Kuwait, take a hint!
On May 2, Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) issued a report in response to the latest one issued by the US State Department. Unlike Kuwait’s usual rebottle of excuses, laws that aren’t enforced, denial and of course the need to protect its reputation at all cost, Qatar’s report was actually defending people’s rights.
Qatar's human rights abuses ‘must be tackled’
The Daily Star [Kuwait Edition], Saturday, May 6, 2006
DOHA: The number of human rights abuses officially reported in Qatar in 2005 was double that of 2004, according to Qatar's Human Rights Report 2005 issued Tuesday.
Illegal arrests and detention without trial, violation of workers' rights and domestic violence topped the list of abuses, said an official at the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) that published the document.
“Cases reported to the Committee have doubled compared to 2004. An increasing number of people are now aware of the existence of this committee and are reporting their grievances, “Saeed Jad Allah, director of legal affairs at NHRC, told Gulf News. Ali bin. Samikh Al-Merri, General Secretary of the Committee, announced the publication of the 56-page report at a press conference.
The withdrawal of 5,000 to 6,000 citizens' nationality was also a major problem in 2005.
"This was solved by the end of 2005 thanks to pressure by the committee on a number of governmental bodies. It has concluded with the promulgation of a decree reinstating nationality to all those who met the necessary requirements," Jad Allah said.
He denounced the prevalence of illegal detention and arrest without trial last year. However, he said cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Court of Justice had sped up procedures for the repatriation of expatriates detained without charge or trial.
The NHRC report also included a chapter containing recommendations to higher authorities on how to improve human rights in the country. It urged the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1966. It also called for the enforcement of measures to protect workers' rights and called for more freedom of expression.
The committee's findings were in line with the latest report on Qatar's Human Rights Practices issued by the US State Department that said although there were improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained.
These included the restriction of the right of citizens to peacefully change their government, restrictions on civil liberties including freedom of speech and press, limited freedom of religion, revocation of citizenship and legal discrimination. - Gulf News
Illegal arrests and detention without trial, violation of workers' rights and domestic violence topped the list of abuses, said an official at the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) that published the document.
“Cases reported to the Committee have doubled compared to 2004. An increasing number of people are now aware of the existence of this committee and are reporting their grievances, “Saeed Jad Allah, director of legal affairs at NHRC, told Gulf News. Ali bin. Samikh Al-Merri, General Secretary of the Committee, announced the publication of the 56-page report at a press conference.
The withdrawal of 5,000 to 6,000 citizens' nationality was also a major problem in 2005.
"This was solved by the end of 2005 thanks to pressure by the committee on a number of governmental bodies. It has concluded with the promulgation of a decree reinstating nationality to all those who met the necessary requirements," Jad Allah said.
He denounced the prevalence of illegal detention and arrest without trial last year. However, he said cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Court of Justice had sped up procedures for the repatriation of expatriates detained without charge or trial.
The NHRC report also included a chapter containing recommendations to higher authorities on how to improve human rights in the country. It urged the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1966. It also called for the enforcement of measures to protect workers' rights and called for more freedom of expression.
The committee's findings were in line with the latest report on Qatar's Human Rights Practices issued by the US State Department that said although there were improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained.
These included the restriction of the right of citizens to peacefully change their government, restrictions on civil liberties including freedom of speech and press, limited freedom of religion, revocation of citizenship and legal discrimination. - Gulf News
posted by Ben Rivard @ 3:54 AM
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