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HRW: 1,750 complaints from Gulf nationals harmed by Arab rift

June 21, 2017 at 3:33 pm

Human Rights Watch said it had received more than 1,750 complaints from Gulf citizens who had been affected by the severing of diplomatic ties and blockade on Qatar.

During a meeting with the Qatari National Human Rights Commission, the organisation said that most of the complainants have declined to give their names or take photographs “for fear of being monitored and punished with imprisonment, fines or confiscation of property”.

#QatarGate

Human Rights Watch officials met with people who said they had been affected by the decision and heard their complaints and violations against their rights in HRW headquarters in New York.

The delegation explained the grave violations against the rights of Qatari, Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini citizens and the negative humanitarian effects resulting from the blockade including limiting their rights to education, property and movement adding that many families have been separated by the decision.

Read: Arab rift with Qatar

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) confirmed that the measures taken against Qatar affect the lives of thousands of women and children.

On 5 June, seven Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen,and Mauritania cut diplomatic ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha denies the charges.