The UN rapporteur welcomed Saudi Arabia’s lifting of the sanctions imposed on Qatar three years ago and considered this a “positive first step,” calling on the blockading countries to pay compensation to victims of human rights violations resulting from the boycott.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, Alina Dohan, urged the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to follow Saudi Arabia.
“I am encouraged by the recent decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to open land, sea and airspace borders with Qatar and invite Qatar’s Emir to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) summit in Saudi Arabia,” said Douhan.
Positive step
In a statement on Thursday, the UN rapporteur praised “the Kuwaiti and American mediation efforts.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, praised the Al-Ula statement issued by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose 41st session of the Heads of State Summit was held on January 5.
According to Dohan’s statement, the Supreme Council issued the Al-Ula statement to enhance coordination and integration between the states of the Council.
“I welcome the ongoing constructive engagement between Qatar and the four States and hope that there will be other positive steps soon,” the UN expert said.
The four countries imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and being too close to Iran.
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The four countries imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and being too close to Iran.
She said that the sanctions had harmed the fundamental rights and freedoms of Qataris related to family life, education, work, health, private property, religion, expression and access to justice.
“The measures also affected Qatari students studying abroad and Muslims wanting to make the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.”
Meaningful reparation
The human rights expert considered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to open the land, sea, and air borders with Qatar as a positive first step.
“I urge the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to do the same, and I ask the four countries to guarantee meaningful compensation for victims of human rights violations resulting from sanctions,” she said.
“Including spouses in mixed marriages, their children, and migrant workers who have lost their jobs.”
Also, “Qatari citizens who have properties, jobs, or companies in those countries that imposed the sanctions, and many others,” according to the UN rapporteur.
After a two-week visit to Qatar last November, Dohan called on the five countries to resume cooperation and settle political differences based on the rule of law.
