In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Your Excellency President of the Human Rights Council,
Your Excellency High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Excellencies,
Heads and Members of Delegations,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings
It gives me great pleasure to participate in this session as I highly value the efforts of your distinguished council to promote and protect human rights and dignity all over the world. I would also like to emphasize that the State of Qatar attaches high importance to the work of this council, and counts on it as an optimum mechanism within the United Nations' system to enhance the universal respect of all human rights values and principles.
Mr. President,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Respect for the protection of human rights is a top priority to the State of Qatar, in addition to human development in its broad sense, given the firm political will to promote and protect these rights. This has led to the establishment of a legislative system, institutional entities, governmental and non-governmental alike, aimed at the realization of a comprehensive human centered development. In this context, the State of Qatar launched its National Vision 2030 which is underpinned by the pillars dealing primarily with human rights and areas such as education, health, the environment, the empowerment of women and children's rights. Similarly, the State of Qatar launched the first and second National Development Strategies aimed at transforming the objectives of this vision into a reality. As a result, the State of Qatar is witnessing a comprehensive development in all fields. It has continued to rank high on the relevant international human development indicators. Qatar has also taken the lead in the region on major issues such as the quality of education, improvement of healthcare, treatment of people with disabilities, issues of women and children, an interest in youth, sport and culture, and the fight against administrative corruption.
Mr. President,
The use of the power politics in all its forms in domestic and foreign policies is a major cause of the waste of the international system's justice, which negatively impacts the respect and protection of human rights and threatens security, peace, and peaceful coexistence in the international community.
In this context, I have been keen to address your distinguished council, as for more than three months the State of Qatar has been facing exceptional circumstances and challenges, because of the imposition by a number of brotherly states of an illegal siege which clearly violates international laws and covenants related to human rights. In particular, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the General Assembly's Resolution related to the outcomes of the 2005 World Summit, as well as the provisions of the international laws and the rules governing relations between States.
As you well know, this crisis began with hacking the website of Qatar News Agency and the publication of false remarks attributed to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani – Emir of the State of Qatar, followed by malicious media propaganda against the State of Qatar which was followed by the dissemination of unsubstantiated claims and allegations accusing Qatar of funding terrorism, a matter that confirms the existence of political intent behind this hacking crime.
Distinguished guests,
Since the first day of the blockade, the blockading countries blocked all air, land and sea borders in violation of the provisions of international law and international trade rules, which has negatively impacted the freedom of trade and investment. The blockading countries have also taken many illegal measures that constitute a grave violation of civil, economic and social human rights. These violations include banning Qatari citizens from entering or transiting through their territories, as well as preventing their own citizens from traveling to or residing in Qatar. This decision has had a direct impact on tearing apart many families and separating their members, especially women and children. Their decision has also resulted in interrupting Qatari students' education in their universities. Many other fundamental rights and freedoms have been violated such as the right to work, for the citizens of these states working in Qatar have been forced to return home. Their rights to property, both for Qatari nationals in the blockading countries or for the property of citizens of these states in Qatar, and the freedom of movement, all these violations are still continuing.
In this regard, the international community must show its legal and moral responsibilities to prevent the people from bearing political drifts between governments. It is difficult to understand why people should pay the price for these political rifts. The scope of these violations and damages was not limited to individuals but also affected humanitarian organizations. These countries released a prepared joint unilateral list in which a number of individuals and entities were included on the pretext of supporting terrorism, but this list was rejected by the United Nations as it contravenes international legitimacy and human rights. This illegal list undoubtedly places serious obstacles on the humanitarian development work of the concerned humanitarian organizations, some of which enjoy consultative status with the United Nations, and have extensive partnerships with various United Nations agencies. These illegal measures undoubtedly allow for politicization of the term terrorism in accordance with the narrow and parochial interest of some states, and warns of dire consequences for global security and stability. This makes it imperative for the international community to take a clear and firm stance on the double standards with regards to the term terrorism.
Mr. President,
The blockading states have continued to violate the conventions of international law and human rights conventions. Since the beginning of the crisis, these countries have continued to hide the facts from the public, including their own citizens. They have used all means to serve their own political purposes including blocking satellite channels and other media within their own countries. This includes fabricated unsubstantiated allegations and accusations accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism in order to spread anti-Qatar sentiment, as well as media campaigns to incite hate speech against the State of Qatar. It is unfortunate that their religious clerics and religious institutions played a role in this regard, in clear violations of religious and moral values and principles.
The blockading states went even further by banning and placing fines against the citizens who sympathize with Qatar or oppose measures taken by their governments. This is considered a violation of the right of freedom of expression. This was confirmed in a statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on 14th of June 2017. It is no secret that one of the real motives behind the siege and the severance of diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar is not the fight against terrorism. In general, the policies of the states are not in favor of countering terrorism to say the least, but rather an attempt to force Qatar into a state of guardianship, interfere with its foreign policy, undermine its sovereignty and interfere with its internal affairs, which constitutes a violation of the international law and principles of the United Nations related to international relations. This cannot be accepted by any country in the world that enjoys independence and full sovereignty.
Those who accuse their political opponents, at home and abroad, of terrorism simply because they oppose it are not serious about the fight against terrorism, nor are they preoccupied with it. Their own policies may generate violent extremism.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Despite the depth of the wounds in the hearts of the people of Qatar caused by the actions and policies of the blockading countries. Despite the fabrications made by the blockading countries and their arrogant policy of spreading lies. Despite the official discourse of some officials of these countries deviating from the internationally respected diplomatic framework to an unprecedented level, even in their speeches towards those who they see as their enemies. The State of Qatar's firm belief is that the optimum solution to the conflict is dialogue, and the State of Qatar reconfirms its appreciation for the Kuwaiti mediation led by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah – Emir of the State of Kuwait. We reaffirm the readiness of the State of Qatar for dialogue to end this crisis within the framework of mutual respect, and the preservation of sovereignty based on settlements that would make them mutual collective obligations.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, center to which is the right to life and security. The State of Qatar reaffirms its position in rejecting and condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with its underpinning ideologies; whatever the causes and motives may be. Qatar expresses its commitments to all international conventions on the fight against terrorism and its financing. Qatar is an active member of the Global Coalition Against Daesh and other terrorist groups. In this context, the State of Qatar has taken necessary measures to strengthen its efforts to counter terrorism and address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism. Qatar has done so by supporting educational projects, promoting the values of dialogue and religious tolerance, spreading peace and providing employment opportunities for young people. Doha will host the seventh meeting of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund against violent extremism next December.
Mr. President,
Addressing the challenges facing the promotion and protection of human rights across the world commands a comprehensive approach to protect these rights through the full and proper implementation of the provisions of the international human rights law and international legality and ensuring that the perpetrators will not go unpunished on the international and national levels. In this respect, the international community must take all legal measures to hold accountable those responsible for gross human rights violations in the world, especially the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine, Syria, Myanmar, and other countries.
In conclusion, your esteemed council should take all necessary measures to promote the respect for human rights principles and standards as noble principles that must govern our lives and societies. As a guarantee for the respect of human rights, the State of Qatar will spare no effort in dealing with our esteemed council to develop mechanisms for the defense of human rights and protect them internationally and regionally, and all that would promote and protect human rights in the world.
Thank you for listening,
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings