Advocacy / Qatar
Joint Statement: President Biden's visit has a negative impact on human rights movement in the MENA region
The human rights movement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has paid a heavy price for the unlimited and unconditional support provided by the United Kingdom and United States to repressive governments across the region. The recent visit of US President Joe Biden has reinforced the practice of international relations that prioritises political and economic interests when dealing with repressive governments while turning a blind eye to human rights abuses at the expense of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience.
Joint statement: Qatari lawyers sentenced to life imprisonment
MENA Rights Group and the undersigned organisations are gravely concerned about the sentencing to life imprisonment of Qatari lawyers Hazza bin Ali Abu Shurayda al-Marri and Rashed bin Ali Abu Shurayda al-Marri by the Second Circuit Criminal Court of Qatar on 10 May 2022.
Call for the release of prisoners of conscience in the Gulf in light of the lifting of Qatar blockade
On January 5, 2021, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt, signed a “solidarity and stability” agreement, at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Al-Ulah, Saudi Arabia, ending the blockade on Qatar.
NGOs: Qatar’s commitments before the Human Rights Council falling short of necessary reforms
On September 20, 2019, in a joint oral statement delivered before the Human Rights Council for the adoption of the outcome of Qatar’s Universal Periodic Review, a group of 9 NGOs expressed concern over the lack of endorsement of a range of recommendations of UN Member States related to the situation of migrant workers, stateless persons, and freedom of speech.