٠ مليون
حملة التوبة ٢٫٧٠٠ مليون
حملة قطر ٤٠٠ الف ريال
حملة حاتم ٢٫٧٠٠ مليون
حملة القدس ٣ مليون
جمالي ٣٠٫٥٠٠٫٠٠٠ مليون ريال قطري _ ا
16
سار اإلى يومنا هذا 163 حالة انتهاك. 􀂁 منذ بداية الح NHRC سان 􀁿 سدت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀹 وقد ر
سوا لهذا الانتهاك:- 􀀺 سحايا الذين تعر 􀂫 سهادات ال 􀀸 ض 􀂫 وهنا بع
واأدلى NHRC سان 􀁿 سية مواليد عام 19٧8 م مقرَّ اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 ض ( قطري الجن 􀀸 سيد )ع . 􀁿 زارَ ال 􀁴
سعودية 􀁿 ض له: "حجزت في أ احد الفنادق في مدينة مكة المكرمة- ال 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعرَّ 􀀹 سهادته وذكر تفا 􀂀 ب
سبب القرار منعت من 􀁿 سة العمرة ولكن ب 􀂫 سفر بمبلغ ٢٧.٠٠٠ الف ريال من اأجل أ اداء فري 􀀷 ستريت تذاكر 􀀸 وا
ض بي". 􀀹 ض الفندق إ ارجاع مبلغ الحجز الخا 􀂫 سعيرة الدينية ، كما رف 􀂀 اأداء هذه ال
سة 􀂫 سفها لعدم قدرتها على اداء فري 􀀷 سية، مواليد عام 195٠ م، عن اأ 􀁿 سطينية الجن 􀁿 سيدة )ف.ع( فل 􀁿 و أ اعربت ال 􀁴
ض 􀁿 بعد انتظاري خم " : NHRC سان 􀁿 سهادتها للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂀 الحج لهذا العام ٢٠1٧ وادلت ب
سة في هذا العام حيث اأنني 􀂫 سة الحج، حُرِمت اأنا واأبنائي من تاأدية هذه الفري 􀂫 سنوات من اأجل اأداء فري 􀀷
سة ". 􀂫 سنة ومري 􀁿 امراأة أ ارملة وم
سان 􀁿 سية القطرية، مواليد عام 1981 م، للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد )ع.ع( الذي يحمل الجن 􀁿 ذكر ال 􀁴
سعودية- 􀁿 ض له: "قمت بعمل حجوزات في فندق بمكة المكرمة – ال 􀀺 سيل الانتهاك الذي تعر 􀀹 تفا NHRC
سفر للذهاب للعمرة 􀀷 ض بالحجوزات الفندقية وحجزت تذاكر 􀀹 ودفعت مبلغ وقدرة 1٠4.65٠ الف ريال خا
سار". 􀂁 سفر إ الى دول الح 􀁿 سار على دولة قطر ومنع مواطنيها من ال 􀂁 سبب قرار الح 􀁿 اإلا أ انني حرمت من ذلك ب
دال: التحريض على العنف والكراهية:
ض والدفع 􀂫 سها حدَّ التحري 􀂫 سلت في بع 􀀹 سان مئات حالات خطاب الكراهية و 􀁿 سدت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀹 ر
سلات التلفزيونية إ الى تلقين 􀁿 سل 􀁿 ض الم 􀂫 باتجاه القيام باأعمال إ ارهابية تفجيرية في دولة قطر، كما امتدَّت في بع
صري ينزع نحو احتقار المواطن 􀂁 سدنا خطاب تمييز عن 􀀹 سهم على دولة الجوار قطر، كما ر 􀂫 ا أ لاطفال وتحري
ض 􀂫 سميين، وبع 􀀷 سارين الر 􀂀 ست 􀁿 ض الم 􀂫 سكل عنيف نظراً لانخراط بع 􀂀 ساعد هذا الخطاب ب 􀂁 القطري وتعييره، وقد ت
سان 􀀷 ض 􀁿 سلونة اأو باري 􀀸 ض نادي بر 􀂁 سافر، بل بلغ الاأمر اعتبار مجرد ارتداء قمي 􀀷 سكل 􀂀 ا إ لاعلامين المعروفين فيه ب
سعاري الخطوط الجوية القطرية وبنك قطر الوطني على هذه 􀀸 سم و 􀀷 ساحبه لوجود ا 􀀹 جيرمان تعاطفاً، ويعاقب
سان. 􀂁 القم
ض على العنف بالتالي:- 􀂫 سار حالات خطاب الكراهية والتحري 􀂁 ستطيع اخت 􀁿 ون
سلات وا أ لافلام الوثائقية. 􀁿 سل 􀁿 ستخدام خطاب الكراهية عبر الاأغاني والم 􀀷 ا 􀁴
سعباً ورموزاً. 􀀸 ساءة إ الى دولة قطر 􀀷 سيال ميديا للاإ 􀀸 سو 􀁿 ساهير ال 􀂀 ستخدام م 􀀷 ا 􀁴
سار. 􀂁 سحف دول الح 􀀹 ساءة اإلى رموز عبر كاريكاتيرات في 􀀷 الاإ 􀁴
صرب دولة قطر 􀀺 ض على 􀂫 ض على القيام ب أ اعمال تخريبية و إ ارهابية داخل دولة قطر، والتحري 􀂫 التحري 􀁴
سواريخ. 􀂁 سائل اإعلامها بال 􀀷 وو
صرائح 􀀸 سيولد لدى 􀀷 ض على الكراهية والعنف 􀂫 سخ ا إ لاعلامي والفني للتحري 􀂫 ولا يخفى أ ان كل هذا الكم من ال
ضَ فقط بحق 􀁿 سل إ الى ارتكاب اأفعال إ اجرامية لي 􀂁 مختلفة داخل المجتمع من مثقفين واأُميِّرين ردود فعل متطرفة قد ت
المواطنين القطريين، بل قد تتولد ردود فعل من المجتمع القطري تجاه مجتمعات تلك الدول الثلاث و جمهورية
سان 􀁿 ستقرار في المنطقة ب أ اكملها، ونحن في اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀷 سلم وا أ لامن والا 􀁿 صر؛ وهذا ما يُهدد ال 􀂁 م
ض على العنف والكراهية ممن تمكن باحثونا من متابعتهم، 􀀺 سفات كل من حرَّ 􀀹 سماء و 􀀷 سجلنا اأ 􀀷 قد NHRC
سيب أ اي مواطن قطري، أ او اأياً من 􀂁 صري اإرهابي تُ 􀂁 س ؤ وولية القانونية عن أ اية حادثة عنف عن 􀁿 ونُحمِّرلهم الم
صر. 􀂁 مواطني الدول الثلاث و م
ض 􀀹 سح خطاب الكراهية والعنف كما ورد في المادة ٢٠ من العهد الدولي الخا 􀀺 سكل وا 􀂀 يُجرِّرم القانون الدولي ب
1٧
صري، 􀂁 سكال التمييز العن 􀀸 ساء على جميع اأ 􀂫 ساً المادة 4 من الاتفاقية الدولية للق 􀂫 سية، واأي 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 بالحقوق المدنية وال
ساً على العداوة والعنف. 􀂫 صرية أ او الدينية، ويعتبرها تحري 􀂁 حيث يحظر اأية دعوة إ الى الكراهية القومية أ او العن
سويه 􀂀 سار لت 􀂁 ض قطريون من دول الح 􀀺 سار تعر 􀂁 ض على خطاب العنف والكراهية من قبل دول الح 􀂫 سبب التحري 􀁿 وب
سغينة والعداوة والتمييز للمواطن القطري من 􀂫 ض ذلك فقط بل نتجت عن ذلك ال 􀁿 سيارتهم وقذفهم بالحجارة، ولي 􀀷
سار. 􀂁 ض أ افراد دول الح 􀂫 قبل بع
طفال وذوي L ذال: انتهاك الحق في الصحة، خاصة النساء وا
عاقة: _ ا
سهر يونيو وحتى 􀀸 سحة من 􀂁 ل􀀫 لحق في 􀀫 لانتهاكات في 􀀫 سائية 􀂁 ح􀀫 رتفاع 􀀫 سب 􀁿 سح ن 􀀺 سم بياني يو 􀀷 ر
نوفمبر 2017
سافي في دولة 􀂀 سار الثلاث ممَّن كانوا يتعالجون داخل الم 􀂁 سى من دول الح 􀀺 ض المر 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 صرَّر مئات الاأ 􀂫 ت
سافي تلك الدول، حيث طلبت مغادرة المواطنين 􀂀 قطر، بل ومن القطريين الذين كانوا يتلقَون العلاج داخل م
سع، أ او ذوي 􀀺 ساً الر 􀀹 سو 􀂁 ساء الحوامل، أ او الاأطفال وخ 􀁿 سية أ او فئة كالن 􀀺 ستثناء اأو تمييز لحالات مر 􀀷 دون اأي ا
سى، 􀀺 سار الثلاث بحقِّر مواطنيها المر 􀂁 سارخ لدول الح 􀂁 ستهتار ال 􀀷 سك مدى الا 􀀸 ا إ لاعاقة، وذلك يُظهر دون اأدنى
سحة هو عدم التمييز، فلا ينبغي 􀂁 سيات حق ال 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سان، ف أ ابرز اأ 􀁿 سيات حقوق الاإن 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سط اأ 􀁿 ستخفافها العميق ب أ اب 􀀷 وا
ض عليه 􀀹 سو 􀂁 سحة من 􀂁 سي، فالحق في ال 􀀷 سيا 􀀷 سى القطريين، بناء على خلاف 􀀺 سار الثلاث أ ان تطرد المر 􀂁 لدول الح
ض 􀀹 سان المادة ٢5 ، والعهد الدولي الخا 􀁿 في عدة مواثيق ومعاهدات دولية، كا إ لاعلان العالمي لحقوق الاإن
. سادية والاجتماعية والثقافية المادة 1٢ 􀂁 بالحقوق الاقت
ستطيع الذهاب 􀀷 سية القطرية: "لا اأ 􀁿 سية و أ ام لابن واحد ويحمل الجن 􀁿 سيدة ) ن . ع ( وهي إ امارتية الجن 􀁿 وادلت ال 􀁴
سفر 􀁿 ستطيع ال 􀀷 سهرين، ولا ا 􀀸 سينتهي بعد 􀀷 ض بي 􀀹 سار على دولة قطر، والجواز الخا 􀂁 سبب الح 􀁿 إ الى الاإمارات ب
سبب 􀁿 ض و أ احتاج للعلاج بالخارج وب 􀀺 خوفاً من عدم تمكني من العودة اإلى قطر حيث اأنني أ اعاني من المر
ستطع الذهاب للعلاج، لاأنني أ اتلقى العلاج في الوقت الحالي في دولة قطر". 􀀷 سلاحية جوازي لم ا 􀀹 انتهاء
سان 􀁿 سية القطرية، مواليد عام 1994 م للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 ساب ) ر .م ( الذي يحمل الجن 􀂀 وذكر ال 􀁴
سنة وا آ لان اأعاني 􀁿 سهر يناير من هذه ال 􀀸 عملت عملية في قرنية العين اليمنى في مملكة البحرين في " :NHRC
سفيات في قطر، 􀂀 ست 􀁿 من ا آ لالام في العين إ اثر انفتاح في خياطة العين في مكان القرنية، وعند مراجعة إ احدى الم
نوفمبر
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أغسطس يوليو يونيو
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سار على دولة 􀂁 سبب قرار الح 􀁿 صرورة مراجعة الدكتور الذي قام بالعملية في مملكة البحرين، وب 􀂫 اخبروني ب
ساعفة الالام والالتهابات". 􀂫 صرع وقت لم 􀀷 قطر لم أ اتمكن من ذلك و أ انا بحاجة لذلك في اأ
عن خوفها NHRC سان 􀁿 سية للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيدة )ر.ط( من مواليد 1986 م قطرية الجن 􀁿 أ اعربت ال 􀁴
سبقة في يناير في مملكة البحرين واأنا بحاجة إ الى 􀁿 ستكمالها للعلاج في مملكة البحرين: " أ اجريت عملية م 􀀷 لعدم ا
سبب قطع العلاقات مع دولة قطر". 􀁿 سفر ب 􀁿 ستطع ال 􀀷 سنة، لكنني لم ا 􀁿 ض ال 􀁿 ستكمال الجزء المتبقي في العملية في نف 􀀷 ا
راء: الحق في التقاضي:
سان 􀁿 صرعية والقانونية لحماية حقوق الاإن 􀂀 سيلة ال 􀀷 ساء هو الو 􀂫 سول إ الى الق 􀀹 سي والحق في الو 􀀺 سك أ ان التقا 􀀸 لا
ض 􀀹 سو 􀂁 صرر المن 􀂫 سحايا وفقاً لمبد أ ا جبر ال 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 والوقاية من الاإنتهاكات وعدم تكرارها ، اإلى جانب اإن
سبل وا إ لاجراءات 􀁿 سي، وتوفير كافة ال 􀀺 سان وذلك من خلال حق اللجوء إ الى التقا 􀁿 عليه في اتفاقيات حقوق ا إ لان
ستطع المواطنون والمقيمون في دولة قطر اللجوء إ الى محاكم 􀁿 سار على دولة قطر لم ي 􀂁 لذلك. ونظراً لتبعات الح
سار. 􀂁 دول الح
لتي 􀀫 لمخالفات 􀀫 لانتهاكات و 􀀫 لكثير من 􀀫 سبب 􀀷 قع على دولة قطر 􀀫 لو 􀀫 سار 􀂁 لح􀀫 ء 􀀫 إن ما حدث جر 􀀫
لدول لمعالجتها و نذكر منها:- 􀀫 لمحلي لتلك 􀀫 ساء 􀂬 لق 􀀫 إلى 􀀫 للجوء 􀀫 ستوجب 􀁿 ت
سبب أ اعمالهم 􀁿 سي أ لان لهم اأملاكا واأعمالا تجارية ب 􀀺 1. انتهاك الحق في الملكية: ه ؤ ولاء لديهم الحق في التقا
سابقة التي كانت 􀁿 سايا ال 􀂫 ستكمال مجريات الق 􀀷 سي، أ او ا 􀀺 سابقة أ او الميراث، ومنعوا من اإتمام إ اجراءات التقا 􀁿 ال
مرفوعة.
سوم البقاء في 􀀷 سة ور 􀀷 سوم الدرا 􀀷 سار فمنهم من دفع ر 􀂁 سون في دول الح 􀀷 ٢. الحق في التعليم: هوؤلاء كانوا يدر
سترد حقوقه . 􀁿 هذه الدول ولم ت
سترداد حقوقهم. 􀀷 سحايا من ا 􀂫 سابقاً ولم يتمكن ال 􀀷 3. حجوزات الفنادق والطيران التي تمت
سي، ومن أ ابرز أ اوجه 􀀺 سمية للحق في التقا 􀁿 انتهاكات ج NHRC سان 􀁿 سدت اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀀹 وقد ر
هذا الانتهاك:-
سار 􀂁 سي اأمام محاكم دول الح 􀀺 سة حقهم في التقا 􀀷 إ اعاقة المواطنين القطريين والمقيمين في دولة قطر من ممار 􀁴
سعودية. 􀁿 وتحديداً بدولتي الاإمارات وال
سار 􀂁 سور أ امام المحاكم نتيجة منعهم من دخول دول الح 􀂫 سماح للمواطنين القطريين والمقيمين من الح 􀁿 عدم ال 􀁴
سي وما يرتبط به من حقوق كالحق في الدفاع. 􀀺 بما يمثل انتهاكاً لحقهم في التقا
صرة الدعاوى نيابة عنهم. 􀀸 سعوبات اأمامهم لمبا 􀂁 سع ال 􀀺 اإعاقة وكلائهم القانونيين وو 􀁴
سها عن 􀁿 سيين القطريين والمقيمين لهم، و تقاع 􀀺 سار في توكيل المتقا 􀂁 ض مكاتب المحاماة في دول الح 􀂫 رف 􀁴
سايا الموكلة بها بالفعل. 􀂫 متابعة الق
سالح المواطنين القطريين. 􀂁 سادرة ل 􀂁 عدم تنفيذ ا أ لاحكام ال 􀁴
صرة دعاويهم 􀀸 سالح المواطنين القطريين والمقيمين نتيجة عدم تمكنهم من مبا 􀂁 سادرة ل 􀂁 إ الغاء ا أ لاحكام ال 􀁴
سي وفي الدفاع. 􀀺 سة حقهم في التقا 􀀷 وممار
:NHRC سان 􀁿 سية القطرية، مواليد عام 1964 للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سيد ) إ ا .ع ( الذي يحمل الجن 􀁿 ذكر ال 􀁴
صرورة متابعة 􀀺 سة بي في دولة الاإمارات، ويترتب علي 􀀹 سيارات خا 􀀷 ض وعقارات و 􀀺 " لدي أ املاك من اأرا
سة بالعقارات، ولكن 􀀹 سول على عوائد مالية ومتابعة اللجان والتنظيمات الاإدارية الخا 􀂁 هذه ا أ لاملاك والح
19
صرار التالية: غرامات وت أ اخر 􀀺 سبب لي الاأ 􀀷 سار 􀂁 سار ومنع مواطني دولة قطر من دخول دول الح 􀂁 سبب الح 􀁿 ب
سهرية بما يقارب 4٠ الف 􀀸 سارة 􀁿 صرار مالية كبيرة، خ 􀀺 سبب اأ 􀁿 الانتفاع بالمرافق، تجميد العقارات مما ي
سارة تجارية وتفوق 16 مليون درهم اإماراتي". 􀁿 ريال، خ
ورثنا من " ،NHRC سان 􀁿 سكواهم للجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀂀 سية، تقدموا ب 􀁿 سيد )ب .ث . أ ا.م( قطريي الجن 􀁿 ال 􀁴
سم والدنا 􀀷 سارقة( ومازالت العقارات با 􀂀 والدنا المتوفى عدة عقارات في دولة ا إ لامارات العربية المتحدة )ال
ساً مبالغ قرابة 133 مليون 􀂫 المتوفى ولم تنتقل الملكية إ الى ا آ لان، وتوجد دعوى تنفيذية، كما توجد اأي
سها موؤجرة". 􀂫 سناعية وبع 􀂁 درهم، علماً ب أ ان العقارات في منطقة ال
: الاستنتاجات والتوصيف القانوني: ? خامس
سفية و إ اجراءاتها غير القانونية عدة قواعد 􀁿 سار – ولاتزال - عبر قراراتها التع 􀂁 انتهكت حكومات دول الح
سح عدة مواد 􀀺 سان، ، حيث انتهكت على نحو وا 􀁿 سية في القانون الدولي لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 وقوانين ومبادئ رئي
سادية 􀂁 ض بالحقوق الاقت 􀀹 سان، ومواد أ اخرى في كل من العهد الدولي الخا 􀁿 في ا إ لاعلان العالمي لحقوق الاإن
سكوك 􀀹 سافة اإلى مواد في 􀀺 سية، اإ 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 ض بالحقوق المدنية وال 􀀹 والاجتماعية والثقافية، والعهد الدولي الخا
أ اخرى اأبرزها :
لعربية، 􀀫 لخليج 􀀫 لتعاون لدول 􀀫 ص 􀁿 سان لمجل 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 إعلان حقوق 􀀫 سان، و 􀁿 إ لان 􀀫 لعربي لحقوق 􀀫 لميثاق 􀀫
لخليجي. 􀀫 لتعاون 􀀫 ص 􀁿 سادية بين دول مجل 􀂁 لاقت 􀀫 لاتفاقية 􀀫 و
سوغ 􀁿 سيكاغو بحظر حركة الطيران المدني القطري فوق اقاليمها دون أ اي م 􀀸 سار اتفاقية 􀂁 كما انتهكت دول الح
سباب تتعلق بالاأمن العام. 􀀷 صرورة حربية أ او اأ 􀀺 اأو
لثلاث بانتهاكها: 􀀫 لخليجية 􀀫 لدول 􀀫 لتي قامت 􀀫 د 􀀫 لمو 􀀫
سان: 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 لعالمي لحقوق 􀀫 إ لاعلان 􀀫 أولاً: 􀀫
، لمادة 19 􀀫 لمادة 13 ، 􀀫 لمادة 12 ، 􀀫 لمادة 10 ، 􀀫 لمادة 9، 􀀫 لمادة 8، 􀀫 لمادة 7، 􀀫 لمادة 5، 􀀫 لمادة 2، 􀀫 )
.) لمادة 26 􀀫 لمادة 25 ، 􀀫 لمادة 23 ، 􀀫
سية: 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 ل􀀫 لمدنية و 􀀫 ص بالحقوق 􀀹 لخا 􀀫 لدولي 􀀫 لعهد 􀀫 ثانياً:
، لمادة 20 􀀫 لمادة 14 ، 􀀫 لمادة 13 ، 􀀫 لمادة 12 ، 􀀫 لمادة 9، 􀀫 لثالث ) 􀀫 لجزء 􀀫 لمادة 2(، 􀀫 لثاني ) 􀀫 لجزء 􀀫
) لمادة 24 􀀫 لمادة 23 ، 􀀫
لاجتماعية: 􀀫 سادية و 􀂁 لاقت 􀀫 ص بالحقوق 􀀹 لخا 􀀫 لدولي 􀀫 لعهد 􀀫 ثالثاً:
.) لمادة 13 􀀫 لمادة 12 ، 􀀫 لمادة 10 ، 􀀫 لمادة 6، 􀀫 لثالث ) 􀀫 لجزء 􀀫
سري: 􀂁 لعن 􀀫 لتمييز 􀀫 سكال 􀀸أ􀀫 ساء على جميع 􀂬 لدولية للق 􀀫 لاتفاقية 􀀫 بعاً: 􀀫 ر
) لمادة 4 􀀫 )
سان: 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 لعربي لحقوق 􀀫 لميثاق 􀀫 ساً: 􀁿 خام
) لمادة ) 3 􀀫
سع لولايتها حقَّ التمتع بالحقوق والحريات 􀀺 ض خا 􀂁 سخ 􀀸 1. تتعهد كل دولة طرف في هذا الميثاق ب أ ان تكفل لكل
ض أ او اللغة أ او المعتقد الديني أ او 􀁿 سبب العرق أ او اللون أ او الجن 􀁿 ض عليها في هذا الميثاق من دون تمييز ب 􀀹 سو 􀂁 المن
سل الوطني اأو الاجتماعي أ او الثروة أ او الميلاد أ او ا إ لاعاقة البدنية أ او العقلية. 􀀹 الر أ اي أ او الفكر أ او الاأ
) لمادة ) 8 􀀫
سية أ او مُهينة أ او حاطة بالكرامة أ او غير 􀀷 سياً اأو معاملته معاملة قا 􀁿 ض بدنياً اأو نف 􀂁 سخ 􀀸 1. يحظر تعذيب اأي
سانية. 􀁿 اإن
) لمادة ) 11 􀀫
ساوون أ امام القانون ولهم الحق في التمتع بحمايته دون تمييز 􀁿 ض مت 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 جميع الاأ
) لمادة ) 12 􀀫
ساة من أ اي 􀂫 ساء وحماية الق 􀂫 ستقلال الق 􀀷 سمن الدول ا أ لاطراف ا 􀂫 ساء. وت 􀂫 ساوون أ امام الق 􀁿 ض مت 􀀹 سخا 􀀸 جميع الاأ
سع لولايتها. 􀀺 ض خا 􀂁 سخ 􀀸 سي بدرجاته لكل 􀀺 سمن حق التقا 􀂫 سغوط اأو تهديدات. كما ت 􀀺 تدخل اأو
) لمادة ) 13 􀀫
ستقلة ونزيهة 􀁿 سة وم 􀂁 سمانات كافية وتجريها محكمة مخت 􀀺 ض الحق في محاكمة عادلة تتوفر فيها 􀂁 سخ 􀀸 1. لكل
سابقاً بحكم القانون، وذلك في مواجهة أ اية تهمة جزائية توجه إ الية أ او للبت في حقوقه أ او التزاماته، 􀀷 ساة 􀂀 ومن
وتكفل كل دولة طرف لغير القادرين مالياً ا إ لاعانة العدلية للدفاع عن حقوقهم.
سلحة العدالة في مجتمع يحترم الحريات وحقوق 􀂁 سيها م 􀂫 ستثنائية تقت 􀀷 ٢. تكون المحاكمة علنية اإلا في حالات ا
سان. 􀁿 الاإن
) لمادة ) 26 􀀫
سكل قانوني على إ اقليم دولة طرف حرية التنقل واختيار مكان الاإقامة في أ اية جهة من 􀂀 ض يوجد ب 􀂁 سخ 􀀸 1. لكل
صريعات النافذة. 􀂀 هذا ا إ لاقليم في حدود الت
) لمادة ) 32 􀀫
ستقاء الاأنباء والاأفكار وتلقيها 􀀷 سمن هذا الميثاق الحق في ا إ لاعلام وحرية الر أ اي والتعبير وكذلك الحق في ا 􀂫 1. ي
سيلة ودونما اعتبار للحدود الجغرافية. 􀀷 ونقلها إ الى ا آ لاخرين ب أ اي و
سها 􀀺 سع إ الا للقيود التي يفر 􀂫 سية للمجتمع ولا تخ 􀀷 سا 􀀷 ض هذه الحقوق والحريات في اإطار المقومات ا أ لا 􀀷 ٢. تُمارَ
سحة العامة أ او الاآداب العامة. 􀂁 سمعتهم أ او حماية ا أ لامن الوطني أ او النظام العام أ او ال 􀀷 احترام حقوق ا آ لاخرين أ او
) لمادة ) 33 􀀫
ض تكوينها وللرجل 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سية للمجتمع. والزواج بين الرجل والمراأة اأ 􀀷 سا 􀀷 صرة هي الوحدة الطبيعية وا أ لا 􀀷 1. الاأ
صروط و أ اركان الزواج، ولا ينعقد 􀀸 صرة وفق 􀀷 ض اأُ 􀁿 سي 􀀷 سن الزواج حق التزوج وتاأ 􀀷 والمر أ اة ابتداء من بلوغ
صريع النافذ حقوق وواجبات الرجل والمر أ اة عند 􀂀 ساً كاملاً لا إ اكراه فيه وينظم الت 􀀺 سا الطرفين ر 􀀺 الزواج اإلا بر
انعقاد الزواج وخلال قيامه ولدى انحلاله.
سكال 􀀸 صرها وحماية الاأفراد داخلها وحظر مختلف اأ 􀀹 صرة وتقوية أ اوا 􀀷 ٢. تكفل الدولة والمجتمع حماية الاأ
سيخوخة 􀂀 سد المراأة والطفل. كما تكفل ل أ لامومة والطفولة وال 􀀺 ساً 􀀹 سو 􀂁 سائها وخ 􀂫 ساءة المعاملة بين أ اع 􀀷 العنف و إ ا
ض التنمية 􀀹 سباب أ اكبر فر 􀂀 سئين وال 􀀸 ساً للنا 􀂫 سة الحماية والرعاية اللازمتين وتكفل اأي 􀀹 وذوي الاحتياجات الخا
البدنية والعقلية.
٢٠
سمان حماية الطفل وبقائه ونمائه 􀂫 سائية ل 􀂫 صريعية وا إ لادارية والق 􀂀 3. تتخذ الدول ا أ لاطراف كل التدابير الت
ساأنه 􀂀 سي لكل التدابير المتخذة ب 􀀷 سا 􀀷 سلى المعيار ا أ لا 􀂫 سلحته الفُ 􀂁 ورفاهيته في جو من الحرية والكرامة واعتبار م
ساً للانحراف اأو جانحاً. 􀀺 سواء كان معر 􀀷 في جميع الاأحوال و
نسان لمجلس التعاون لدول الخليج _ : إعلان حقوق ا ? سادس
العربية:
) لمادة ) 6 􀀫
سان وفقاً للنظام)القانون( بما لا يخل بالنظام العام وا آ لاداب 􀁿 سعائر الدينية حق لكل اإن 􀂀 سة ال 􀀷 حُرية المعتقد وممار
العامة.
) لمادة ) 9 􀀫
سلامية والنظام العام 􀀷 صريعة ا إ لا 􀂀 ستها مكفولة بما يتوافق مع ال 􀀷 سان وممار 􀁿 حرية الر أ اي والتعبير عنه حق لكل اإن
ساأن. 􀂀 وا أ لانظمة )القوانين( المنظمة لهذا ال
) لمادة ) 14 􀀫
سية في المجتمع قوامها الرجل والمر أ اة ويحكمها الدين وا أ لاخلاق وحب 􀀷 سا 􀀷 صرة هي الوحدة الطبيعية وا أ لا 􀀷 الاأ
سكال 􀀸 صرة من جميع اأ 􀀷 صرها ويحمي ا أ لامومة والطفولة و أ افراد الاأ 􀀹 الوطن، ويحفظ الدين كيانها، ويقوي أ اوا
صري وتكفلُ الدولة والمجتمع حمايتها. 􀀷 ساءة والعنف الاأ 􀀷 ا إ لا
) لمادة ) 24 􀀫
سلحة العامة، مع 􀂁 سيات الكرامة والم 􀂫 سان قادر عليه، وله حرية اختيار نوعه، وفق مقت 􀁿 العمل حق لكل اإن
سحاب العمل. 􀀹 صروط العمل وحقوق العمال واأ 􀀸 سمان عدالة 􀀺
) لمادة ) 27 􀀫
صرف في مُلكه اإلاّ في حدود النظام )القانون(، ولا يُنزع من أ احد 􀂁 سونة، فلا يُمنع أ احد من الت 􀂁 سة م 􀀹 الملكية الخا
ض عادل. 􀂫 سبب المنفعة العامة مقابل تعوي 􀁿 مُلكه إ الا ب
) لمادة ) 32 􀀫
ساء. 􀂫 ستقلالية كاملة للق 􀀷 سان في ظل ا 􀁿 سي مكفول لكل إ ان 􀀺 ساء وحق التقا 􀂫 سية أ امام الق 􀀷 سوا 􀀷 ض 􀀷 النا
٢1
نسان: _ : توصيات اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق ا ? سادس
سان وفقاً للنظام)القانون( بما لا يخل بالنظام العام والاآداب 􀁿 سعائر الدينية حق لكل إ ان 􀂀 سة ال 􀀷 حُرية المعتقد وممار
لدولي: 􀀫 لمجتمع 􀀫 إلى 􀀫
سكان دولة قطر، و مواطني 􀀷 سار، وبذل كل الجهود الممكنة لتخفيف تداعياته على 􀂁 التحرًّك العاجل لرفع الح
سار. 􀂁 دول الح
سان: 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 سامية لحقوق 􀁿 ل􀀫 سية 􀀺 لمفو 􀀫 لمتحدة و 􀀫 لاأمم 􀀫 إلى 􀀫
سال بعثة فنية الى الدوحة خلال 􀀷 ساء و إ ار 􀂀 سان با أ لامم المتحدة باإن 􀁿 سامية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 سوية ال 􀂫 لقد قامت المف
سان 􀁿 ساع حقوق الاإن 􀀺 سار على اأو 􀂁 الفترة من 18 الى ٢3 نوفمبر ٢٠1٧ م للوقوف عن قرب على تداعيات الح
ض التعاون الخليجي و عليه نطالب: 􀁿 ض مواطني مجل 􀂫 للمواطنيين و المقيمين في دولة قطر و بع
سفية الاأحادية 􀁿 سببتها القرارات و ا إ لاجراءات التع 􀀷 سار للكف ومعالجة الانتهاكات التي 􀂁 أولا: مخاطبة دول الح 􀀫
سية التي لحقت بهم . 􀁿 صرار المادية والنف 􀀺 سهم عن الاأ 􀂫 سحايا وتعوي 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 الجانب التي اإتخذوها وان
ض فيما 􀀹 سكل خا 􀂀 ض تقارير وبيانات توثِّرق مختلف اأنواع الانتهاكات التي طالت أ اعداداً هائلة، وب 􀀺 ثانيا: عر
صر، ومطالبة الدول 􀀷 ساء والاأطفال إ اثر تفكك الاأُ 􀁿 صرُّد العائلات، بما في ذلك تداعياتها المرعبة على الن 􀂀 يتعلق بت
سيها. 􀀺 سية للقائمين على اأرا 􀀷 سا 􀀷 باحترام الحريات ا أ لا
ض الدول 􀀹 سان والمقررين الخوا 􀁿 ض حقوق ا إ لان 􀁿 سان إ الى مجل 􀁿 سل عن انتهاكات حقوق الاإن 􀂁 ثالثا: رفع تقرير مف
سمان عدم تكرارها. 􀀺 والاآليات التعاقدية لمعالجة الانتهاكات و
سان: 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 ص حقوق 􀁿 إلى مجل 􀀫
سار، وما نجم عنه من انتهاكات، 􀂁 سبيل رفع الح 􀀷 سدار قرار و اتخاذ جميع ا إ لاجراءات الممكنة في 􀂁 ست 􀀷 اإ 􀁴
صرار التي لحقت بجميع الاأفراد. 􀀺 ض كافة الاأ 􀂫 والمطالبة بتعوي
صر. 􀀸 سكل مبا 􀂀 سحايا ب 􀂫 سي الحقائق، ومقابلة ال 􀂁 ساء لجنة لتق 􀂀 المطالبة باإن 􀁴
سان: 􀁿 لاإن 􀀫 ص حقوق 􀁿 ص في مجل 􀀹􀀫 لخو 􀀫 لمقررين 􀀫 إلى 􀀫
سدار 􀂁 ست 􀀷 سحايا، وا 􀂫 وخطابات ال NHRC سان 􀁿 صريع مع تقارير اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن 􀁿 أولا: التجاوب ال 􀀫
ساأن. 􀂀 ستركة في هذا ال 􀂀 نداءات عاجلة و نداءات م
سحايا 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 سار لرفع الاإنتهاكات و اإن 􀂁 ثانيا: مخاطبة حكومات دول الح
سان من جراء 􀁿 سار للوقوف على اإنتهاكات حقوق ا إ لان 􀂁 ثالثا: القيام بزيارات ميدانية لدولة قطر و دول الح
سار 􀂁 الح
سان 􀁿 ض حقوق الاإن 􀁿 سار في التقارير الدورية التي ترفع لمجل 􀂁 بعا: تدوين اإنتهاكات دول الح 􀀫 ر
لعربية : 􀀫 لخليج 􀀫 لتعاون لدول 􀀫 ص 􀁿 لعامة لمجل 􀀫 لاأمانة 􀀫 إلى 􀀫
سة مكتب حقوق 􀀹 ض التعاون لدول الخليج العربية و بخا 􀁿 س ؤ وون القانونية في ا أ لامانة العامة لمجل 􀂀 دعوة قطاع ال
سفية 􀁿 سحايا و الكف عن إ اية إ اجراءات تع 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 سار لرفع الاإنتهاكات و اإن 􀂁 سان بالقطاع، مخاطبة دول الح 􀁿 ا إ لان
جديدة.
٢٢
سار: 􀂁 لح􀀫 إلى دول 􀀫
سمت اإليها 􀂫 سادقت و اإن 􀀹 سان التي 􀁿 أولاً: ا إ لالتزام ب إ احترام التعهدات الواردة في اإتفاقيات حقوق ا إ لان 􀀫
سحايا . 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 ثانيا: الكف عن تلك الانتهاكات ووقفها ومعالجتها واإن
والتقارير الدولية. NHRC سان 􀁿 ثالثا: التجاوب مع تقارير اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الاإن
سانية عن قرب 􀁿 سماح للمنظمات الدولية والبعثات الدولية بزيارات ميدانية للاطلاع على الحالات ا إ لان 􀁿 بعا: ال 􀀫 ر
سحايا. 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 سئوليات واإن 􀁿 وتحديد الم
سغط 􀀺 ستعماله كورقة 􀀷 سانية والاجتماعية، وعدم ا 􀁿 ساع الاإن 􀀺 سي عن الت أ اثير على الاأو 􀀷 سيا 􀁿 سا: تحييد الملف ال 􀁿 خام
سان. 􀁿 وذلك لمخالفته القانون الدولي، والقانون الدولي لحقوق الاإن
لقطرية: 􀀫 لحكومة 􀀫 إلى 􀀫
ض ا أ لامن، والمحاكم الدولية ولجان 􀁿 سعيد مجل 􀀹 ستوى الدولي، وعلى 􀁿 أولاً: اتخاذ جميع الخطوات الممكنة على الم 􀀫
سحايا. 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 سار عن المواطنين والمقيمين في دولة قطر و اإن 􀂁 التحكيم، لرفع الح
سحايا. 􀂫 ساف ال 􀂁 سي لاإن 􀀺 صريع إ اجراءات التقا 􀁿 سات في ت 􀂫 ثانياً: دعوة لجنة المطالبة بالتعوي
سانية 􀁿 سهيل إ اجراءات إ ادماج الطلبة في الجامعات و المنظومة التعليمية القطرية ومعالجة الحالات الاإن 􀁿 ثالثاً: ت
صررين. 􀂫 ض المت 􀂫 لبع
٢3
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T h e o f f ic ia l S a u d i P r e s s A g e n c y
W e d n e s d a y 1 4 3 9 /5 /1 4 - 2 0 1 8 /0 1 /3 1
J o in t s t a t e m e n t is s u e d b y f o u r b o y c o t t in g S t a t e s d e n o u n c in g r e p o r t o f U N H C H R 's t e c h n ic a l m is s io n o n it s v is it t o Q a t a r
Ge n e v a , J u m a d a I1 3 , 1 4 3 9 , J a n u a r y 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 , SP A - - A j o i n t s t a t e m e n t w a s i s s u e d b y t h e m i s s i o n s o f t h e K i n g d o m o f Sa u d i A r a b i a , t h e U n i t e d A r a b
Em i r a t e s , t h e K i n g d o m o f B a h r a i n a n d t h e A r a b R e p u b l i c o f Eg y p t a c c r e d i t e d t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n Ge n e v a i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e r e p o r t o f
t h e t e c h n i c a l m i s s i o n o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r Hu m a n R i g h t s , w h i c h v i s i t e d D o h a i n N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 .
T h e s t a t e m e n t r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :
Fo l l o w i n g t h e r e p o r t p r e p a r e d b y t h e T e c h n i c a l M i s s i o n o f t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r Hu m a n R i g h t s o n i t s v i s i t t o Q a t a r f r o m 2 8 t o 6 R a b i u l A l A w a l
1 4 3 9 H( 1 7 t o 2 4 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 ) , t h e m i s s i o n s o f t h e K i n g d o m o f Sa u d i A r a b i a , t h e U n i t e d A r a b Em i r a t e s , t h e K i n g d o m o f B a h r a i n a n d t h e A r a b
R e p u b l i c o f Eg y p t a c c r e d i t e d i n Ge n e v a , e x p r e s s t h e i r d e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e r e p o r t 's m e t h o d o l o g i c a l f a i l u r e t h a t i n c l u d e d a m i s l e a d i n g d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e
p o l i t i c a l c r i s i s , l e a d i n g t o t h e r e p o r t 's c o n c l u s i o n s a n d o b s e r v a t i o n s b a s e d o n a l i m i t e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e g e n e r a l c o n t e x t o f t h e p o l i t i c a l c r i s i s a n d i t s
h i s t o r i c a l b a c k g r o u n d a s t h e b a s i s o f t h i s c r i s i s g o e s b a c k t o t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f Q a t a r 's s u p p o r t f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a n d e n t i t i e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y i n v o l v e d i n
f i n a n c i n g t e r r o r i s m a n d s u p p o r t i n g i t s a c t i v i t i e s , a n d p r o m o t i n g t h e i r e x t r e m i s t i d e o l o g y , w h i c h i n c i t e s v i o l e n c e a n d p r o m o t e s h a t e s p e e c h i n t h e A r a b
r e g i o n t h r o u g h Q a t a r i m e d i a p l a t f o r m s o r f u n d e d t h r o u g h Q a t a r i f i g u r e s .
T h e b o y c o t t o f t h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s o f Q a t a r i s p a r t o f t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e i r s o v e r e i g n r i g h t t o p r o t e c t a n d d e f e n d t h e i r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y . It c o m e s a s a
n a t u r a l r e a c t i o n t h a t i s n o t c o m p a r a b l e i n s i z e a n d i m p a c t t o t h e s u p p o r t b y t h e Go v e r n m e n t o f Q a t a r f o r t e r r o r i s m i n f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s
o f t h e C h a r t e r o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d In t e r n a t i o n a l L a w , a n d t h e r e s o l u t i o n s b y t h e Hu m a n r i g h t s C o u n c i l a n d t h e Ge n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e l e v a n t t o t h e
i m p a c t o f t e r r o r i s m o n t h e e n jo y m e n t o f h u m a n r i g h t s .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e a f f i r m t h a t t h e s e m e a s u r e s a r e n o t a i m e d a t t h e p e o p l e o f Q a t a r , w i t h w h o m w e h a v e t i e s o f b r o t h e r h o o d , c l o s e n e s s a n d
c o n c i l i a t i o n , a n d e v e n a t r i b a l e x t e n s i o n t o s o m e o f o u r c o u n t r i e s .
T h e m i s s i o n s o f t h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s a l s o e x p r e s s t h e i r l a c k o f a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e r e p o r t a n d t h e r e s u l t s r e a c h e d b y i t a i t c o n t a i n e d m a n y o f
a l l e g a t i o n s a n d a c c u s a t i o n s t h a t a r e u n f o u n d e d . It a l s o r e f l e c t s a c l e a r b i a s t o w a r d s o n e o f t h e p a r t i e s o f t h e p o l i t i c a l c r i s i s a s i t a d o p t e d t h e s a m e Q a t a r i
s t o r y b a s e d o n f a l s e c l a i m s t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f Q a t a r i s s e e k i n g t o p r o m o t e r e g i o n a l l y a n d g l o b a l l y .
T h e m i s s i o n s o f t h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s r e g i s t e r t h e i r r e s e r v a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e m a n n e r a n d t i m i n g o f t h e l e a k i n g o f t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e r e p o r t b y t h e Q a t a r i
N a t i o n a l Hu m a n R i g h t s C o m m i t t e e d u r i n g i t s p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e h e l d i n D o h a , Q a t a r , o n 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8 . T h e y n o t e t h a t t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n d i d n o t
p r o v i d e t h e m i s s i o n s o f t h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s w i t h t h e r e p o r t u n t i l a f t e r i t w a s p u b l i s h e d o n M o n d a y 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8 .
T h e y s t r e s s t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e t e c h n i c a l r e p o r t s p r e p a r e d b y t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r Hu m a n R i g h t s a t t h e r e q u e s t o f m e m b e r s t a t e s a i m s t o
t r a n s f e r e x p e r i e n c e s t o d e v e l o p t h e h u m a n r i g h t s s y s t e m a n d a d d r e s s h u m a n r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s i n t h e s t a t e i t s e l f .
T h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s i n d i c a t e t h a t i t h a s b e c o m e c l e a r t o t h e m t h a t t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h e Q a t a r i g o v e r n m e n t t o r e q u e s t a v i s i t b y t h e t e c h n i c a l
c o m m i t t e e o f t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n o f Hu m a n R i g h t s c o m e s i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e m e d i a a n d p o l i t i c a l e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e v i s i t a n d t h e r e s u l t i n g r e p o r t , n o t
f o r i t s l o f t y o b j e c t i v e o f t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e e x p e r t i s e o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n t o t h e Q a t a r i s i d e .
T h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s d e p l o r e d t h e p e r s i s t e n c e o f t h e Q a t a r i p o l i c i e s b a s e d o n l a c k o f c r e d i b i l i t y a n d l a c k o f g o o d w i l l i n t h e i r u s e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d
i t s s p e c i a l i z e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g e n c i e s a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e p o r t s .
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e f o u r St a t e s c a l l u p o n t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n t o a d d r e s s t h e m e t h o d o l o g i c a l a n d p r o c e d u r a l e r r o r s o f t h e r e p o r t w h i c h w a s n o t i n
c o n f o r m i t y w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s a n d t h e t e r m s o f r e f e r e n c e o f t h e Hi g h C o m m i s s i o n f o r Hu m a n R i g h t s , a n d w h i c h i s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e n a t u r e
o f t h e w o r k o f t h e t e c h n i c a l m i s s i o n w h i c h w a s s e n t t o Q a t a r i n a m a n n e r t h a t d o e s n o t e x c e e d t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l b o u n d a r i e s o f t h e s t a t e r e q u e s t i n g
t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t .
T h e f o u r c o u n t r i e s e m p h a s i z e t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f Q a t a r 's d i s r e g a r d f o r a n y s e r i o u s i n i t i a t i v e s t o r e s o l v e t h e p o l i t i c a l c r i s i s a n d i t s c o n t i n u e d a t t e m p t s
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d e s p i t e t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e a n d v a l u e d e f f o r t s o f Hi s Hi g h n e s s Sh e i k h Sa b a h A l - A h m a d A l - J a b e r A l - Sa b a h , t h e A m i r o f K u w a i t , c o n f i r m s t h e l a c k o f g e n u i n e
a n d s i n c e r e i n t e n t i o n i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e i n Q a t a r t o r e t u r n r e l a t i o n s t o t h e i r n o r m a l c o u r s e w i t h t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e b o y c o t t .
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عربي
Ho m e > Ne w s
Statement of HE Deputy PrimeMinister
of Foreigh Affairs ta the 37th Human
Rights Council
2 5 Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
Statement of HE DeputyPrime Minister of Foreigh Affairs ta the 37th Human Rights Cou... Page 1 of 7
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Mr. President,
Mr. High Commissioner,
Excellencies, Heads of Delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to greet you all and to take part in the current session of
the Human Rights Council that we hope will contribute to achieve the expected
goals. I am also pleased that my country had the honour of being re-elected to the
Human Rights Council and I would like to thank the countries that have placed their
confidence in us.
Mr. President,
The world is confronted with serious challenges of proliferation of armed conflicts,
growing unrest due to acts of violent extremism, fanaticism and terrorism, and the
use of unilateral coercive measures that contravene international law, human
rights covenants and violate the principle of peaceful relations among States. All
these challenges negatively affect human rights and deprivemany individuals and
communities of their fundamental rights and freedoms which are stipulated in
international human rights instruments.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite the growing global interest in the protection and promotion of human rights,
it is however regrettable that there are still gross and flagrant violations of these
rights inmany regions of the world.
I informed the Council at its last session of the violations of human rights caused by
the unjust blockade and the unilateral coercivemeasures imposed on my country
that have been confirmed by the recent report of the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights Technical Mission following its visit to the State
of Qatar last November. The report objectively and systematically describes the
serious human rights violations by the blockading countries against citizens and
residents both in the State of Qatar and in the blockading countries. These violations
continue to this day.
Based on the State of Qatar’s sound legal position and in defense of its legitimate
rights,I call from this forum upon the Human Rights Council and all itsmechanisms, in
particular the Special Procedures Mechanism, to shoulder their responsibilities and
mandates in order to put an end to the human rights violations resulting from these
unilateral coercive discriminatory measures, to hold those responsible accountable
and to work towards compensating the victims.
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Mr. President,
It is both very astonishing and surprising that the Quartet that has imposed unilateral
coercive measures onmy country are members of the main group that introduced
the Human Rights Council's resolution on "Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive
Measures", and that three of them are currently members of this Council.
This strange conduct in dealing with the Council’s resolutions reflects a great
contradiction between these States’ convictions and policies on the one hand, and
between their positions and orientations within the Council on the other hand. This
conduct not only calls into question the credibility and seriousness of the Council, but
also undermines the council’s work and its efforts, which needs to be addressed with
all possiblemeasures to preserve the reputation and credibility of this Council.
Excellencies,
The horrific massacres committed by the current Syrian regime targeting the Syrian
people in eastern Ghouta in full view of the whole world is a disgrace to humanity. A
disgrace thatmirrors the depth of gross violations of international law and
international humanitarian law and reflects barbaric and brutal practices infringing
human rights, at a time when the United Nationsmechanisms on international peace
and security have shown their inability and laxity in playing their role to protect the
Syrians human rights. Therefore, there is a need for t h e in t e r n a t io n a l c o m m u n it y to
take all necessary measures be confront the Syrian regime to implement the Security
Council resolutions related to the cease-fire and the protection the Syrian people and
to intensify efforts to stop the systematic killing and oppression policy, war crimes
and crimes against humanity committed by the Syrian regime and to bring the
perpetrators of these heinous crimes to international justice.
We also stress the need for the international community, especially the Security
Council, to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and to abandon selectivity in
order to reach a political settlement of the Syrian crisis in accordance with Geneva
Declaration (1) meet the Syrian people’s legitimate aspiration for freedom, justice and
dignity.
To this end, we call upon the international community to provide all humanitarian
assistance to the Syrian people so as to fulfill their urgent needs. The State of Qatar
will spare no effort in providing such assistance.
Mr. President,
The Palestinian people have been la n g u is h in g u n d e r o c c u p a t io n since the first
calamity (Nakba) in 1948. The aggrieved people have been affected by woes and
wars under continued occupation. In addition, the occupation violates in itself the
values of freedom and peaceful civilized coexistence reached by human
civilization. The decades of Israeli occupation have been accompanied by a wide
range of illegal practices by the Israeli authorities, which have been in flagrant
violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. There is no doubt that
these practices constitute a clear violation of international law and relevant
resolutions of the Security Council, which obliges Israel to stop these violations and
abuses, to use brutalmilitary force against innocent civilians and to lift the siege on
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the Gaza Strip.
In this context, we call upon the international community to strive to protect the
Palestinian people’s right and to achieve the two-state solution agreed upon by the
international community in accordance with the resolutions of international
legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative and other international reference, thus ending
the occupation and establishing a Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital.
With regard to Yemen, we call on all Yemeni parties to engage positively towards
achieving genuine national reconciliation to put an end to the conflict, the suffering
and the gross violations of the brotherly Yemeni people’s rights.We also call upon the
international community to exert all efforts to implement the Security Council
resolutions relating to Yemen, including resolution 2216 of 2015, to take allmeasures
to address the grave humanitarian humanitarian situation faced by the Yemeni
brotherly people, to facilitate the access of humanitarian assistance to various regions
in Yemeni and to prevent the use of such humanitarian assistance as a means to
achieve political gains by any party.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The protection and promotion of human rights is one of the top priorities for the
State of Qatar which continues its efforts in this field at the institutional and
legislative levels in accordance with its national Vision 2030 with all its economic,
social, political and cultural aspects and dimensions. This Vision aims at achieving a
comprehensive and integrated development based on safeguarding human dignity
and promoting and protecting human rights in the framework of justice, equality and
consolidation of all fundamental freedoms
In this respect, the State of Qatar has taken significant steps and achievedmany of
the MillenniumDevelopment Goals as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
The State of Qatar has also been at the forefront of countries of the region in the
human development reports in recent years.
In the context of strengthening popular participation, necessary legislative tools are
being prepared for the Shura Council elections (Advisory Council). It is worth
mentioning that this session of the Council has seen the participation of Qatari
women.
Concerning, workers’ rights, legislative and services structure witnessed significant
developments to provide a decent life for Qatar's guests who have participated in
building its renaissance. According to the statistics of October 2017, about 2.4 million
workers have benefited from the unified workers' unified wage protection system. In
the area of strategic planning on human rights, the State of Qatar is currently working
towards the adoption of the National Human Rights Plan, which will be adopted in
accordance with related international standards.
At the regional and international levels, the State of Qatar continues its efforts to
promote and protect human rights through its positive engagement with all States
and relevant international and regional institutions. Here I point out that the State of
Qatar, with all its governmental and non-governmental humanitarian institutions,
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continues to provide development and humanitarian assistance to those in need
following disasters and conflicts inmany part of the world.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, I would like to stress the State of Qatar’s continuing approach based on
safeguarding, promoting and protecting human rights, at all domestic, regional and
international levels. An approach stemming fromits firm belief and conviction in
these rights. I would also like to emphasize that the State of Qatar continues its policy
aiming at constructive international cooperation, which includes support for this
Council to enable it achieve its noble work and it to best discharge its duties.
I thank you for your kind attention.
•
•


Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar
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Genève - Switzerland
+41227988500
[email protected]
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Statement of HE Deputy Prime Minister of Foreigh Affairs ta the 37th Human Rights Cou... Page 7 of 7
http://geneva.mission.qa/en/news/detail/2018/02/28/statement-of-he-depu…-... 6/9/2018
Arab Quartet responds to Qatar’s remarks at the UN
Human Rights Council
english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/02/28/Arab-Quartet-responds-to-Qatar-s-remarks-at-the-UN-Human-Rights-
Council.html
UAE’s Permanent Representative of the to the UN made the right of reply. (Photo courtesy:
@UN_HRC)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Text size A A A
Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt issued a joint statement in
response to the Foreign Minister of Qatar in his address to the 37th session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council.
The UAE’s Permanent Representative of the to the UN, Ambassador Obaid Salem Al Zaabi,
delivered a right of reply on behalf of his country, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in response
to remarks made by Qatari FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The statement read as follow:
Mr. President,
The Permanent Delegations of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of
Egypt and the Kingdom of Bahrain would like to use the right of reply to the statement made
by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, who for the second time sought to occupy your
esteemed council in the case of a diplomatic crisis they initiated. Their efforts to market this
1/2
secondary crisis a major international crisis worthy of attention by the international community
should not be ignored. We believe that this small political crisis between our countries must be
resolved within the framework of the existing Kuwaiti mediation efforts led by His Highness
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His efforts have received the full support and
appreciation of the leadership of our countries and continue to be the best channel for
addressing the causes and consequences of this political crisis.
Mr. president,
A report prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at
the invitation of Qatar was answered by our countries in a detailed statement to UNHCR. We
also expressed the views of our countries on the report in a joint press statement on behalf of
the permanent delegations of the four boycotting countries of Qatar. Qataris must choose
between being a state that believes in the principle of positive international relations and seeks
to engage in a positive relationship with its neighbors, like the rest of the civilized world, or
continue to violate international law and international and regional conventions and
instruments related to the fight against terrorism, its financing and its supporters. Qatar cannot
do the same while acting in another way.
Mr. president,
The four countries would like to emphasize Qatar's role in supporting radical ideologies and
terrorist ideas and spreading hate speech and incitement to violence through the media. What
our countries want from Qatar is to change their behavior of supporting terrorist organizations
and to stop funding them immediately. We also demand that this international forum not make
Doha a place where people who justify acts of terrorism are hosted.
Mr. president,
Qatar, which has always spoken of respect for human dignity and the rights of peoples to selfdetermination,
is itself the one that embraces the leaders of the international organization of
the Muslim Brotherhood, for whom the world has only seen a dark ideology that has provided
humanity nothing more than terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda, which then resulted in
other terrorist groups no less criminal and shadowy like ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra.
Our States will therefore continue to exercise their sovereign right to boycott the Government
of Qatar, guaranteed by international law, in defense of the deliberate harm and damage to our
security, interference in our internal affairs and Qatar's lack of respect for the principles of
positive international relations.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Last Update: Wednesday, 28 February 2018 KSA 18:20 - GMT 15:20
2/2
27-29, avenue du Boucher – 1209 Geneva
Tel. 022 798 8500 Fax: 022 791 0485 Email: [email protected]
Permanent Delegation of
The State of Qatar to the
United Nations
Geneva
Permanent Delegation of The State of
Qatar to the United Nations
Geneva
Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar, Geneva
Date: 08/16/1439 AH
Corresponding to: 05/02/2018 CE
Confidential
H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Hammadi,
Chief of Staff of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Doha
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings.
Re: Transmission of the letter from H.E. the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs addressed to the
Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
In reference to your letter No. 71073 (confidential) dated April 25, 2018 CE with respect to the letter of
H.E. the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs addressed to the Emirati Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs, I am pleased to inform you that the Permanent Delegation sent the aforementioned letter to the
Permanent Mission of the State of The United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and other
international organizations in Geneva on April 27, 2018 by registered mail. According to the Swiss postal
system’s tracking, the letter was received by the Emirati mission on May 1, 2018. The letter was also
sent by fax on May 1, 2018, and confirmation of receipt was received by the fax machine.
Kindly be informed of the above and act as you deem fit.
Please accept our highest regards,
[signature]
Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri
Permanent Delegate
Attachments:
- Cover letter of the Permanent Mission to the Emirati Mission in Geneva
- A copy of the Swiss postal tracking form
- A copy of fax confirmation of receipt of the letter from the Permanent Delegation by the Emirati mission
C.C: Office of H.E. the Secretary-General
Diplomat in charge: Talal Al Neamah
A.Sh.
27-29, avenue du Boucher – 1209 Geneva
Tel. 022 798 8500 Fax: 022 791 0485 Email: [email protected]
Permanent Delegation of The State of
Qatar to the United Nations
Geneva
Permanent Delegation of The State of
Qatar to the United Nations
Geneva
Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar, Geneva
Date: 08/12/1439 AH
Corresponding to: 04/27/2018 CE
The Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international
organizations in Geneva extends its cordial greetings to the Permanent Mission of the State of United
Arab Emirates to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
Kindly find attached the letter addressed on 8/9/1439 AH, corresponding to 04/25/2018 CE, by H.E.
Mr. Soltan Bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar to H.E.
Mr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of the United
Arab Emirates, with respect to:
An invitation to negotiate with respect to the human rights violations arising from the actions
taken by the Government of the State of the United Arab Emirates against the State of Qatar and its
citizens on June 5, 2017.
The Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other International
Organizations in Geneva would like to take this opportunity to express its highest regard and respect to
the Permanent Mission of the State of United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Office and other
International Organizations in Geneva.
[stamp:]
Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar, Geneva
[signature]
To the Permanent Mission of the State of United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Office and
other International Organizations in Geneva
Attachments: As stated above
H.E. Mr. Anwar Gargash,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
The United Arab Emirates,
Abu Dhabi
Date: 08/09/1439 AH
Corresponding to: 04/25/2018 CE
Greetings.
We refer you to the “Report on the Impact of the Gulf Crisis on Human Rights” issued by the
Technical Mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in December 2017 (the
“OHCHR Report”) which documents, among other things, human rights violations suffered by nationals
of Qatar as a result of coercive measures adopted by the State of the United Arab Emirates on June 5,
2017 and which constitute a breach of its obligations under the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which went into effect on January 4, 1969, and to
which the State of the United Arab Emirates is a party.
As an example of these coercive measures, the State of the United Arab Emirates has enacted and
implemented discriminatory statutes and policies directed at Qatari citizens and companies on the sole
basis of their nationality. These actions included, but were not limited to, expelling all Qatari nationals
within the borders of the State of the United Arab Emirates, demanding the return of UAE nationals
living in Qatar, closing all borders and prohibiting inter-state transport between the UAE and Qatar,
criminalizing speech perceived to be in support of Qatar, sponsoring a defamatory media campaign
against Qatar and inciting hatred towards Qatar and Qatari nationals, and otherwise endeavoring to
sever all personal and professional relationships between Qatari nationals and nationals of the UAE. The
UAE’s coercive measures remain in effect to this day.
Needless to say, the selective measures carried out by the State of the United Arab Emirates as part
of these coercive measures against Qatari nationals are irreversible in many cases. There is no doubt
that such measures violate the obligations of the UAE under the CERD and its underlying moral
principles and the internationally recognized customary principle of nondiscrimination on arbitrary
grounds. In particular, the following:
 the prohibition on collective expulsion pursuant to the provisions of Article 2;
 the obligation not to discriminate in the enjoyment of protected fundamental human rights
pursuant to Article 5, including the rights to marriage and choice of spouse, freedom of opinion and
expression, the right to access public health and medical services, the right to education, ownership,
and equal treatment before tribunals;
 the obligation to condemn racial hatred pursuant to Article 4; and
 the obligation to assure effective protection and remedies against acts of racial discrimination
pursuant to Article 6.
The UAE took these actions, which unlawfully and without precedent target Qatari nationals and not
others on the basis of their nationality, in violation of international law and human rights charters. This
requires the State of the United Arab Emirates to eliminate these violations which are in explicit breach
of the aforementioned International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
In conclusion, in the event that these violations are not eliminated and given Qatar’s concern to
protect the interests of Qatari nationals and defend their rights, it is necessary to enter into negotiations
in order to resolve these violations and the effects thereof within no more than two weeks from the
date of receiving this letter, in accordance with the principles of international law and the principles
governing relationships between countries.
Please accept our highest regards,
[signature]
Soltan Bin Saad Al-Muraikhi
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Doha - Qatar, June 2018
A year of the blockade
imposed on Qatar
Fifth General Report
Continuation of human rights violations

3 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Fifth General Report
Continuation of human rights violations
A year of the blockade
imposed on Qatar
Doha - Qatar 2018
4 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Index
First: The NHRC, An Overview
Second: Introduction
Third: Executive Summary
Fourth: The most serious violations
A: Violation of the right to family reunification
B: Violation of the right to education
C: Violation of the right to work
D: Violation of the right to property
C: Violation of the right to perform religious rituals
H: Violation of freedom of opinion and expression
G: Incitement of violence and hatred
H: Violation of the right to movement and residence
I: Violation of the right to health
J: Violation of the right to litigation
Fifth: Legal description
Sixth: Conclusions
Seventh: Recommendations to the Competent Authorities
569
13
14
18
21
24
28
32
40
45
51
53
54
62
65
5 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The National Human Rights
Committee (NHRC) in Qatar is
one of National Human Rights
Institutions (NHRIs) established in
accordance with the Paris Principles
adopted by the UN General
Assembly. These institutions
become members of the Global
Alliance of National Human Rights
Institutions (GANHRI) after being
accredited by the Sub-Committee
on Accreditation (SCA) of the
GANHRI, under the supervision of
the National Institutions, Regional
Mechanisms and Civil Society
Division (NRCS) of the Office of
the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR). The NHRC was
established in 2002 and was
mandated to protect and promote human rights as defined by the Paris Principles.
The Committee has held status (A) accreditation since 2010, which is the top
rating accredited to a national institution, demonstrating a high level of credibility,
independence and compliance with the Paris Principles.
First: The NHRC, An Overview
6 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
On June 5th, 2017, three Gulf countries - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain - in addition to the Arab Republic of Egypt cut
diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar. Their joint action occurred without any legal or
factual justifications, and without producing evidence of proof of their allegations against
the State of Qatar. Their decisions however, did not suffice at the political and diplomatic
level, but rather continued to adopt a series of arbitrary measures by the three Gulf States
(hereafter referred to as blockading countries). Their decisions included the closure of sea,
land and air routes to trade and residents of Qatar. Moreover, they demanded Qatari citizens
and residents leave their territories within fourteen days, and for their citizens to leave Qatar
within the same deadline. That decision was undertaken with complete disregard of all
the repercussions and legal, human rights and humanitarian consequences, constituting
a series of grave violations to human rights. In its turn, the Government of Qatar has not
taken any reciprocal measures against citizens of KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt working in
Qatar. These violations have continued for the entirety of the year, and have advanced into
arbitrary detention and forced disappearances of some Qataris.
This report includes cases of violations received by the NHRC, and those documented
by the Committee, bringing the total number of documented violations to the tens of
thousands, and increasing. To date, complaints are still being received by the NHRC and the
Compensation Claims Committee (CCC).
This marks the fifth report issued by the
NHRC to document these violations on
the occasion of the passage of a full year
of the blockade. As per its mandate, the
NHRC prepared routine reports on violations
to human rights in Qatar as a result of the
blockade, which are as follows:
After a year of
the blockade, the
NHRC reported
4105 violations
Second: Introduction
7 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
13th of June 1st of July 30th of August 5th of December
The first report
o n h u m a n
rights violations
resulting from
the blockade
imposed on the
State of Qatar
The third report
o n h u m a n
rights violations
resulting from
the blockade
imposed on the
State of Qatar
The second report
o n h u m a n
rights violations
resulting from
the blockade
imposed on the
State of Qatar
The fourth report
on human rights
violations resulting
from the Blockade
on the State of
Qatar (six months
of violations, what’s
next?)
Other
special
reports
2017
5th of September, 2017
Report on violation of the
right to education
24th of August, 2017
Report on violation of the
right to perform religious
30th of August, 2017
Report on violation of the
right to private property
3rd of September, 2017
Report on violation of the
right to have access to
food and medicine
8 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
(1) Mr. Felipe González Morales. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. David Kay - the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right
to freedom of opinion and expression, Dainius Pūras. The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health. M. Mutuma Ruteree, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin,
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Mme Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education. Mr.
Ahmed Shahid, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
The Committee has worked since the beginning of the blockade to counter the violations to
the rights of individuals, reduce their negative impact on human rights, and seek redress and
compensation for victims of these violations. We have both hosted and been received by
several international organizations and human rights bodies such as Amnesty International,
Human Rights Watch, and UN missions, as well as parliamentary delegations - including
the Greek, British, Italian, Canadian, German and European parliament, and the Tom Lantos
Committee in the U.S. Congress.
The report addresses testimonies made by victims whose basic rights have been violated
by the authorities of the three Blockading countries, and includes outlines and details of
the violations to which they are exposed to. We also refer to urgent appeals from six United
Nations Special Rapporteurs to the KSA, the UAE and Bahrain regarding the human rights
violations towards Qatari nationals in the blockading countries as well as the citizens of
these States residing in Qatar, that have resulted from the severing of diplomatic ties with
Qatar - in particular, the right to family reunification, education, employment, movement
and residence, private property, freedom of expression and health care. This is in addition
to the urgent appeal by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief directed
at the KSA to ensure Qatari citizens and residents are able exercise their right to religious
practice without discrimination (1).
The NHRC will continue to update this basic report as long as the blockade continues, and
the flow of complaints from victims continue to be submitted.
9 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
This report is issued on the occasion of the first anniversary of the blockade on the State
of Qatar. It documents the human rights violations that have been committed following the
decision of the three Gulf States of Saudi Arabia, the Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates,
as well as Egypt, to sever diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar on the 5th of June 2017.
The report describes the relevant legal aspects, conclusions and recommendations to all
parties concerned.
Thousands of families have been exposed to dispersal due to the closure of crossings and
borders and banning direct flights and preventing Qataris from entering these countries and
their citizens from entering Qatar. Part IV of the present report includes violations relating
to dispersion of families, especially women, children and persons with disabilities. This is
in addition to violations of the right to education, work, health and property, movement,
and litigation and the right to perform religious rites, and incitement to violence, hatred and
violation of freedom of opinion and expression.
These arbitrary decisions soon resulted in the denial of students from completing their
education from universities in the blockading countries, preventing individuals from
completing and receiving their treatment in hospitals there, in addition to material losses
incurred by owners of property, which resulted from their inability to access and dispose of
their property. This is in addition to the use of religious and media discourse to disseminate
a culture of hatred and violence, which led to that Qatari citizens being assaulted. They
have been subjected to cruel and degrading treatment by authorities in the blockading
countries, and recently these violations have escalated into arbitrary detention and enforced
disappearances since Saudi authorities arrested Qataris in violation of all international
covenants and norms of international human rights instruments.
Third: Executive Summary
10 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
This report documents information referred to in testimonies of victims and those affected by
the blockade. It further points to recognition by the blockading countries of the occurrence
of these violations through the formation of committees to address the humanitarian cases
of mixed families and other statements - however according to international organisations
and reports despite the formation of these alleged committees and the allocation of
telephone numbers to receive communications, this procedure has been deemed highly
ineffective.
The report of the technical mission of the OHCHR on the impact of the current Gulf crisis
on human rights concludes that the unilateral measures, consisting of severe restrictions of
movement, termination and disruption of trade, financial and investment flows, as well as
suspension of social and cultural exchanges imposed on the State of Qatar, immediately
translated into actions applying to nationals and residents of Qatar, including citizens of
KSA, UAE and Bahrain. Their report also examines the considerable economic impact
of the crisis deeming it equitable to that of economic warfare with the erosion of investor
confidence and significant financial losses for the State, companies and individuals.
Several reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have highlighted the
negative effects on families, the right to education, the right to health care, the right to
freedom of worship and exercising of religious rites, and the impact of the blockade on non-
Gulf migrant workers, particularly those coming from South Asia. Amnesty International
describes the conditions imposed on people as in total disregard for human dignity.
Part V of the present report constitutes the legal description of the violations committed
in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,
as well as the Arab Charter on Human Rights Human rights, the Declaration on the Human
Rights of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the economic agreement amongst GCC countries
and other international human rights conventions. This is in addition to the violation of the
Chicago Convention of Qatari civil aviation without any military necessity or reasons related
to public security.
Part VI refers to the findings of the report, the most prominent of which is the continued
suffering of individuals, that the measures taken constitute as discriminatory collective
punishment against individuals, and describes the failure of the blockading countries to
stop violations and damages suffered by those affected.
11 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The technical mission report of the OHCHR reveals the volume of violations of human rights
caused by the blockade, as well as the necessity of the responsiveness of international
mechanisms and organizations and their engagement to protect and promote human rights.
This is while noting the disappointing failure of all regional mechanisms meant to protect
human rights, including the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the Arab Parliament from
carrying out their role in lifting violations.
The report concludes in Part VII with recommendations to all parties concerned, primarily
to the International Community, demanding urgent action to lift the blockade and exert
all possible efforts to mitigate its repercussions on the people of Qatar, citizens of the
blockading countries and all those impacted. It demands that the Kuwaiti mediation works
to alleviate the suffering of the victims and resolve the human rights situation, and from the
civil society organizations in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to intensify efforts and
joint cooperation to resolve the repercussions of the crisis on the humanitarian situation.
Eight recommendations are presented to the United Nations to take serious steps that would
obligate the blockading countries to reverse their arbitrary decisions. Furthermore, four
recommendations are outlined for the Human Rights Council, including the establishment of
a fact-finding commission, direct interviews with victims and mechanism for compensation.
In the same context, the report presents recommendations to the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) and the blockading countries urging that they stop leveraging the humanitarian and
social situation to advance their political objectives, in violation of international human
rights law. This is in addition to allowing access to the technical mission of the OHCHR
and visits by special rapporteurs and international human rights organizations, to examine
the effects of the measures taken on the citizens of those States and on the citizens and
residents Qatar.
The last recommendations in this report are made to the Qatari government, including
continuing to call for recourse to the International Court of Justice, arbitration committees
and national and international specialized courts, and the need to bring to justice some of
the perpetrators of incitement, hate speech and calls for violence and racial discrimination.
In addition to inviting the Compensation Claims Committee to continue litigation and
international arbitration procedures in order to redress, compensate and indemnify victims.
12 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Qatar has not
reciprocated with any
measures or actions
against the countries
of the blockade
13 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Enforced Total
disappearance
The extraction
of official
documents
arbitrary arrest,
detention
Degrading /
Derogatory
treatment
Work Residence
The
practice of
religious
rites
Health
Movement Care Family
Education Property reunion
Violating
State
Total
66 697 346 770 19 165 67 57 1 1 4 1 2194
148 458 82 348 4 - 6 4 - 2 - - 1052
28 55 218 129 14 - 37 32 - - 1 - 514
271 24 - 41 - - - - - - - - 337
diverse - - - 9 - - - - - - - - 9
Total 513 1234 646 1297 37 165 110 93 1 3 5 1 4105
Fourth: The most serious violations
The following table shows the violations reported by the National Human Rights Committee,
amounting to (4105) cases, distributed according to violating country and type of violation.
The table includes violations against the citizens of the blockading countries in addition to the
Qatari citizens and residents:
Violations reported by the National Human Rights
Committee, amounting to (4105) cases
Table (1) All Violations
Table number (1) shows the latest statistics for violations made against the State of Qatar
since the beginning of the blockade, on the 5th of June 2017 until 23 May 2018. The violations
include 513 cases of violation of the right to education, 1234 cases violation of the right to
property, 646 cases violation of the right to family reunification, 1297 violation of the right to
movement. This is in addition to 37 violations of the right to health care, 165 violations of the
right to practice religious rites, 110 violations of the right to work, 93 violations of the right to
residence, 1 case of degrading treatment, 3 violations of arbitrary detention, 5 violations of
the right to obtain official documents, 1 violation of Enforced Disappearances, which totals to
(4105) violations.
14 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
A: Violation of the right to family reunification
Table (2) shows the number of violations of the right to family reunification since the beginning
of the blockade, 5th of June 2017 until 23rd of May 2018, stands at 646 violations (346 from
the KSA, 82 from the UAE, 218 from Bahrain).
Measures taken by the blockading countries have not been confined to diplomatic, legal and
economic levels, but rather gone beyond that to the severing of relations by preventing the
movement of mixed families through placing obstacles to the citizens and residents of the State
of Qatar. The demand by the blockading countries that Qatari citizens leave their territories, as
well as their citizens leave Qatar created inhumane conditions in flagrant violation of international
human rights conventions. This occurred through the forced deportation of families and their
dispersion, not stopping at separating children from their parents. The violation of this right
has upset the lives of thousands of family members, especially women, children, persons with
disabilities, the elderly, and the denial of mothers and fathers to stay with their children.
This violation is one of the most atrocious because it affects and threatens the family unit,
disperses it, and threatens the most vulnerable groups in society (women, children, persons
with disabilities and the elderly) in a alarming manner, causing serious psychological and social
implications on broad segments of society.
The formation of committees to handle the humanitarian situations of the mixed families, is
in itself a recognition by the authorities of the blocking countries that there are violations that
have already affected these families. Despite the formation of these alleged committees and
allocation of phone numbers to receive communications, according to the many complaints of
the victims and of the statement of the OHCHR on 14 June 2017, this procedure has not been
effective enough to deal with all cases.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
The right to family 346 82 218 --- 646
reunification
May 23,
2018
Table (2) Violation of the Right to Family Reunification
15 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The high commissioner, prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, commenting on the impact of the
current Gulf crisis on Human Rights on the 14th of June 2017 assured that, «The majority of the
measures were broad and non-targeted, making no distinction between the Government
of Qatar and its population,” and that the directives issued to address the humanitarian
needs of families with joint nationalities, appear “not sufficiently effective to address all cases.”
Pursuantly the OHCHR technical mission on the Gulf Crisis’ report on January 8th 2018, noted
that according to information received by the team, individuals from Qatar working in
KSA, UAE and Bahrain, and / or with business interests in these countries, were forced
to return to Qatar, reportedly with no access to their companies and other sources of activity
and income since the outbreak of the crisis (2) .
On June 9, 2017, Amnesty International condemned the violations resulting from the Blockade
imposed on the State of Qatar, and stated that The organization’s researchers have interviewed
dozens of people whose human rights have been affected by a series of sweeping measures
imposed in an arbitrary manner by the three Gulf countries in their dispute with Qatar”, and
that “For potentially thousands of people across the Gulf, the effect of the steps imposed in the
wake of this political dispute is suffering, heartbreak and fear,” Stressing that the conditions
imposed on people across the Gulf reveal an absolute contempt for human dignity. The
Organization described these states as manipulating the lives of thousands of residents in
the Gulf, dispersing families, destroying the livelihood of the people and their educational
future. Moreover, the effects of the steps which are imposed in the wake of the outbreak of the
political conflict have reached heart-rending and shocking limits (3).
In June 12, 2017, Amnesty International confirmed that the measures taken by the three
countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain) were vague, inadequate, lacked mechanisms
and did not address the human rights situation.
Moreover, Amnesty International confirmed on June 19, 2017 that “Amnesty International has
spoken to a number of people who tried to call these hot lines. Their experiences raise serious
questions about whether these hot lines are providing effective advice or information. Several
people said they had tried in vain for hours or days to get through to the hot lines. Those who
got through said officials asked them for minimal details about their cases and told them they
would receive a call back, but there had been no follow-up. Amnesty International has rung the
hot lines and asked how cases registered were being dealt with,
(2) http://www.ohchr.org/AR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21739&…
(3) https://www.amnesty.org/ar/latest/news/2017/06/families-ripped-apart-fr…
16 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
but officials were not able to provide any information. Some affected families have told
Amnesty International that they are too scared to call hot lines and register their presence,
or their family’s presence, in a “rival” country for fear of reprisal (4).
In July 13, 2017, Human Rights Watch reported that “in response to reports of family
separations, the countries of the blockade, including Bahrain announced that they would
grant exceptions for “humanitarian cases of mixed families” for travel back and forth from
Qatar and each country established hotlines. Yet, of the 12 Gulf nationals who said they
tried to contact these hotlines, only two managed to get permission to go back and forth.
Others said that they did not call because they worried that the three countries would use
the hotlines to discover the identities of citizens who remained in Qatar (5).
Saudi authorities have opened the border crossing between the State of Qatar at the
beginning of the crisis in a narrow and limited manner to humanitarian situations, and
without clear criteria. Saudi authorities, however, have later closed the crossing completely
as of 19/12/2017 until now, and have not allowed any entry or exit of humanitarian cases.
It should be noted that road travel is of priority for low-income families and the elderly who
constitute the most affected categories by the closure of the crossing.
(4) https://www.amnesty.org/ar/latest/news/2017/06/gulf-qatar-dispute-human…
(5) https://www.hrw.org/ar/news/2017/07/13/306595
17 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
In the same context, the report of the technical mission of the OHCHR in Qatar (17-24 November
2017) on the impact of the current Gulf crisis on human rights issued on 8/1/2018 confirms
the gross violations towards mixed families and that most of the cases affected by the current
situation remain unresolved. it is likely that the impact of the current crisis will continue for
those victims, in particular those who suffer from the family separation and division.
The AFD International Organization has considered that the blockade violates international law
and regional and international conventions, charters and the Charter of the United Nations.
The report issued on July 25 by the organization pointed out that the step of the blockade
is not devoid of humanitarian consequences in the region that is characterized by historical,
geographical, cultural, familial ties and links, which have reflected negatively on the citizens.
The organization emphasized its concern about those practices in reports condemning what
citizens and residents of Qatar have been exposed to whether physically or psychologically,
which have affected all the citizens of the countries of the Blockade.
The NHRC has documented complaints of violations of the right to family
reunification, and the prohibition of their reunification. These include:
Ms. (T. A.), a Qatari:
Divorced from a citizen of Saudi nationality and have children of Saudi nationality
in her custody. He is a resident of the State of Qatar, and since the beginning of
the blockade and the closure of the land border by Saudi authorities, the father
visits have been cut off to his sons living with their mother. This is in addition to the
psychological effects of depriving the children from their father.
Ms. (R. K.), a Qatari:
Married to a citizen of the UAE nationality (R. M.) and have an Emirati daughter born
in the State of Qatar. She resides permanently in Qatar while her husband works in
the UAE. Since the beginning of the blockade, the father has been prevented from
visiting his family. She added that she has not been able to send her daughter to
see her father in the UAE because she cannot guarantee her return to the State
of Qatar.
Ms. (D. S.), a Qatari:
Is married to a Bahraini citizen (S. A,) and has 3 children. Since the start of the
blockade on the state of Qatar, the father’s visits to his sons have ceased as well
as all ways of communicating with him. She added that she has found it difficult to
renew her children’s travel documents after the closure of the Bahraini Embassy in
the State of Qatar. Furthermore, she has been banned from entering the Kingdom
of Bahrain by the Bahraini authorities which hinders her children from continuing
their education as well as exposed them to psychological effects due to depriving
them of their father.
18 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
B: Violation of the right to education
Table (3) shows the number of violations of the right to education since the beginning of the
blockade on the 5th of June 2017 until 23rd of May 2018. 513 violations have occurred (66 by
the KSA, 148 by the UAE, 28 by the Kingdom of Bahrain, 271 by the Arab Republic of Egypt).
The NHRC received complaints from Qatari students studying in the blockading countries.
Following the imposition of the Blockade on the state of Qatar, authorities in these states
forced the students to leave their territories and they found themselves suddenly deprived
of their studies. They have been prevented from attending their final exams, although some
of them have only one month remaining until graduation. Moreover, the blockading countries
forced their students who are studying in Qatar University to return to their country within 14
days from the date of the announcement of the severing of relations. They also prevented
these students from the completion of their studies. Universities in the blockading countries
also refused to cooperate with expelled Qatari students according to testimonies documented
by the NHRC. There have been no response to any requirement that would facilitate for Qatari
students to complete their studies or to even be reimbursed the fees they have paid or to
recover their academic documents and transcripts.
Qatari students studying in the Arab republic of Egypt faced difficulties at the beginning of the
school year 2017/2018 in obtaining the necessary security clearance to obtain the necessary
visa to complete their studies. This resulted in their failure to attend regularly and as such
those constraints caused these students to miss the term’s examination during the months of
September and October 2017. Building on the efforts of the NHRC, through its communication
with the head of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights in this regard, it has urged
the Egyptian authorities to lift the procedures that hindered the regularity of students attending
their classes. The Egyptian authorities have issued new instructions to grant Qatari students a
visa and cancel the previously requested security clearance.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
The right to 66 148 28 271 513
education
May 23,
2018
Table (3) Violation of the Right to Education
19 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The report of the Technical Mission of the OHCHR issued on 8/1/2018 states that the expulsion
of Qatari students studying in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt have a negative effect on
their right to education as Qatari students who are prevented from continuing their studies or
passing their examinations.
Amnesty International confirmed in its previous reports that it has met with several Qatari
students who are concerned that they will not be able to complete their education in the
blockading countries. In the same context, Human Rights Watch’s report mentions the
violations to the right to education as a result of the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar
by the countries of the Blockade.
Orders have been issued to Qatari students in the blockading countries to return immediately to
the State of Qatar. The report of the technical mission of the OHCHR states that in most cases
these orders have been issued by the university administration. The report of the technical
mission reviewed the efforts of Qatar University and the Ministry of Education and Higher
Education in seeking quick and proper solutions by providing alternatives to the affected
students in order to ensure their future.
20 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The NHRC has documented complaints of violations of the right
to education by the countries of the Blockade, including:
Ms. (B. M.), a Qatari:
Receives her education at King Faisal University in Al Ahsa in the KSA. She has
successfully passed 85 out of 132 credit hours earned according to the study
plan approved by the University according to specialization. She has also paid the
outstanding tuition fees. Only 47 credit hours are remaining for graduation, After
the Saudi authorities have cut ties with the State of Qatar and closed the land port,
she has been unable to complete her education.
Mr. (G. H), a Qatari:
Expressed his disappointment to the NHRC for the violation to which he was
subjected: «I receive education at my own expenses at the University of Al-Jazira
in the UAE in law. I have passed 99 credit hours of study, equivalent to three
university years. At the beginning of the blockade, I have been able to return to
Qatar and only one year is left for me to complete my studies. I have not been able
to accredit the list of subjects that have been received from the university due to the
prohibition of dealing with Qataris because of the Blockade and preventing them
from entering the UAE. I have also sent an e-mail on 9/8/2017 to the university
about the possibility of completing my studies and requesting solutions so that I
can continue to receive my education but without a response, which caused me
psychological and material damage».
Mr. (H. P.), a Qatari:
Is an M.A. student at the University of Applied Sciences in the Kingdom of Bahrain
and has only two subjects left to graduate and submit a research message.
Following the Bahraini authorities’ decision to sever relations with the State of
Qatar, he was unable to complete the exams and attend lectures scheduled for the
remaining subjects, which badly affected his educational process.
21 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
C: Violation of the right to work
Table (4) shows the number of violations of the right to education since the beginning of the
blockade on the 5th of June 2017 until 23rd of May 2018. 110 violations have been reported
(67 by KSA, 6 by the UAE and 37 by Bahrain).
The violations committed by the countries of the Blockade have further extended to deprivation of
the right to work, which is one of the most important and fundamental economic and social rights.
The business sector has been badly affected by the intertwining of commercial interests and
employment. Arbitrary decisions made by the blockading countries resulted in hundreds of
unemployed people losing their jobs and businesses. The damage to their livelihoods and their
families has been alarming, and the repercussions on the sector continue to fall. There has
been serious disruption to the lives of those living off the transport profession between the Gulf
States, since none of the blockading countries attempted to compensate or find alternatives
for them.
Additionally, a significant number of citizens employed in public, private or government
companies in the blockading countries were cut off their source of income, rendering many
unemployed without any compensation. Furthermore, a large number of citizens of the
blockading countries, the owners of companies in Qatar as well as Qatari investors in the
Blockading countries has been forced to close their companies and return to their homeland
due to the fear of arbitrary punitive measures imposed by the authorities of the blockading
countries against everyone. This caused these investors, traders and businessmen immense
losses and physical and psychological damage, and the displacement of labor that has been
working in their companies and cutting off of their livelihoods.
The report of the Technical Mission of the OHCHR in the State of Qatar (17-24 November
2017) on the impact of the current Gulf crisis on human rights issued on 8/1/2018 indicates
that the measures and restrictions imposed by the authorities of the blockading countries
constitutes collective punishment against Qatari nationals and residents of the State of Qatar
or the countries of the blockade and have permanent effects and consequences of denial of
the right to work and to those who have business interests.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
May 23, Right to Work 67 6 37 --- 110
2018
Table (4) Violation of the Right to Work
22 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
According to Human Rights Watch
Hundreds of Saudis, Bahrainis,
and Emiratis have been forced
into the impossible situation of
either disregarding their countries'
orders or leaving behind their
families and jobs
The report also confirms that most of the cases affected by the current situation remain
unresolved. The impact of the current crisis is likely to continue for these victims, in particular
those who have suffered loss of their jobs, family separation or those who cannot have
access to their assets and property.
Since the beginning of the Gulf crisis, authorities of the blockading countries have issued
explicit instructions to their nationals, residents in the State of Qatar to leave their jobs and
return to their countries, or be subjected to arbitrary punitive measures, which led many of
them to submit to the NHRC of Qatar petitions requesting assistance.
Human Rights Watch pointed out in its previous report that «Hundreds of Saudis, Bahrainis,
and Emiratis have been forced into the impossible situation of either disregarding their
countries’ orders or leaving behind their families and jobs.»
In the same context, the report of Amnesty International on its second visit to the State of
Qatar on 28 November 2017, stresses that the sudden restrictions imposed by the countries
of the Blockade on the State of Qatar since 5 June 2017 led to serious negative effects on
human rights, including the threat directed to maintaining jobs.
23 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Ms. (F. A.), a Saudi:
Residing and working in the State of Qatar since 2007 as an assistant football
coach of Qatari Womens Sport Committee. She received instructions from the
Saudi authorities to leave her job and return to the KSA or otherwise be exposed
to punitive procedures.
Mr. (Y. A.), a Bahraini:
Residing in the State of Qatar for 10 years with his family and his wife, who works
in the Ministry of Health in Qatar. He has a daughter who was born in Qatar and he
is unable to get a traffic ticket due to the fact that the Bahraini embassy is closed
in Doha and he cannot return to Bahrain because of the Gulf crisis and decisions
issued from his country leaving his family, wife and job.
Ms. (H. A.) an Emirati:
Resident of the State of Qatar and her mother and father are of Qatari and Emirati
nationalities respectively. She is studying in Qatar and due to the Gulf crisis a
decision was taken to instruct all UAE citizens to return to their country. She
however, have not done so which would cause her and her mother much harm.
The NHRC documented complaints of violations of the right to work
committed by the countries of the Blockade. These include:
24 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
D: the violation of the right to property
Table (5) shows the number of violations of the right to property since the beginning of the
blockade on the 5th of June 2017 until 23rd of May 2018. There have been 1234 violations (697
violations by KSA, 458 by UAE, 55 by Bahrain and 24 by Egypt).
It is well known that there is a great deal of overlapping and intertwining between the Gulf States
because of tribal and familial ties between, and the many reciprocal concessions granted to the
citizens of these States in the field of private property and commercial and economic activities
within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Thousands of citizens of Gulf States
have homes, factories, commercial companies and other properties in each other’s countries.
The extent of the damage inflicted on Qataris and other citizens of the Gulf countries is a result
of arbitrary measures and decisions that violated all human rights norms and charters.
The sudden blockade resulted in heavy losses of property for thousands of people. Their
livelihoods were cut off, destroyed, and their money/property lost because they were unable
to travel to them. All those who have been prevented from traveling have been unable to use
or dispose of their property.
For example, according to the NHRC complaints:
Hundreds of Qataris have been prevented from traveling to the KSA to retrieve their camels
and livestock, many of which have been lost or passed away.
Another example, especially from the UAE, is the loss of real-estate property purchased by
instalments in the form of land, buildings or apartments, because Qataris have been prevented
from traveling to the territory of the blockading countries or from transferring money. This is in
addition to freezing their assets which have led to the cessation of the process of withdrawal of
cheques. If this continues, it may cause the loss of the property in full, and the loss of money
paid, and may lead to legal proceeding being brought against the owner for failure to pay the
monthly instalments.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
May 23, Right to Property 697 458 55 24 1234
2018
Table (5) Violation of the Right to Property
25 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
In addition to the above, the financial and postal remittances of any citizen or residents of
Qatar have been blocked, closing the door on cases of recovery of material losses.
Moreover, forcing the citizens of the blockading countries to leave the State of Qatar - or else
they would be subjected to harsh punitive measures from their countries – caused many to
close their companies and leave their private property in the State of Qatar, exposing them and
their workers and clients to financial losses.
All these violations indicate that the blockading countries deliberately violated fundamental
rights and freedoms, including the right to private property, and intended to do so since the
very first moment. This is further reinforced by the fact that no action has been taken to alleviate
those grave consequences to which its citizens, and the citizens and residents of the State of
Qatar are exposed.
Furthermore, the right to litigation has also been violated through denying Qataris access to
legal ramifications for the denial of accessing and tending to their property. All those who
own property and businesses because of their previous businesses or inheritance have been
prevented from completing litigation proceedings or completing the proceedings of previous
cases that were raised.
In a comment made by the high commissioner on the impact of the blockade on human rights
on 14 June 2017, he confirmed that the measures taken by the quartet against Qatar are too
broad in its scale. He also noted that the OHCHR received reports that individuals have already
received brief instructions to leave the country in which they reside or their governments have
directed orders to them to return to their homeland. Among those affected are persons who
have businesses or companies based in countries different from those they come from (6).
(6) http://www.ohchr.org/AR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21739&…
26 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The report of the Technical Mission of the OHCHR in the State of Qatar 17-24 November
2017 on the impact of the current Gulf crisis on human rights issued on 8/1/2018 confirms
that the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar by the Saudi and other authorities has a
negative impact on economic rights and the right to property. It also mentions that Qataris
who have commercial interests in the blockading countries have been forced to return to
Qatar and have reportedly not been able to have access to their companies and activities
since the start of the current Gulf crisis. Furthermore, the suspension of remittances between
the State of Qatar and the countries of the Blockade has prevented the transfer of salaries,
rents and the amounts resulting from outstanding invoices. This is as well as the absence of
any formal mechanism available to move forward to claim their entitlements or their money
and managing their assets. As a logical consequence of what has happened all means of
legal cooperation has been suspended such as, for example, concluding and executing
official agencies.The report stressed that the team conducted interviews with some of the
claimants, mostly Qatari nationals who have property in the countries of the blockade,
particularly commercial entities. They confirmed that financial transactions between
Qatar and the countries of the blockade, had been suspended. They also highlighted
the absence of any formal and available litigation mechanism to claim and/or manage their
assets. Indeed, legal cooperation has been suspended, including power of attorney.
The report also concluded that the team found that the unilateral measures, consisting
of severe restrictions of movement, termination and disruption of trade, financial and
investment flows, as well as suspension of social and cultural exchanges imposed on
the State of Qatar, had immediately translated into actions applying to nationals and
residents of Qatar, including citizens of the countries of the blockade. Many of these
measures have a potentially durable effect on the enjoyment of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of those affected. As there is no evidence of any legal decisions
motivating these various measures and due to the lack of any legal recourse for most
individuals concerned, these measures can be considered as arbitrary, and stating that the
economic impact of the current crisis is similar to that of economic wars.
Report of the substantive mission
of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
The considerable economic
impact of the crisis takes
over the dimension of an
economic warfare
27 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Mr. (F. S), a Qatari:
Has a license from the KSA to import 16 horses exported from Doha from the
Qatari Equestrian Club. He accompanied these horses to the stable set in the area
of Al Ahsa. He was, blindsided by the blockade and closure or transport via all
venues - land, air and sea. This led to the loss of his horses amounting to the value
of approximately 28,000,000 (Twenty eight million Qatari riyals) due to his failure
to secure their needs.
Mr. (S. M.) a Qatari:
Has 3 commercial companies with their branches in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Due
to the Gulf crisis and the political situation between both States he was prevented
from entering the Kingdom of Bahrain in order to dispose of his property due
to his Qatari Nationality which he retrieved since the 2013. This caused him
significant financial losses due to not tending to his property in Bahrain, and he
is still suffering from those losses because of the arbitrariness of the Bahraini
government towards him.
Ms. (F. Z), a Qatari:
Has purchased 2 apartments in Dubai in the UAE, in instalments for each
apartment. Due to the Gulf crisis and the blockade on the State of Qatar however,
the companies have demanded from her to waiver the amounts paid to retrieve
the apartments in order to be able to sell them again.
The NHRC has documented complaints of violations of the right to property
by the countries of the Blockade, including:
28 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
1
2
345
C: Violation of the right to perform religious rituals
Table (6) shows the number of violations of the right to practice religious rituals since the
beginning of the blockade, from 5 June 2017 to 23 May 2018. They amount to 165 violations
(all by Saudi Arabia).
Indeed, the arbitrary decisions and measures taken by the Saudi authorities, resulted in the
deprivation of the right to worship by some 1.5 million Muslims residing in the State of Qatar,
in gross violation of the right to worship. The Saudi authorities have not exempted those who
wish to practice their right to perform the rituals of Hajj and Umrah from the measures of the
unjust blockade on the State of Qatar. Instead, they have involved religious rituals in political
and diplomatic differences and manipulated these rituals as a tool for political pressure in
flagrant violation of international conventions on human rights. This is done through:
Preventing Qatari pilgrims in Ramadan last month from entering Saudi territory to
perform Umrah.
Forcing those in the Kingdom to leave Saudi Arabia without completing the rituals, and
expelling some of them from the hotels where they have been staying from the moment
the blockade was imposed.
Suspension of dealing in Qatari currency and debit cards.
Degrading and humiliating treatment to Qataris at land and air entry and exit points.
Preventing Qatar Airways from landing at Saudi airports, making it impossible for
Qatari pilgrims to return to Doha directly. They have been forced instead to return using
alternative routes through the State of Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman without regard to
humanitarian cases of patients, women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
165 --- --- --- 165
Right to Engage
in Religious
Rituals
May 23,
2018
Table (6) Violation of Right to Engage in Religious Rituals
29 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
With the beginning of the pilgrimage season in 2017, the Saudi authorities put obstacles and
impediments to those who wish to perform the «fifth pillar of Islam» from Qatari citizens and
residents, up to the point of prevention. The authorities refused to deal or coordinate with the
Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Qatar in order to enable those wishing to perform this
duty. While Saudi authorities that they would open the land port and the direct air route to the
pilgrims of Qatar it soon became clear that that was simply a deflection mechanism and just
a manoeuvre.
In light of the continued blockade, air embargo and closure of land borders, as well as the
arbitrary measures taken by the Saudi authorities on the right to freedom of worship and
religious practice, the Saudi authorities continue to put more obstacles and impediments to the
organizers and service providers of Hajj and Umrah campaigns. With the arrival of the Umrah
season for the month of Ramadan 2018 and the Hajj season of 2018, and complaints have
been submitted by Hajj and Umrah campaigners in the State of Qatar about the harassment
and difficulties in performing Umrah rituals faced by residents of the state of Qatar. These
include:
• Closure of the electronic registration for Hajj and Umrah to all pilgrims from the State of Qatar.
• Prevention of financial transfers by Saudi authorities between Qatari campaigns and Umrah
agents authorized to grant Saudi Umrah permits.
• Saudi authorities continued refusal to deal or coordinate with the Ministry of Awqaf and
Islamic Affairs in Qatar.
30 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
All this confirms unequivocally the continuation of the Saudi authorities in the policy of
politicizing religious rites. A delegation from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in
Qatar visited the KSA to attend the annual meeting to discuss arrangements for the 2018
Hajj season on Thursday 22 March 2018. The delegation discussed during the meetings
obstacles and impediments imposed on Qatari pilgrims and those who are residents in
Qatar, including the problem of obtaining the visa required for the performance of Umrah
and pilgrimage through the electronic portal which is currently blocked for the State of
Qatar. This is in addition to ignorance of the vulnerable groups, especially the elderly and
persons with disabilities who wish to perform Hajj and Umrah. However, the Qatar delegation
did not find any solutions to these obstacles and impediments with the concerned Saudi
authorities. They merely responded to the Qatari delegation by saying that the Ministry
of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Qatar should send official communications through the
Sultanate of Oman’s embassy to the higher authorities in the KSA to decide whether or not
to respond.
Therefore, the NHRC remains deeply concerned at the continued obstacles and impediments,
considering that the Saudi authorities have not taken positive steps to enable Qataris and
residents of the State of Qatar to exercise their right to perform their religious rituals by
continuously banning direct flights from Qatar to Saudi Arabia. This is in addition to the
continued closure of the land border crossing point between the two countries and the
non-admission of pilgrims and the closure of the electronic portal for registration. This is
as well as the prevention of remittances by the Saudi authorities between the campaigns
and agents of Hajj and Umrah and the prohibition of circulation of the Qatari currency. This
is besides the failure of the Saudi authorities to take account of the damage and financial
losses suffered by the Qatari Hajj and Umrah campaigns as a result of the aforementioned
arbitrary measures in 2017.
The NHRC considers the concerns related to Umrah and Hajj as procrastination and an
attempt by the Saudi authorities to stop any actions that can be taken by the OHCHR or
the UN Special Procedures mechanism.
The report of the Technical Mission of the OHCHR in Qatar (17-24 November 2017) on the
impact of the current Gulf crisis on human rights issued on 8/1/2018 states that measures
and restrictions taken by Saudi authorities led to the infringement of the freedom of exercise
of religious practice.
The Amnesty International report on its second visit to the State of Qatar on 28 November
2017 also points to the violation of the right to freedom of worship and practice of religious
rituals by the Saudi authorities. They call on the Saudi authorities to ensure transparent
and operational mechanisms to enable Qataris and residents in the State of Qatar to have
access to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia (7).
(7) https://www.amnesty.org/ar/documents/document/?indexNumber=mde22%2f7604…
31 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The NHRC documented complaints of violations of the right to freedom of
worship and practice of religious rites, including:
Mr. (J.P), a Qatari:
Went, accompanied by his colleagues on 27/12/2017, to the KSA to perform Umrah
via air through the State of Kuwait. However, on their arrival to Jeddah airport, they
were harassed by security personnel working in the passports department there
for being Qataris. They were seized at the airport’s lounge and not allowed to enter
Saudi territories for a full day until the night of 12/28/2017. They were then forced
to go back from the Jeddah airport to the Kuwait international airport despite the
fact that all the requirements claimed by the authorities in Saudi Arabia have been
met. Two days after their return, they were contacted by telephone and informed of
the possibility of entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in physical
and psychological losses due to flight bookings and non-refundable residence as
well as the violation of their right to worship and practice their religious rituals.
Mr. (M. M.), a Qatari:
Made reservation at Hilton Sweet Mecca in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to
perform Umrah. However, following the decision taken by the Saudi authorities
to cut ties with the State of Qatar and the closure of the land crossing point he
was not able to go to Mecca for Umrah nor recover the value of the ticket nor
the accommodation fees, which were paid. An apology was directed to him
and he was informed that in case of cancellation of the reservation the amount
he paid will be confiscated.
Mr. (F. P.), a Qatari:
Was in Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah when the Saudi authorities
issued a decision obliging Qataris to leave the country due to the Blockade on
the State of Qatar. He was expelled arbitrarily from the hotel in which he was
staying, on the instructions he had received.
Mr. (A. H.), a Qatari:
Accompanied by his wife, made reservation at The Fairmont Hotel in the city of
Mecca in Saudi Arabia and booked Umrah travelling tickets. Yet following the
decision taken by the Saudi authorities to cut ties with the State of Qatar and the
closure of the land crossing point, they were not able to go to Mecca for Umrah.
He has not been able to refund the ticket despite his repeated communication with
the hotel.
32 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
H: Violation of freedom of opinion and expression
Citizens of the countries of the Blockade have been exposed to violations of laws and punitive
measures on the background of severing of the political relations and imposing blockade on
the State of Qatar. This has reached unprecedented limits even for merely showing sympathy
towards Qatar through the social media. It has gone beyond blocking and banning Qatari
media, including sports channels which certainly do not broadcast news bulletins or programs
of political nature. This is an indicator of the extent of deterioration of the freedom of opinion
and expression.
Saudi authorities have imposed a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years, the fine of up to
three million Saudi riyals, while the UAE have imposed a penalty of three to five years, and a
fine of up to 500 thousand dirhams simply for showing sympathy towards the State of Qatar.
The NHRC has reported in the field of media alone that nearly 103 media persons from the
citizens of the countries of the Blockade, who were working in a number of visual media in
the State of Qatar, have all been subjected to different types of violations, including putting
pressure on them to resign. Many eventually did thus losing their source of livelihood.
Moreover, pressures are still exercised on all who have not yet submitted their resignations.
Such an act is a flagrant violation of the freedom of press, work, residence and opinion.
Amnesty International in its report published on June 9, 2017 stated that “The statements from
governments of the countries of the blockade with a record of repressing peaceful expression
are a flagrant attempt to silence criticism of these arbitrary policies. Prosecuting anyone on
this basis would be a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression. No one should be
punished for peacefully expressing their views or criticizing a government decision.”
Furthermore, Amnesty International in its report published on June 19, 2017, stated that “It is
unthinkable that states can so blatantly infringe on the right to freedom of expression. Citizens
have the right to express views and concerns about their governments, as well as feelings of
sympathy towards others.”
33 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
A report prepared by the Doha Center for Media Freedom entitled «Media of the Gulf Crisis
- Violation of Freedom of Opinion and Expression and International Covenants covering the
period from 23rd to 25th August 2017 « on the indicators of the media discourse of the Gulf
crisis States (media offensive practices towards freedom of opinion and expression), outline
the following cases have been documented as non-exclusive samples:
First case: The criminalization of showing sympathy towards the State of Qatar
(As for the Saudi Arabia) non-exclusive samples
Amnesty International - as indicated in its previous report on 9 June, 2017-has denounced the
acts done and measures taken by the Blockading countries , including the KSA, that seriously
violate the freedom of opinion and expression emphasizing the fact that these declarations
issued by governments repressing the peaceful expression are not more than a flagrant attempt
to silence critical voices on these arbitrary policies. If anyone is prosecuted on this basis, it
would constitute a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression; as no one should be
sanctioned for peacefully expressing his points of view or for criticizing a government decision.
It also mentions in its report issued on 19 June, 2017 that it is not possible to believe that these
States could reach such a level of flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the Saudi authorities have already applied the punitive measures following their
arrest of a group of Saudi citizens, among them: the famous Islamic preacher “Salman Al-
Ouda” upon posting a Tweet on «Twitter».
(As for the United Arab Emirates) as non-exclusive samples:
In the UAE, on 7 June 2017, the UAE Attorney General banned the expression of sympathy
towards Qatar, according to the declaration of Counselor/ Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, in which he
warns that any contravention of the laws in force shall be met with the imposition of prison
sentences and pecuniary fines.
The declaration also includes a warning by the Attorney General «of any participation in
speech or in writing on social media or any other form of sympathy with the State of Qatar or
an objection to the stance of the UAE and other countries that took firm stances against the
Government of Qatar». Violators of these warnings «may be subjected to imprisonment for a
period of 3 to 15 years and a fine of not less than 500 thousand dirhams, equivalent to 137
thousand dollars”.
34 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
In addition to that, the mentioned report issued by Human Rights Watch on July 13, 2017,
also highlights that the United Arab Emirates has threatened to impose sanctions on their
citizens in case they «have sympathy» towards Qatar on the Internet.
The UAE authorities has also dismissed Mr. Youssef Al-Sarkal,
Chairman of the UAE General Authority for Sports, by reason
of shaking hands with the President of the Qatar Football
Association, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani,
on the sidelines of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC)
meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
The UAE and the countries of the Blockade ‘s media have
launched a major offensive on this famous figure in the Gulf
sport world, which led to that he has been relieved of his
duties being the head of the authority after about a month of
his appointment.
Furthermore, it was expressed in the UAE newspapers that Al-
Sarkal «suffered from his warm embrace with the Qatari official»
in their first meeting since the eruption of the Gulf crisis on 5
June, 2017. It also described what Al-Sarkal had done as a
«sin» according to the website of Al-Bayan newspaper (8).
In implementation of these threats, UAE
authorities has arrested Mr./ Ghanem
Abdullah Matar, a UAE citizen, upon
publishing a series of videos on social media
in the month of June, 2017 expressing his
sympathy towards Qatar.
Therefore, Amnesty International has asked
for the immediate release of the citizen as a
prisoner of opinion.
(8) https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2017-11-30-1.311…
[…]
Amnesty International
Organization Follow
If the arrest of Ghanim Matar in #UAE is due to his peaceful
comments about the crisis with #Qatar, then he is a prisoner of
opinion and we demand his immediate release.
Dr. Waseem Yousef
@waseem_yousef
Follow 
The decision to #cut_relations_with_Qatar is a decision that
benefits the Qatari people first, then the Arab Nation, so Qatar
does not come under Iranian, Muslim Brotherhood, or ISIL
sovereignty…
Translate Tweet 2:54 p.m.
June 5, 2017
2:14 a.m. – July 10, 2017
2,062 Retweets 1,678 Likes
216 2.1 k 1.7 k
Hamad Al-Mazroui
@uae_3G Follow
Where is our sports media to respond to this lowlife, dirty
Al-Serkal, who does not respect the UAE or care about it?
Translate the Tweet
10:50 a.m. – Nov. 28, 2017
231 Retweets 253 Likes
Sharjah Sports Urgent: Private sources: H.E. Yousuf Al Serkal, Head of the
Sports Authority, is relieved from his post
[illegible]
[…]
Sharjah
Sports
[Translation]
35 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
(As for Kingdom of Bahrain) non-exclusive
Samples:
On June 11 2017, the Bahraini international lawyer, Issa Faraj
Arhamah Al-Burshid, filed a lawsuit against the government
of Bahrain and demanded lifting the blockade on Qatar.
This case is the first of its kind as he was arrested due to
showing sympathy towards the state of Qatar. The case was
mentioned in Amnesty International’s report of 19 June 2017.
The decision by the Bahraini authorities to block Qatari
newspaper websites followed the fabricated statements
published on the website of Qatar News Agency and
attributed to the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim
bin Hamad Al-Thani, as an unjustified step and a flagrant
violation of freedom of opinion and expression.
Human Rights Watch in its report published on July 13, 2017 also confirmed that Bahrain had
threatened to punish their citizens if they show «sympathy» with Qatar on the Internet.
On June 9, 2017, the Tourism and Exhibition Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain issued a
formal circular warning all the tourist facilities and hotels in the Kingdom about the operation
of Al Jazeera Media Channel. The Authority stressed the necessity of deleting all the channels
related to Al Jazeera Network to avoid penalties for imprisonment and fines, as well as the
cancellation of tourist licenses.
The Bahraini authorities have explicitly demanded the closure of Al-Jazeera, and this demand
contradicts Article 1 and Article 3 of the Journalism Code of Ethics of the Bahrain Journalists
Association, as well the Code of Principles of the International Federation of journalists in its
first clause . (Confiscation, idling or revocation of the license shall be allowed only by a ruling of
the court. Free and responsible journalism is the very essence of sound and democratic society
and an integral and indivisible part of basic human rights and freedoms. It targets illumination
of the public opinion, realization of the interests of the nation, defense of the nation’s unity,
security and stability and avoidance of secular division or prejudice to the established Islamic
Shariah dictates. The right to get the correct and true information, including statements, images
and documents through legitimate means in order to unearth the truth without infringement or
violation of intellectual property rights. Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth
is the first duty of the journalist).
There is also a stark violation of the text of article III of the Charter of the Bahraini
Journalists’ Association, which provides for «the right to obtain information from the
data, photographs and documents by legitimate means to reach the truth and without
infringement of intellectual property».
36 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Second Case: Warning of the General Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in Saudi
Arabia and kingdom of Bahrain against watching Al-Jazeera channel in hotels and resorts
In an official circular issued on the 9th of June 2017, the General Commission for Tourism
and National Heritage in Saudi Arabia warned against broadcasting Al-Jazeera channels in
hotels and resorts. It further banned watching Al-Jazeera network channels in tourist facilities.
The Commission also accentuated on deleting all channels of Al-Jazeera network from the
list of satellite broadcasts in rooms and all tourist accommodation facilities, in order to avoid
a fine that may amount to 100 thousand Saudi riyals (about 27 thousand dollars), in addition
to the cancellation of the license. This has been stated in an official circular by the Tourism
Authority to owners and operators of tourist facilities. This circular emphasized as well «the
obligation to comply with choosing the appropriate channels along with the official Saudi
channels”. Furthermore, the Commission demanded «not to place receivers inside rooms and
residential units and that receivers should be centralized and supervised by the management
of the facility».
As a result of this ban, it is clear that the circulars - issued by Saudi Arabia are classified as
practices that restrict the freedom of opinion and expression and are contrary to the general
principles of freedoms set forth in various international covenants, which constitutes a blatant
violation of the citizens’ right to know and access information.
It is also worth mentioning that the issuance of a circular prohibiting watching Al-Jazeera
channel and setting all receivers for the deletion of satellite channels of Al-Jazeera network is
groundless and contrary to the provisions of the international covenants on rights to freedom
of expression and information, which is considered as a restriction on the freedoms.
The circulars issued by the General Commission for Tourism does not provide any legal basis to
support its request for the ban. On the other hand, they have not reinforced their circulars with
judicial requests or court orders which essentially examine the fulfilment of the said request.
In accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
above-mentioned circulars are contrary to the most fundamental principles of individual
freedoms and the right to access information.
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority
The circular stated that: «The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority mandates that
all television receivers available in tourism facilities must be reprogrammed to remove all
channels related to Al Jazeera Network. Facilities include hotels, restaurants or other tourist
establishments. The violation of this circular is punishable by law either by imprisonment, fine
or both. Facilities who fail to comply with the circular will face closure and their tourism license
will be revoked immediately.
According to article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Article
3 of the Journalism Code of Ethics of the Bahrain Journalists Association, the aforementioned
prohibitions are contrary to the most basic principles of individual freedoms, and access to
information. The decision to block Qatari websites contradicts Article 2 of the Journalism Code
of Ethics of the Bahrain Journalists Association. (Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion
and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.“The
right to get the correct and true information, including statements, images and documents
through legitimate means in order to unearth the truth without infringement or violation of
intellectual property rights”.
37 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Third concern: blocking Qatari newspaper websites by the countries of the blockade:
The UAE, KSA and Bahrain, announced on 24 May 2017, blocking the site of «Al-Jazeera»
and a number of Qatari newspapers. It was confirmed by the «Al-Jazeera» through its
official website that those states banned entry to the website of Al-Jazeera TV.
Saudi, UAE and Bahrain authorities’ decision to block Qatari web sites and newspapers
following the fabricated statements attributed to the Emir of the State of Qatar, which was
published on the website of the Qatar News Agency (QNA), has raised wide reactions among
analysts and media workers of Arab and Gulf states. These considered this unjustified step
as a flagrant violation of freedom of opinion and expression deliberately withholding truth
the expression of others of their opinions.
Fourth concern: Demand of the countries of the blockade to close of Al-Jazeera
In the framework of clear violation of freedom of speech and the confiscation of opinions,
the countries of the Blockade has requested from Qatar the closure of Aljazeera Channel.
The requirement of the closure of Al-Jazeera satellite Channel and other media constitutes
a violation of the sovereignty of the State. It further constitutes a serious violation of the
fundamental right to freedom of expression and freedom of opinion provided for in article
19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, which is a total disregard of article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
38 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
This requirement has been met with strong denunciation by international bodies and organizations.
The countries of the Blockade ‘s demand to close Al-Jazeera Channel had wide repercussions
and was received with criticism from human rights organizations and the competent United
Nations offices. Mr. David Kay, the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and
expression, has described demands for the closure of Al-Jazeera channel as «a strong blow to
the pluralism of the media and that this request represents a serious threat to the freedom of the
media.» The Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression mentioned that reports
that a number of governments submitted demands to Qatar to close Al-Jazeera media network in
exchange for the lifting of the sanctions would be a major blow against the pluralism of the media
in a region that suffers severe constraints in the preparation of reports and media of all kinds. Mr.
Kay added «This demand constitutes a serious threat to the freedom of media if the States, under
the pretext of a diplomatic crisis, take measures to compel Qatar to close Al-Jazeera.»
Mr. Kay said «Every person is now seriously threatened in relation to his right to have access to
information when the guarantee of safety and freedom of the media has been compromised.» He
added that «I call upon the international community to urge those Governments not to insist on
their demand against Qatar and resist taking steps to control the media in their territory and in
the region and encourage support for independent media in the Middle East» (9).
In the same context, the OHCHR has expressed its deep concern about the demand made to
close Al Jazeera Network, and other media. The Organization emphasized that the demand is an
unacceptable attack on the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and if such a demand
were put into effect, it would open the way for individual States or groups of powerful states to
seriously undermine the right to freedom of opinion and expression within its borders and in other
countries (10).
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch confirmed that Governments have no right to close media
outlets and criminalization of expression in order to extinguish the criticisms that it considers
troubling» and called to protect the media from political interference. The Organization affirmed
that, «The offending Governments have to show respect to and understanding of the role of the
media, even if it disagrees with them».
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stated that “journalist is being used as a pawn in a
dangerous political game in the crisis in Qatar, where hundreds of media workers face expulsion,
and television channels, newspapers and websites are at risk of closure”.
The National Union of Journalists has called for an end to the attack on Al Jazeera, hundreds of
jobs are at risk. Furthermore, the National Union of Journalists and the International Federation
of Journalists called on the countries of the blockade to withdraw its demand to the Qatari
authorities to close the channel.
Representatives of international, regional and national organizations for journalists and human
rights and freedom of expression who attended the international conference on “Freedom of
Expression: Facing Up to the Threat”, in its final communique condemned unequivocally the
threats by the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Arab
Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Yemen demanding the closing
down of Al Jazeera and other media outlets and expressed our total solidarity with journalists
and other media and ancillary workers at Al Jazeera and other targeted media.
It is worth mentioning that this demand is contrary to international norms and charters, yet the
KSA and other States of the Blockade still insist on demanding it to date.
(9) http://ohchr.org/ar/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21808&Lang…
(10) http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21818&…
39 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Fifth: Banning «beIN Sports» channels and imposed a penalty of imprisonment for anyone
wearing Barcelona shirt
The fifth case is the banning of beIN Sports Channels and the criminalization of wearing
Barcelona football shirt having Qatar Airways’ logo is one of the strangest and most controversial
matters in the current crisis. The current Gulf crisis has cast a political shadow over sport after
the three Blockading countries (KSA, UAE and Bahrain) prohibited wearing Barcelona`s shirt
on its territory, due to the contract that was concluded between the aforementioned club and
Qatar Airways.
Sixth: withdraw the license of «Al Jazeera» and to close its offices constitutes an arbitrary
political decision, rather than proper judiciary procedures.
Since the beginning of the crisis, on 5 June 2017, the Blockading countries hastened to close
the offices of «Al Jazeera» Channel as a part of its steps to sever diplomatic relations with Qatar.
These resolutions indicate that the Blockading countries do not discriminate between the
political issues and the press work guaranteed by the basic principles of human rights and
the rules that guarantee freedom of information dissemination and reception within the
framework of the law. The decision to withdraw the license of «Al Jazeera» and to close its
offices constitutes an arbitrary violation of an arbitrary political decision, while the judiciary is
the competent authority in such cases.
In addition, the NHRC has documented hundreds of hate and racism speeches through
the media and social networking sites, some of which amounted to incitement to terrorist
acts in the State of Qatar, such as bombing the media facilities and using songs, serials and
documentaries in this incitement. The committee also noted a speech of racial discrimination
aimed at disrespecting and insulting the Qatari citizen, insulting the Qatari people and
circumventing the symbols of the State of Qatar.
These speeches escalated violently because of the involvement of some officials from the
Blockading countries and some celebrities of the media and famous social media persons are
known openly.
40 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
G: Incitement of violence and hatred
In a report prepared by the Doha Center for Media Freedom entitled «Gulf Crisis Media - Hate
Speech», the report highlighted the issues that were repeated in the media during the first months
of the crisis in six key issues:
1. Indictment of treason and treachery: Where most of the media of the Blockading countries,
whether print, electronic or audiovisual, have devoted a considerable space to place the indictment
of treason and treachery to Qatar since the beginning of the crisis.
2. Instigating the overthrow of the regime in Qatar: This incitement against the regime in Qatar is
a violation of the ethics of press work and international conventions, especially Article 20 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and it is contrary to Article 10 of the Charter of
Honor of Arab Media and Article 8 of the same Charter.
3. The demonization of the State of Qatar locally and regionally: The accusations which the media
of the blockading countries have not found any evidence for it and which seek to demonize Qatar
and portray it as a rogue and aggressive state, are in conformity with article 4 of the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as the provisions of
Article 10 of the Charter of Honor of Arab Media.
4. Incitement to Gulf fabric differentiation: The ongoing Gulf crisis has affected the demographic
fabric of this region, in which the social relations between the different tribes living in the Arabian
Peninsula are intertwined and overlap in a striking way that makes it difficult to separate or
discriminate.
The crisis has shown the desire of some Gulf governments to disrupt this fabric, and to create a
division among the members of one tribe, which extends in more than one country, through the use
of populist rhetoric and hate speech, and to break up a centuries-long relations.
Several websites, either by writing or analyzing, dealt with the campaign launched by the Gulf
crisis countries on Qatar, which concluded that there is a rising trend towards the demonization of
the State of Qatar, and abuse in various forms and ways.
5. The indictment of terrorism: The decision to criminalize sympathy with Qatar was included in
other measures taken by Gulf states, preceded by indictment of terrorism, along with making a
terrorism list that includes Qatari personalities and charitable and media organizations.
There is no doubt that such a media discourse would inculcate the hate speech among broad
segments of the public, away from the distances that would end the crisis and achieve reconciliation.
Since the first day of the crisis, the media machine has worked with the blockading countries in
order to paint a distorted image of the State of Qatar and its role in the international arena. The
media of the countries of the Gulf crisis have also united their discourse on Qatar’s accusation of
harboring terrorist individuals and entities. This was rejected by Doha and rejected by international
and international organizations With those charities classified by the Gulf states as «terrorist».
A number of media channels in the blockading countries have broadcasted programs and coverings
in news bulletins exposed to well-known figures in the Arab and Islamic arena, exceeding the limits
of linguistic and moral decency, and labeling them with descriptions that the law criminalizes.
41 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
6. Using religious discourse to spread hate speech.
The religious discourse of the Blockading countries was used during the Gulf crisis as a platform to
justify some of the political decisions of the blockading countries. A number of fatwas were issued
by major bodies and scholars in order to justify the blockade of Qatar and to reverse the facts and
repercussions of the crisis.
The media, as well as the social media, have been instrumental in promoting these fatwas and
expanding their circulation in order to give the decisions of the political actor acceptable to the
public opinion.
Moreover, the press did not stand neutral in this crisis through the transfer of different views, but it used
all its efforts to promote these fatwas in a manner contrary to the values of the profession of journalism.
42 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
It is no secret that all this media and technical pumping to incite hatred and violence will
be reflected in the various segments of the society of intellectuals and illiterate extremist
reactions may reach the commission of
criminal acts against the Qataris.
Qatari citizens have already been
exposed to the destruction of their
cars, and they were treated harshly and
humiliatingly by some of the authorities
of the Blockading countries. It does not
suffice there, but developed into hatred,
hostility and discrimination against the
Qatari citizens from some citizens of the
blockading countries. We fear that such
reactions would threaten peace, security and stability in the entire region.
The report of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights dated 08 January 2018 confirmed the numerous violations of the right to freedom
of opinion and expression as well as the various forms of media defamation and hate
campaigns against the State of Qatar and its leaders and people. Further, it calls for an
overthrow of a regime and the removal of symbols of leadership in Qatar, in addition to
incitement to attack or kill the Qataris.
The report confirmed that media from the blockading countries launched a campaign
of hatred and widespread distortion, including through social networking sites and the
decision of the blockading countries’ governments to impose sanctions on anyone who
sympathizes with Qatar.
43 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The report of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights indicated that between June and October 2017, media workers and the NHRC in
Qatar documented more than 1,120 articles and nearly 600 caricature of the State of Qatar in
KSA, the UAE and Bahrain. The media included explicit accusations of Qatar’s involvement in
supporting terrorism, calls for an overthrow of a regime and the removal of leading figures in
Qatar, as well as incitement to attack or kill Qataris.
For example, the Saudi singer followed by a million and a half followers on Twitter has made
a post that includes fatwa to kill the Emir of Qatar, while another Saudi tweet warned of the
possibility of sending a million Yemeni suicide bombers to Qatar.
Entertainment programmes have also been used to air anti- Qatar messages. For example,
Rotana media company produced songs by popular artists stigmatizing Qatar (“Qulo la Qatar”-
“Tell Qatar”, and “Sanoalem Qatar”-“We will teach Qatar”) and well-known television series on
MBC and Rotana channels (“Selfie” and “Garabeb Sood”) conveyed negative messages on
Qatar, which have been regularly and widely broadcast.
The report of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) also noted that the KSA, UAE and Bahraini governments have sought to stop
broadcasting all Qatari media or the other media related to Qatar. Since satellite broadcasting
cannot be controlled, these countries have prevented businesses entities (such as hotels) from
displaying the Qatari media (especially the Al Jazeera, beIN-Sports and other channels).
44 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The report also points out that all these campaigns cast a shadow to the extent of incitement
and contributed to creating a general feeling of concern among people in KSA, UAE and
Bahrain of those who have family, fraternal or commercial ties with Qatari citizens. Most of
the journalists interviewed with the mission noted that their friends and associates in KSA,
UAE and Bahrain were deeply fearful. Many have also noted that they cannot communicate
with their families and friends in the blockading countries except through numbers other
than the numbers of the Blockading countries as they fear to be tracked.
The report issued by the US Department of State on Human Rights in 2017 indicated
that the governments of the blockading countries have blocked Qatari websites such as
Al-Jazeera because of a dispute between them and Qatar, and that Al-Jazeera remained
closed.
In addition to what the NHRC has documented from a full file containing all aspects and
manifestations of violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression as well as
the discourse of hatred, discrimination and racism, the Doha Center for Media Freedom
documented several reports of violations by the Blockading countries through incitement,
racism, incitement and hate speech.
Report of the substantive mission of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Entertainment programmes have also been used to
air anti-Qatar messages. For example, Rotana media
company produced songs by popular artists stigmatizing
Qatar (“Qulo la Qatar”-“Tell Qatar”, and “Sanoalem
Qatar”-“We will teach Qatar”) and well-known television
series on MBC and Rotana channels (“Selfie” and
“Garabeb Sood”) conveyed negative messages on
Qatar, which have been regularly and widely broadcast
45 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
H: Violation of the right to movement and residence
Table (7) shows the number of violations of the right to movement and thus residence since
the beginning of the blockade, corresponding to June 5, 2017 and until May 23, 2018. There
were 1297 violations (770 violations from KSA, 348 violations from UAE, 129 violations from
Kingdom of Bahrain, 41 violations from the Arab Republic of Egypt and 9 different violations
from other states).
Table (7) Violation of the right to movement and residence
All citizens and residents of the State of Qatar and the Blockading countries have been affected
by the violation of this right since the beginning of the blockade crisis on the State of Qatar, as
the blockading countries have adopted arbitrary measures and decisions in contravention of all
international and regional instruments, the Arab Charter on Human Rights and the Declaration
on the Human Rights of the Gulf Cooperation Council concerning the right to freedom of
movement and residence; these measures were represented in the fact that the authorities of
the blockading countries prevented Qatari people from entering their territories and deporting
those who are there. Moreover, residents of Qatar were forced to leave Qatar within 14 days
or they were going to be subjected to arbitrary punishment. All those forced to return to their
homes were affected in various ways.
The blockading countries also closed all the airlines offices of the State of Qatar, as soon as
the blockade was announced, and without warning to those working in these offices, without
enabling any of them to take private property in their offices.
Salwa land port located on the Saudi-Qatari border was closed, and sea and air ports were
closed to Qatari shipping and goods from Qatar. Although the Saudi authorities have opened
Salwa border crossing in part and individually at intervals, they have returned and closed it
completely even in the face of humanitarian cases, including patients, mixed families, persons
with disabilities and the elderly. The crossing remains closed until the date of this report.
The Bahraini Minister of the Interior issued a ministerial decree No. (88) for the year 2017 in
which Article 1 states that: a visa to the Kingdom of Bahrain shall be imposed on citizens of
Qatar and its residents.
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date Other
770 348 129 41 9 1297
The right of
movement and
thus residence
May 23,
2018
46 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
And in article 2 that: The Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior for Nationality,
Passports and Residency Affairs shall implement this decision and shall come into force on
10 November 2017.
Amnesty International’s report on its second visit to the State of Qatar during the period
from 28 November 2017 confirmed that the sudden restrictions imposed on the State of
Qatar since 5 June 2017 have affected thousands of families and individuals (especially
vulnerable groups) in the region who constitute a cohesive social fabric across national
borders, dividing families, halting student education, threatening jobs and raising basic
food prices in Qatar, making the region’s population face an uncertain future. Amnesty
International urged the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
to lift all arbitrary travel restrictions that impede the free movement of Gulf residents and
residents (11).
(11) https://www.amnesty.org/ar/documents/document/?indexNumber=mde22%2f7604…
47 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The report of the Technical Mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights in the State of Qatar (17-24 November 2017) which was issued on 08/01/2018
confirmed that the closure of borders (air, sea and land) causes clear implications and effects
on the freedom of movement to and from the State of Qatar. On June 5, the authorities of
the blockading countries issued instructions to their ports and shipping authorities to
refrain from receiving Qatari ships or any other vessels owned by any Qatari companies or
individuals. The Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation also banned the landing of any
Qatari aircraft at airports in Saudi Arabia.
The report added that restrictions on the movement of passengers and goods had
consequences that directly affected various human rights, but the effects of those
consequences have not all come at the same pace, some of which have had limited impact,
while others have had a continuing impact to date. Such measures and restrictions initially
constituted a direct violation of the right to freedom of movement, especially since they
were not officially announced and there were no legal motives behind them.
The absence of freedom of movement between Qatar and other countries is a punishment
for Qatari citizens and residents, as well as for residents of the blockading countries. The
effects of the restrictions on the right to freedom of movement have varied effects between
what is temporary and what is permanent. The temporary effect is the violation of the
freedom to practice religious rituals as they were imposed during Ramadan and the Hajj
season, as well as family separation, which we should pay due attention to because of the
ties between the population in the countries concerned, and the effect on students who
had to cut off their studies for inability to take the exams that were scheduled for them.
Persistent effects and consequences have been the denial of the right to work and the
right of access to property and personal assets of those residents or employees in Qatar or
those with commercial interests in Qatar.
The suspension of passenger and cargo traffic between Qatar and the three Gulf States in
the Quartet Group has had a major impact on the Qatari economy, which hindered trade
movements and financial flows as well as significantly increased the costs of transport and
commodity as the government and individuals have had to resort to alternative options.
48 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Nawaf Talal al-Rasheed
The report of the Technical Mission
emphasizes that such measures are
targeting individuals depending on their
Qatar nationality, connection or relationship
with Qatar, shall be considered as «unequal
and discriminatory measures».
The reports of Amnesty International
and Human Rights Watch “previously
mentioned”, have also highlighted the
violations, which was committed against
this right by the blockading countries. In
addition to the negative effects on families,
the right to education, the right to health
and the right to freedom of worship and the practice of religious rites, the negative impact of
the blockade on foreign migrant workers - especially from South Asia.
And in continuation of the series of violations against human rights of the blockading countries
towards the State of Qatar, which the authorities of the blockading countries have persisted
on harming and harassing them, amounting to cases of arbitrary detention in violation of
international conventions and instruments and norms of human rights.
Saudi Arabia has arrested Mr. Muhsen Saleh Sa’adoun Al-Karbi, a Qatari citizen, on his way
to visit his family and relatives in the Republic of Yemen. He was arrested in the Republic of
Yemen by Allied Coalition Forces that was led by Saudi Arabia in “ Shahan Border Port“, which
is located between the Republic of Yemen and Sultanate of Oman, on 2018, without any
known legal charges. Moreover, they prevented him from contacting his family or his lawyer
since 21 April and until the publishing of this report. In addition to the inability of his family and
his relatives to determine the place of his imprisonment, or what he is accused of. He remains
at risk of torture and other ill-treatment in violation of international human rights conventions.
The NHRC also received a complaint from the family of Qatar national “Nawaf Talal Al-Rasheed”
about the arbitrary arrest of the Qatari citizen by the Saudi authorities, which is considered an
enforced disappearance under article 2 of the International Convention for the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance, it is also a crime against humanity under article 7 (i) of
the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adopted in Rome on 17 July 1998, which
is also a flagrant violation of human rights and international law, without any formal charges or
legal justification for his arrest. His family also expressed
to the NHRC the deep concern and shock it feels over the
lack of knowledge of his place of detention, his enforced
disappearance and his denial of contact with him or his
lawyer, according to the complaint. Furthermore, the
OHCHR called on the Saudi Authorities in May 29, 2018
to provide information about Nawaf Talal Al Rasheed. The
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance
called for clarifying the fate and whereabouts of him.
Mohsen Saleh Saadoun al-Karbi
49 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Mr. (H. G) Saudi national:
Has a license from the KSA to import 16 horses exported from Doha from the his
father, who lives in the State of Qatar, died. When he asked the Saudi authorities at
the Saudi land port “Salwa” to go to the State of Qatar to receive his father’s body,
his request was denied and prevented from leaving, the matter that forced him to
communicate with the NHRC.
Mrs. (H. S) Bahraini national:
Resident of the State of Qatar and married to a Bahraini citizen residing and
working in the State of Qatar and has a family residing in the Kingdom of Bahrain;
she demands the right to travel and stay between the State of Qatar and the
Kingdom of Bahrain. But after severing relations between the two countries, she
cannot go to Bahrain to meet with her family and requests the Bahraini authorities
to apply for a permit Although she is a Bahraini citizen and is resident in the State
of Qatar.
The National Human Rights Commission has documented complaints of
violations of the right to freedom of movement and residence by the
countries of the blockade, including:
Mr. (H. Y) Qatari national:
He booked three tickets for his family from Doha to America. Their trip was on
Emirates Airlines, where they traveled through Dubai. However, when the Gulf
crisis broke out, he was unable to return on the same flight. Upon returning,
he was notified by Emirates Airlines after he had contacted them, to return
through the State of Oman noting that he have three month old child and a
sick wife, so he was forced to buy new tickets to return him and his family and
suffered greater financial losses Three months old and his wife sick, So he had
to buy new tickets to return with his family, resulting in greater financial losses.
50 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
51 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
I: Violation of the right to health
Table (8) shows the number of violations of the right to health since the beginning of the
blockade of 5 June 2017 until 23 May 2018. There were 37 violations (19 violations by the KSA,
4 by the UAE, 14 by Bahrain).
In its report issued in June 19, 2017, Amnesty International confirmed that those receiving
medical treatment were given the option of continuing to treat them or to comply with the
extensive and harsh measures declared by the Blockading countries (12).
In addition, the impact on the right to health has had more than one effect in terms of affecting
the access of the State of Qatar to medicines (including life-saving items) and medical supplies
as a result of the cessation of trade. Qatar relies on 50% to 60% of the Pharmaceutical stocks
are from 20 GCC-based suppliers; also the repercussions and consequences of the blockade
were also reflected in the delay in the opening of new hospitals in Qatar, as confirmed by the
report of the technical mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in
the State of Qatar (17-24 November 2017) on the impact of the current Gulf crisis on human
rights issued on 08/01/2018.
Human Rights Watch also stated in its report issued on 13 July 2017 that the blockade imposed
on the State of Qatar caused serious human rights violations, including the suspension of
medical care. The organization noted that its researchers documented the cases of Qatari,
Gulf and expatriate citizens living in Qatar, whose rights were violated due to restrictive policies
imposed on the State of Qatar since 5 June 2017 (13).
(12) https://www.amnesty.org/ar/latest/news/2017/06/gulf-qatar-dispute-human…
(13) https://www.hrw.org/ar/news/2017/07/13/306595
Total
State
Statistics Violation
Date
The right to 14 4 19 --- 37
health
May 23,
2018
Table (8) Violation of the right to health
52 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
The NHRC has documented complaints of violations of the right to health
by the countries of the blockade, including:
The disabled child (G. S) Qatari national:
Was subjected to the violation of his right to complete treatment at Dallah
Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which began since 2016 through the
implantation of metal plate to correct his spine, and had to enter the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia with the beginning of the Gulf crisis to the hospital to prolong
these plates, but could not entered Saudi Arabia because of the decision to
prevent the entry of Qataris. The delay in the operation led to the disintegration
of the metal platelets and the re-operation of the operation in another hospital
in the Republic of Turkey. Resulting in health complications and severe moral
and material damage. The victim sent a communication to the Committee on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in full details.
Mr. (K. K) Bahraini national:
In his visit to the NHRC, saying: «I suffer from chronic diabetes, which led to
amputation of my left foot at Hamad General Hospital in Qatar, where I am currently
receiving treatment in the same hospital regularly, and after imposing the blockade
on the State of Qatar, the authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain have asked me
to leave the State of Qatar and return to the Kingdom of Bahrain. I am a resident
of Doha and I am married to a Qatari woman. I have children born in the State
of Qatar and are educated there, which makes it difficult for me to return to my
country and leave my treatment and education of my children.
Mrs. (N. A) UAE national:
She is married to Mr. (A. A) Qatari national, resident in the State of Qatar, suffers
from health problems and wishes to travel abroad for medical treatment. However,
her UAE travel document expired on 06/01/2018 and cannot be renewed due to
arbitrary procedures taken by the UAE authorities, the matter that forced her to
take treatment at Hamad General Hospital in Qatar.
53 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
J: Violation of the right to litigation
Due to the consequences of the blockade on the State of Qatar, citizens and residents of
the State of Qatar have not been able to resort to the courts of the Blockading countries and
exercise the right to litigation and their right to defense, through the following:
1. Not being allowed to appear before the courts as a result of preventing them from entering
blockading countries in violation of their right to litigation and the associated rights such as
the right to defense.
2. Hindering the work of their attorneys and creating difficulties for them to initiate proceedings
on their behalf.
3. The law-firms in the blockade countries refused to delegate Qatari and resident litigants to
the courts and failed to follow up the cases already entrusted to them.
4. Non-implementation of court orders issued in favor of Qataris.
5. Cancellation of judgments issued in favor of Qataris and residents as a result of their inability
to initiate their cases and exercise their right to litigation and defense.
The NHRC documented complaints of violation of the right to litigation by
the countries of the blockade, including:
Complaint submitted by: Mr. (G. A) Qatari National:
The complainant submitted a complaint to the committee about the damage he
suffered due to the Gulf crisis and the blockade on the State of Qatar, as he had a
lawsuit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about renting a truck to a Saudi national,
and was unable to obtain any financial benefits for the leases entered into with
the lessee from the date of conclusion of the contract and until now could not
because of the events to follow up his case, which number (364031068) did not
find any solutions; the trucks were stolen and hidden by the lessee and could not
return the trucks again. The value of each truck is estimated at QR100,000 to be
the total loss and damage caused by more than QR2,000,000.
54 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Complaint submitted by: Mr. (A. A) Qatari National:
He bought a house in the Emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a villa
of AED 1,700,000 and a payment of AED 1,200,000 was made by sending
payments; to date and after the blockade, they are communicating with him in
order to complete the financial payments and replace the property with another
property owned by the company in the State of Qatar with a commitment to pay
the difference between the value of the two properties QR 1,000,000 million,
causing him significant financial losses and does not wish to do so.
Complaint submitted by: Mr. (A. M) Qatari National:
Where he claims that he concluded a contract for the purchase of 2 apartments
for him and his wife and is committed to pay the monthly installments to the
owner; he tried to find a solution to be able to exercise his right to his property,
but he finds it very difficult in light of the lack of tolerance of the Bahraini
authorities, which expose him to falling in fines imposed on him due to delay
in payment Premiums.
Fifth: Legal description
The governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain
have violated several resolutions they are a party to and rules and laws of international
human rights law. They are in clear violation of many articles in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of
the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced disappearance; as well as articles
in the Arab Charter for Human Rights, the Declaration on the Human Rights of the Gulf
Cooperation Council and the Economic Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council
States. Consequently, these countries have the responsibility to protect and preserve the
rights and interests of individuals residing in their territories.
The countries of the blockade also blatantly violated the Chicago Convention and have
banned the movement of Qatari civil aviation over its territory without any military or public
security reasons.
55 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
أولاً: الإعلان العالمي لحقوق الإنسان:
Articles violated by in the 3 states of blockade:
Article 2
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind” it means that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has
guaranteed all rights stated therein to everyone, especially right to litigation.
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to
the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each
State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to
hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of
himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary
social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability,
widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Firstly: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
56 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary
and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and
professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be
equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to
the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote
understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and
shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Article 2
Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals
within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant,
without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 20
1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.
2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.
Article 6
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to work, which includes the
right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or
accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard this right.
Article 10
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that:
1. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to the family, which is
the natural and fundamental group unit of society, particularly for its establishment and while
it is responsible for the care and education of dependent children. Marriage must be entered
into with the free consent of the intending spouses.
Secondly: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Thirdly: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
57 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before and
after childbirth. During such period working mothers should be accorded paid leave or leave
with adequate social security benefits.
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all children
and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage or other conditions.
Children and young persons should be protected from economic and social exploitation. Their
employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or likely to hamper
their normal development should be punishable by law. States should also set age limits below
which the paid employment of child labour should be prohibited and punishable by law.
Article 12
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full
realization of this right shall include those necessary for:
(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy
development of the child;
(b) The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
(c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other
diseases;
(d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention
in the event of sickness.
Article 13
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They
agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and
the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively
in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and
all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the
maintenance of peace.
Article 2
1. States Parties condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue by all appropriate
means and without delay a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and
promoting understanding among all races, and, to this end: (a) Each State Party undertakes
Fourthly: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
58 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
to engage in no act or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons or
institutions and to en sure that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local,
shall act in conformity with this obligation;
(b) Each State Party undertakes not to sponsor, defend or support racial discrimination by any
persons or organizations;
(c) Each State Party shall take effective measures to review governmental, national and local
policies, and to amend, rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of
creating or perpetuating racial discrimination wherever it exists;
(d) Each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate means, including
legislation as required by circumstances, racial discrimination by any persons, group or
organization;
(e) Each State Party undertakes to encourage, where appropriate, integrationist multiracial
organizations and movements and other means of eliminating barriers between races, and to
discourage anything which tends to strengthen racial division.
2. States Parties shall, when the circumstances so warrant, take, in the social, economic,
cultural and other fields, special and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development
and protection of certain racial groups or individuals belonging to them, for the purpose of
guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
These measures shall in no case en tail as a con sequence the maintenance of unequal or
separate rights for different racial groups after the objectives for which they were taken have
been achieved.
Article 4
The States Parties condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas
or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one color or ethnic origin, or
which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form, and undertake
to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts
of, such discrimination and, to this end, with due regard to the principles embodied in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of this
Convention, inter alia:
(a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial
superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or
incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin,
and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof;
(b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all other propaganda
activities, which promote and incite racial discrimination, and shall recognize participation in
such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law;
(c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, to promote or
incite racial discrimination.
59 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Article 6
States Parties shall assure to everyone within their jurisdiction effective protection and
remedies, through the competent national tribunals and other State institutions, against any
acts of racial discrimination which violate his human rights and fundamental freedoms contrary
to this Convention, as well as the right to seek from such tribunals just and adequate reparation
or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination.
Article 7
States Parties undertake to adopt immediate and effective measures, particularly in the
fields of teaching, education, culture and information, with a view to combating prejudices
which lead to racial discrimination and to promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship
among nations and racial or ethnical groups, as well as to propagating the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and this
Convention.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Convention, «enforced disappearance» is considered to be the arrest,
detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by
persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the
State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of
the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the
protection of the law.
Article 3
1. Each State Party to the present Charter undertakes to ensure to all individuals within its
territory and subject to its jurisdiction the right to enjoy all the rights and freedoms recognized
herein, without any distinction on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religion, opinion,
thought, national or social origin, property, birth or physical or mental disability
Article 8
1. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
Fifthly: International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance
Sixth: Arab Charter on Human rights
60 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Article 26
1. Every person lawfully within the territory of a State Party shall, within that territory, have
the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence in accordance with
applicable regulations.
Article 32
1. The present Charter shall ensure the right to information, freedom of opinion and freedom
of expression, freedom to seek, receive and impart information by all means, regardless of
frontiers.
2. Such rights and freedoms are exercised in the framework of society’s fundamental principles
and shall only be subjected to restrictions necessary for the respect of the rights or reputation
of others and for the protection of national security or of public order, health or morals.
Article 33
1. The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society, founded by the marriage of a
man and a woman. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found
a family shall be recognized. No marriage shall be entered without the full consent of the
intending spouses. The law in force shall regulate the rights and responsibilities of spouses as
to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. The State and society provide for the protection of the family and its members, for the
strengthening of its bonds. All forms of violence and abusive treatment in the relations between
family members, especially towards women and children, shall be prohibited. The State and
society undertake to provide outstanding care and special protection for mothers, children and
the elderly. Young persons have the right to be ensured maximum opportunities for physical
and mental development.
3. The State Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative and judicial provisions
to ensure the protection, survival and well-being of children in an atmosphere of freedom and
dignity. The best interest of the child, in all circumstances, serves as the basis for all measures
taken, whether the child is a juvenile delinquent or a child “at risk”.
Article 6
The Freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites is a right of every person according to
the regulation (law) without disruption of the public order and public morals.
Article 9
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and exercising such freedom is
guaranteed insofar as it accords with Islamic Sharia law, public order and the regulations (laws)
regulating this area.
Seventh: GCC Human Rights Declaration
61 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Article 14
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, originally composed of a man
and a woman, governed by religion, morals and patriotism; its entity and bonds are maintained
and reinforced by religion. Motherhood, childhood and members of the family are protected
by religion as well as the State and society against all forms of abuse and domestic violence.
Article 24
Every person, who has the capacity of doing so, has the right to work and has the right to
free choice of employment according to the requirements of dignity and public interest, while
just and favorable employment conditions, as well as employees’ and employers’ rights, are
ensured.
Article 27
Private property is inviolable and no one shall be prevented from the disposition of his property
except by the regulation (law), and it may not be expropriated unless for public interest with
fair compensation.
The countries of the blockade have violated various
International conventions, including:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
- International Covenant on economic and social and cultural
Rights;
- The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination (ICERD);
- The international Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)
62 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Sixth: Conclusions
NHRC confirms its previous conclusions, as well as the conclusions stated in
international reports and the United Nations Technical Mission on the consequences
of the blockade in Qatar. Further NHRC stresses on the following:
★ Unilateral arbitrary measures and procedures taken by the blockading countries have
resulted in a number of violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
★ The measures taken by states of blockade to punish citizens and residents of Qatar and
citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries were used as a tool for political pressure
and a mean of managing political disputes. The said measures escalated to collective
punishments affecting individuals and property.
★ The discriminatory measures taken by the countries of the blockade amount to racial
discrimination, and incitement and hatred attitude towards Qatari people aims to offend
and contempt the Qatari citizen, as well as insulting symbols of the State of Qatar.
★ The purpose of the measures taken by the countries of the blockade in the economic,
commercial and investment fields is to target and strike the infrastructure of the national
economy of the State of Qatar, in addition to damaging the economic rights of individuals
and communities, is a dangerous precedent which may amount to the crime of aggression.
★ The countries of the blockade did not take into account the minimum conditions and
terms of trade, economic and investment transactions, which confirms the absence of a
safe investment environment in those states.
★ The countries of the blockade did not take into account the rights of the most vulnerable
groups (women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly). Further, these arbitrary
measures have resulted in deprivation of education, denial of employment and violation of
the right to health, especially for those groups.
★ Prolongation of the crisis and tragedy of the victims while neither redressing the victims
nor restoration their rights, threatens international security and peace and undermines
mediation efforts.
★ The ongoing tragedy of separated families may lead to destroying social fabric and
exacerbating the suffering of women and children in a flagrant violation of the international
convention of the rights of the child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
63 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
★ The victims have not been granted access to justice in the countries of the blockade.
Moreover, they have been deprived their rights to exercise litigation and the associated rights,
such as the right to defense, which constitute an impediment to redress, compensation and
restitution of victims.
★ There is no response by the countries of the blockade to remove the violations and lift
the harm from those affected, and the measures taken by them were merely a maneuver to
improve their image or to delay the current situation. The mysterious mechanisms that lack
of credibility in which the countries of the Blockade claim that they have developed in order
to address the situation of the victims, failed to remedy the victims’ jurist and humanitarian
situation and failed to communicate with NHRC the Committee’s relentless efforts to do so.
★ Since the commencement of the blockade and up till now, NHRC did not receive any
reply to any of its correspondences sent to national institutions and some relevant civil
society organizations in the countries of the blockade, and the said organizations did not
provide any cooperation whatsoever.
★ Qatari authorities have not taken reciprocal arbitrary measures to those taken by the
countries of the blockade. The Qatari government has also strived to contain the crisis and
its negative impact on citizens and residents, including residents of the countries of the
Blockade.
★ There has been a response by international mechanisms for the protection of human
rights, led by the OHCHR and the United Nations Office of Special Procedures, as well
as the Subcommittee for Human Rights in the European Parliament. There has also been
remarkable engagement by international human rights organizations such as Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch and others, which conducted field visits and prepared
reports. These reports clearly reflect the magnitude of human suffering resulting from the
blockade.
★ The report of the OHCHR Technical Mission revealed the extent of human rights violations
caused by the blockade which not only affected the Qataris, but extended to residents and
migrant workers in addition to citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
★ Despite the official correspondences by NHRC on this regard, none of the regional
mechanisms for the protection of human rights in the League of Arab States, the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf or the Arab
Parliament have played an effective role in lifting the violations and remedy of victims.
Therefore, these mechanisms are still unable to do their part.
★ The Saudi, UAE and Bahraini authorities have not allowed international organizations
to investigate the facts of the negative repercussions of the blockade on human rights,
including the rights of their citizens.
64 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
★ No action has been taken by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral
coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights despite the fact that the NHRC has
repeatedly called upon him to intervene quickly to counter the negative effects of arbitrary
measures taken by the countries of the blockade and to mitigate their consequences on
human rights, in contrast to the many UN Special Rapporteurs who issued urgent appeals
and official questions to the countries of the blockade on the size and type of violations and
how to compensate the victims.
★ Despite the statements of the NHRC, the assertions of international reports and
organizations, and the urgent appeal of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi authorities continue to politicize religious feelings, put
obstacles and hindrances in the way of Qatari people and citizens, and prevent them from
exercising their right to worship. The NHRC will work to prosecute KSA locally, regionally
and internationally as a result of the psychological damage to the Qatari pilgrims and
material losses to the offices of Hajj and Umrah campaigns. Moreover, continue to address
the issue of politicizing religious rites in all international human rights forums, and to begin
with regional and international partners in organizing awareness campaigns about the
seriousness of Saudi Arabia’s actions in relation politicizing religious rites.
★ The presence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as members of the Human
Rights Council raises questions and doubts about the credibility of the Human Rights
Council in light of the grave violations committed by these two countries.
★ Recently, the Saudi authorities have been targeting Qatari citizens while traveling outside
the State of Qatar by kidnapping or making illegal arrest warrants and then arbitrarily
detaining them and forcibly disappearing.
★ Most of the cases of victims and parties affected by the blockade, especially the mixed
families, remain unresolved and the impact of the current crisis and its negative effects will
remain for a long period of time.
65 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Seventh: Recommendations to the
Competent Authorities
Recommendations to Civil Society
Take urgent actions to lift the blockade, and make every possible effort to mitigate its repercussions
on the people of Qatar, and citizens of the countries of the Blockade, in isolation from the efforts
of political mediation to resolve the crisis.
Recommendations to the Kuwaiti Mediaton
Calling on the Kuwaiti mediation - in the light of the welcome efforts of the Kuwaiti mediation to
resolve the humanitarian repercussions resulting from the crisis - to work to alleviate the suffering
of the victims and resolve the humanitarian situation for them, especially for the mixed families
even if the political solution is long.
Recommendations to Civil Society Organizations based in GCC Countries
Intensify efforts and joint cooperation to resolve the repercussions of the crisis on the humanitarian
situation and carry out awareness campaigns to alleviate the suffering of the victims, in addition to
fighting hatred and violence speech, as well as holding coordination meetings with NHRC for this
purpose.
Recommendations to OHCHR and UN
1. Take further steps to force the countries of the blockade to reverse from the unilateral arbitrary
decisions they have taken.
2. Continue to urge the countries of the blockade to stop the violations caused by the inhumane
blockade measures, address these violations, redress the victims and compensate them for the
physical and psychological damage caused to them by the blockade.
3. The OHCHR should present reports and data documenting the various types of violations that
have affected a large number of individuals, in particular with regard to the displacement of families,
including their dire consequences on women and children following the break-up of families, in
addition to demanding the states to respect the fundamental freedoms of those in their territories.
4. Submit a detailed report on human rights violations to the Human Rights Council, special
rapporteurs and contractual mechanisms to address violations and ensure that they are not
repeated, and that a dangerous precedence is not set.
5. Call on the OHCHR for further action at all levels of international human rights mechanisms
and to raise the issue of the repercussions of the blockade in the report of the OHCHR at the next
session of the UN Human Rights Council.
6. Call on the OHCHR to contact specialized international agencies such as the International Labor
Organization, UNESCO, WTO and ICAO to share information and support complaints against the
countries of the Blockade.
66 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
7. Call on the United Nations Special Rapporteurs to act swiftly to address the issues of
victims of the blockade violations and to visit the countries of the blockade, as well as to
include the repercussions of the blockade in their reports to the Human Rights Council.
8. Call on the Special Rapporteur on the unilateral coercive measures to intervene
immediately, approach the countries of the blockade, as well as visiting the State of Qatar
and the countries of the blockade.
9. Call on the special rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers to move swiftly
to enable victims to obtain their right to litigation, and urge the countries of the blockade to
allow them to access the national courts to address their legal status.
10. Invite the Technical Mission of the OHCHR to visit the countries of the blockade and
to recognize the negative impact on the countries of the blockade citizen’s and citizen’s
of Qatar, and include its implications in a report of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.
11. Call on the General Assembly of UN to issue a global declaration against the blockade
of the peoples and neutralize civilians from any political strife.
Recommendations to Human Rights Council
1. Take all possible measures to lift the blockade and the resulting violations, as well as
demand compensation for all damages to all individuals.
2. Demanding the establishment of a fact-finding committee and conduct direct interviews
with victims.
3. Call on the countries of the blockade to allow field visits by special rapporteurs and
international human rights organizations, allow victims to resort to national justice, and pursue
proceedings for the restoration of their rights. Additionally, immediately stop defamatory
campaigns, hate speech and incitement, and hold those responsible accountable.
4. Demands the countries of the blockade abolish all unilateral arbitrary measures, to
respect their obligations under international human rights law, to immediately lift violations
and to redress victims.
67 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Recommendation to General Secretary of GCC
1. Exert all efforts through The Settlement of Disputes Committee of the Supreme Council
for to persuade the governments of countries to begin to resolve the situation of families,
citizens, social, economic, civil and cultural.
2. Work to lift the blockade on the State of Qatar and neutralize civilians from any political
strife.
Recommendations to the blockading countries
1. Immediately lifting the blockade on the State of Qatar.
2. Consider positively and immediately the foundations of the report of the OHCHR Technical
Mission.
3. Cancel all unilateral arbitrary measures, respect their obligations under international
human rights law, and immediately lift violations and redress victims.
4. Neutralizing the political file from influencing the humanitarian and social situation and
not using it as a pretext for violating international law and international human rights law.
5. Establish effective mechanisms to address cases of violations and redress victims.
6. Allow the visits of the OHCHR Technical Mission and special rapporteurs and international
human rights organizations to examine the effects of the actions taken on the citizens of
these countries and the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar. For close humanitarian
situations and for determining responsibilities and redress for victims.
7. Allow victims to resort to national justice and litigation procedures to restore their rights.
8. The immediate cessation of defamation campaigns, hate speech, inflammatory
propaganda and accountability of those responsible.
9. Stop fabricating arguments and lies to arrest and detain Qataris or residents of the State
of Qatar arbitrarily and to limit the racist measures against Qatari citizens.
68 Fifth General Report: Continuation of human rights violations
Recommendation to the Qatari Government
1. Continue to take all possible steps at the international level by the General Assembly of
the United Nations, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council and the international
tribunals to lift the unjust blockade on the population of Qatar and defend their rights in the
face of violations against them, as well as holding the perpetrators accountable.
2. Seeking resort to the International Court of Justice, arbitration committees and specialized
national and international courts, as well as holding the perpetrators of incitement
campaigns, hate speech and calls for violence and racial discrimination from the countries
of the Blockade accountable.
3. Taking urgent action at the level of the Human Rights Council to present a draft resolution
on the repercussions of the blockade on the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar.
Furthermore, the repercussions of the blockade to be discussed before the General
Assembly of the United Nations and the Security Council.
4. Referring to international reports, led by the Technical Mission report in supporting
complaints submitted before the World Trade Organization, the International Civil Aviation
Organization and UNESCO.
5. Inviting the Compensation Claims Committee to continue litigation and international
arbitration procedures, relying on the rationales contained in the national and international
reports on the blockade, in order to redress and compensate the victims.
6. Taking due actions to bring the perpetrators of incitement campaigns, hate speech, calls
for violence and racial discrimination from the countries of the Blockade to justice.

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