Qatar calls on rights body to end ordeal of siege victims

Qatar has called upon the United Nations Human Rights Council and its relevant mechanisms, especially the special procedures, to carry out their responsibilities urgently, seriously and more effectively to put an end to the violations caused by the unjust siege imposed by some countries in the region for one year.

“There should be an end to the suffering with effective redressal of grievances of those affected and those responsible held accountable in order to prevent the recurrence of those violations,” urged Al Mohannad Ali al-Hammadi, Qatar’s deputy permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva.Addressing the 28th special session of the Human Rights Council on Monday, he pointed out that June marks one year of the unilateral and coercive measures and the unjust siege imposed on Qatar, noting that the violations of human rights and the suffering of those affected continue until this moment.During the one year of blockade, the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar received 4,105 complaints. The report of the technical mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also monitored a long list of violations involving families that were separated and prevented from communication. The violations reached the point of depriving some children of one of their parents, and the members of these families have been subjected to great psychological pressure. Many students were prevented from continuing their education, patients were forced to leave hospitals, and individuals were denied their right to work or to access their property because of their Qatari nationality, al-Hammadi explained.One year after the siege and the unilateral coercive measures, the Haj season is approaching, and the same scenario is repeated. The Saudi authorities continue to put obstacles and arbitrary measures against the citizens and residents of Qatar to practise this Islamic ritual in the kingdom, al-Hammadi stated.“The siege and these unilateral coercive measures have far-reaching effects, particularly on the social fabric and the rights of individuals, which are difficult to remedy if decisive and urgent action is not taken to end such violations,” he said.“The absence of grievance redressal mechanisms for the victims in the siege countries make it difficult to prosecute the perpetrators of these violations at the national level, and closes the door before those affected to receive any compensation or reparation for damage, especially as their suffering increases daily without a solution to the crisis,” the Qatari official added.