Qatar row: UN warns of human rights violations

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The UN human rights chief Wednesday warned of the possible human rights violations in the wake of the diplomatic and the economic isolation of Qatar.

“I am alarmed about the possible impact on many people’s human rights in the wake of the decision by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain to cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

"It is becoming clear that the measures being adopted are overly broad in scope and implementation," Hussein said.

Last week, five Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen -- cut off ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Qatar, for its part, has denied the accusations, calling the moves to diplomatically isolate it “unjustified”.

"We are receiving reports that specific individuals have already been summarily instructed to leave the country they are residing in, or have been ordered to return home by their own Government," Hussein said.

"I am also extremely troubled to hear that the UAE and Bahrain are threatening to jail and fine people who express sympathy for Qatar or opposition to their own governments’ actions, as this would appear to be a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression or opinion," he said.