UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, Alena Douhan. Picture by:Salim Matramkot
Doha: The UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, Alena Douhan, has called upon blockading countries to “immediately withdraw” all sanctions, restrictions imposed against Qatar as they are in violation of international legal standards.
Douhan was addressing a press conference on the conclusion of her visit to Qatar, from November 1-12. During her stay in Qatar, she met senior government officials, members of parliament and of the judiciary, representatives of international organizations, diplomatic community, civil society and national human rights mechanisms, lawyers, academics, activists, and victims and their families.
She urged Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to immediately withdraw all sanctions, measures aimed at establishing restrictions on freedom of expression, movement, access to property, trade barriers etc. against Qatar.
She said that restrictions including those which prevent purchase of medicines, medical equipment, food, essential goods for people living in Qatar are also in violation of international legal standards.
“I call on the four states (Saudi, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt) to guarantee freedom of opinion and expression by annulling all Qatar sympathy laws.”
Douhan also asked the four states to refrain from using anti-terrorism and other national security laws to stifle peaceful and non-violent activity.
She said that Qatari students affected by measure adopted by four states on June 5, 2017 and later are given the opportunity to complete their education in four countries or they can obtain their educational records if they want to continue studies anywhere else.
The UN Special Rapporteur said that the Qataris affected by the measures adopted on June 5, 2017 and later should be allowed to access to tribunals or other state organs (in four states) without discrimination of any kind.
“In accordance with customary norms of international law all states are obliged to guarantee that activities under their jurisdiction of control in any area including cyber space do not affect the rights of other states and their nationals and residents,” she said.
She urged four states to guarantee that discrimination is not applied to people living in Qatar and sports, cultural and academic events are used to enhance cooperation and development without any discrimination.
