NHRC seeks Greek solidarity campaign with siege victims

National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman HE Dr Ali bin Samikh al-Marri has called for the launch of parliamentary solidarity campaign with the victims of the violations of the siege imposed on Qatar.
Speaking at the Greek parliament on Tuesday, Dr al-Marri reiterated the important and effective role of the legislative authorities in mobilising for popular and official global movement that demands the end of the siege on Qatar and condemns its impacts on those affected, noting that the parliamentary calls obtain their credibility from being representatives of peoples.
The NHRC chairman highlighted the Greek civilisation and humanitarian heritage that does not accept the besieging of the people of Qatar or any other people.
He called on members of the parliament and government officials to immediately move to urge parliaments of European countries, the European Parliament and European human rights organisations to form a rights entity that takes strong steps and clear stances towards the unjust siege and documents the violations by the siege that were recorded in NHRC reports as well as those of the international organisations as an unprecedented incident for such violations that tore apart the social fabric of Gulf peoples.
Dr al-Marri stressed the importance of exercising diplomatic pressure on the siege countries to end the siege imposed on Qatar, redress the victims, and move extensively with reference to the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that affirmed beyond any doubt the need to end the human rights violations and arbitrary and discriminatory measures against citizens and residents in Qatar and the three concerned Gulf states, which violate all international human rights laws and covenants.
He described the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as an important reference towards the issue of a resolution in the European Parliament condemning the siege and a strong motive to raise the issue of besieging peoples as one of the main violations of modern times that must be fought.
The NHRC chairman urged parliaments, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the European Parliament and the Arab Parliament, to issue recommendations condemning the siege of peoples and collective punishment.
He added that NHRC will work with its partners to urge countries to issue a draft resolution at the European Parliament and the UN General Assembly that adopts a universal declaration to protect peoples from siege and not to engage them in political differences.
During the hearing session, Dr al-Marri gave a brief overview of the report of the technical mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which concluded with strong and important conclusions, officially recognising the violations monitored by NHRC since the beginning of the siege crisis.
He stressed that the UN report is the first official one condemning the arbitrary measures and violations by the siege countries and describing them as unequal and racist.
The report shows that the measures taken by the siege countries do not differentiate between the government and civilians, especially Qatari nationals and is dangerous, and the economic impact of the siege amounts to economic wars, Dr al-Marri said.
He added that the report unquestionably reaffirms that the measures taken by the siege countries are arbitrary and unilateral and violate international law and the principles of international relations and human rights conventions.
The NHRC chairman stressed that the report asserted that the violations suffered by the citizens and residents of Qatar and the citizens of the GCC countries are not allegations as claimed by the siege countries, but rather are facts confirmed by conclusive evidence.
Dr al-Marri added that the report is an important legal reference that will embody diplomatic and legal moves at the regional and international levels.
As a member state of the EU, Dr al-Marri called on Greek members of the parliament and the Greek government to urge European parliaments, the European Parliament and all European human rights institutions to play their role in promoting the protection of peoples from collective punishment and engaging them in political conflicts.
He also demanded steps and measures to pressure the governments of the siege countries to reverse their human rights violations.
In the same context, during a bilateral meeting with chairman of the standing committee for national defence and foreign affairs, the NHRC chairman handed an official copy of the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to HE the speaker of the Greek parliament.
Dr al-Marri also reviewed the effects of the siege on human rights in the Gulf region and the NHRC movements since the beginning of the siege.
In addition, the two sides discussed the importance of highlighting the role of parliaments, through their human rights committees, in highlighting the violations of the siege against Qatar. They stressed the importance of building bridges of mutual cooperation in issues related to defending human rights.