Doha, June 11 (QNA) - The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of the State of Qatar described the recent directives issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding the humanitarian situation of mixed-citizenship families as too vague to have any practical impact and are void of a mechanism to be of assistance to those affected.
The statement adds that while the directives make reference to considering the humanitarian situation, they provide no solution to the serious legal and human rights issues that have resulted from the arbitrary measures, it also considered the recent directives as a public relations exercise in damage control, following huge international outcry over the blockade and its impact.
The NHRC adds that the siege of Qatar constitutes international human rights crimes and is not only a gross violation of the rights of Gulf citizens (both Qatari and non-Qatari), but also the rights of expat residents in the State of Qatar.
The blockade of Qatar has trampled over a wide range of civil, economic social and cultural rights. The right to movement and residence, the right to private property, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to religious freedom, the right to work, the right to education, and the right to health have all been seriously damaged, the statement added.
The committee also notes a serious attack on press freedoms and freedoms of opinion and expression in the states enforcing the blockade, where any expression of sympathy towards Qatar has been criminalized.
The NHRC has documented and reported tragic humanitarian cases resulting from the blockade, and the traumatic psychological effect it is having on citizens and residents in the Gulf as a whole.
Finally, the NHRC reminds the three states enforcing the blockade that they must shoulder full responsibility for the resulting damage to lives and property in accordance to international norms and principles and their obligations under international human rights treaties. (QNA)