NHRC to move UN over curbs on Qatari Haj pilgrims

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) addressed the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, expressing its deep concern at the politicisation and use of religious rights for political gain in flagrant violation of all international conventions and treaties that provide for the freedom to practice such rituals unless it threatens national security, health measures or general ethics of citizens.
The Committee explained in a statement yesterday that it is preparing to submit its complaint to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief with another complaint to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), as well as broad steps to internationalise the issue of prevention of citizens and residents of Qatar from performing Haj in all relevant international forums.
These procedures are considered an historic precedent in the United Nations files on the right to practice religious rituals. The restrictions on Qatari citizens to perform their religious rituals are contrary to all international laws and conventions that allow even prisoners to perform religious practices as much as possible and the possession of the books of religious rites.
The Committee noted in its letter to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief that Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the siege on June 5, took a package of measures that would impede the travel of Qatari citizens to perform the rituals of Haj and Umrah.
Saudi Arabia has allowed Qataris to enter its territory through only two airports. These decisions apply to Qatari citizens living outside Qatar, where they must return to Doha and then enter Saudi territory to perform religious rites through the designated ports, the Committee said in a statement.
The NHRC pointed out that these violations are added to a series of violations that were subjected to Qatar's Umrah campaigns during the month of Ramadan. The Committee added that during the month of Ramadan, the pilgrims were addressed by the Saudi authorities and forced to return to Qatar via Qatar Airways, which was prevented from leaving the airport and returning to Qatar until the following day.
The National Human Rights Committee also noted in this context that Qatari citizens were forced to leave their hotels where they stayed to perform Umrah during Ramadan.

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