On the sidelines of the Gulf summit ... appeals to citizens and foreigners to lift the arbitrary restrictions imposed by Qatar against them

Introduction

The 41st summit of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf kicked off today, Tuesday, in Al-Ula, northwestern Saudi Arabia, at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. This session is being held amid pressure on the opposing states from Washington to resolve the crisis that has plagued the council since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in June 2017. When the four countries accused Qatar of supporting Islamic extremist groups.

It is expected that the dispute with Qatar will be at the top of the agenda of the Gulf summit, which may result in an agreement to launch a dialogue and take steps to build confidence between the parties, and the signs of dissolution come at a time when the Gulf countries are preparing to deal with a new US administration, with President Joe Biden winning the elections. The American Presidency. This trend is reinforced by the assertion of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah, whose country is leading mediation efforts between Qatar and its neighbors, that all parties have expressed their eagerness to reach a "final agreement" during "fruitful discussions" in which the United States recently participated.

Enterprise exploits , Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights This is the occasion to call on the Qatari authorities to their obligations to respect and guarantee the basic human rights of Qatari citizens and residents in all circumstances, and to put an end to the repressive policies that are practiced against everyone who exercises their right to peacefully express their opinion, and calls on the Maat Foundation of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the international community to pressure the Qatari authorities To improve human rights conditions in the country, as the Qatari authorities have been and are continuing to pursue a series of arbitrary restrictions and impose administrative sanctions on Qatari citizens, starting with members of the ruling family, passing through businessmen, and until a former Minister of Justice was not exempt from these restrictions, as well as citizens, They were prevented from traveling for years and years, and were unable to resort to the judiciary, in addition to imposing financial penalties on one of them. Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights, By submitting numerous complaints and urgent appeals to the special procedures of the United Nations against the State of Qatar, due to the arrest of Qatari citizens and the prevention of others from traveling, in order to cancel the arbitrary decisions on travel bans, and its continued detention of a number of citizens, including a member of the ruling family; This is as punishment for their legitimate practice of peacefully expressing their views.

In a related context, you see Maat: The measures taken by the Qatari authorities regarding arbitrary deprivation of liberty or imposing unjustified restrictions on travel or movement, do not have a valid legal basis, in addition to the lack of transparency and credibility, and there is no doubt that those repressive measures are being taken against them; There is nothing but punishment for exercising their right to express their peaceful views, which may conflict with the state's orientations or criticize the Qatari government, and in all cases, So the foundation It considers that they are purely arbitrary measures that lack legal justification, in the absence of any judicial authority or independent body that reviews or investigates decisions of the executive authority.

And it is provided Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights This paper; To review the legislative framework regarding the restrictions that the State of Qatar imposes on its citizens without any valid legal justification or justification, and it appears that the articles of local law conflict with the articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the State of Qatar is obligated to implement its provisions in accordance with its international obligations under its accession in May 2018 , And then review it Maat: Some of the cases that have been documented within the framework of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and according to what they have received Enterprise Of complaints and appeals via e-mail, as well as communication with their families, as part of recommendations and invitations for reflection Maat: That the Qatari government put it into consideration.