NHRC needs to shed light on critical issues Wednesday, 08 December 2010 00:59

Dr Ali bin Semaikh Al-Marri, the Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), had an interview with Al-Sharq that resonated with anybody interested in public affairs as it shed light on the sensitive issues in the country. The fact that he addressed these issues is groundbreaking as they were once only discussed in the media without any formality. Now, human rights in Qatar are gaining credibility and moving forward from mere gossip, rumours, or exaggeration as Dr Al-Marri only spoke out after the Committee obtained accurate details from competent authorities.

What Dr Al-Marri focused on are the painful issues facing Qatari citizens, such as deficiencies in their recruitment in jobs, expressing his willingness to provide a list of the names of those seeking work and who are not employed. Additionally, citizens’ concerns include the inequitable distribution of land, as some applicants receive them almost immediately while others remain on the waiting list for years, which is an issue that average citizens face while those with influence and social status do not.

Also, Dr Al-Marri opened discussion on the subject of health and detected cases of people who suffered as a result of medical errors, neglect, and the inability to obtain approval for treatment abroad despite the lack of domestic facilities to cater to certain diseases, and the limited funding on some citizens to travel for medical care.

He also criticised the bad condition of the deportation prison and called for improving the miserable conditions of detention centres. Just because those places are not meant for the imprisonment of citizens does not mean that the State should ignore their conditions. As long as we are Muslims, we must translate the teachings of our religion into our actions, and the teachings advocate humane treatment of others even before the conception of international documents and human rights laws.

One of the most touching matters discussed by Dr Al-Marri is one that none of us would have imagined would exist — that there are children in Qatar who are not able to enter schools either because they lack documentation or are stateless (bidun), without citizenship. Unfortunately, charities must spend anywhere from 20 to 30 million for the education of these disenfranchised groups, while the Committee suffers extensive obstacles to readmit students to the schools that rejected their admittance because they are without an official identity. Whatever happened to free education for all?

Stateless people should not be punished because they are stateless. It is unreasonable to prevent a child from education because they have no identification documents. When bidun are deprived of education, medical treatment, and possibly even housing, it is irrational for some to argue that bidun do not suffer in the Gulf region. Just because they are poor, without support, lacking identity, and unaccounted for, they are no less human than you or me.

At the very least, addressing bidun’s issues should be perceived as a means of protection of social stability and security. When the rest of the population is living comfortably with access to education, a broadened awareness, and satisfaction with their lives, the remainder who are deprived of these will be fuelled with anger and hostility toward more affluent members in the community. Gulf countries will then pay dearly for not embracing these groups of fellow human beings and providing them with the most basic human rights such as medical treatment, education, employment, and housing.

One must not overlook those who have a form of nationality (other than Qatari citizenship) but consider themselves citizens as they are children of Qatari women. These children were brought up and educated in the country, influenced by the background of their mother, yet do not inherit Qatari citizenship from their mothers because their fathers are not Qatari citizens. Imagine how difficult it must be to live within such a division, which does more harm than good.

This situation was described by Dr Al-Marri as a thorny issue that the Committee is considering a solution for. Ultimately, the decision is the sovereign right of the State, but the children of Qatari women should be regarded as Qataris and are most deserving to assimilate into the community in order to meet the country’s need to increase the population and increase the contribution of Qataris to the State.

Through courage and impartiality, Dr Al-Marri was critical of the Ministry of Interior’s law of protecting society, which allows the seizure of any defendant from 6 months to a year despite his acquittal by prosecution, because it is a violation of the freedoms of individuals and the exploitation of the law. He also noted the prosecution and harassment imposed on those seeking recourse through the National Human Rights Committee to help challenge and raising his issue.

What is required from the National Human Rights Committee? Of course, the monitoring of issues, documenting, registering, and transferring them to officials is an important step, but is not an easy one. What is more difficult is correcting deviations and changing the course of action despite the protests of ministries and institutions and their refusal to third party intervention in their work.

Simply knowing, registering and transferring information on problems does not achieve solutions and remains a broken record, repeating the same chorus in vain, unless it includes credible solutions and steps toward treating and reconciling these issues. Certainly, the Committee cannot issue a decision or change the decisions and the laws of the State and its institutions. However, it should continue to raise these issues, press on, and direct the spotlight on issues of contention by meeting with officials at ministries and agencies responsible for them, which will greatly help accelerate the amendment of laws and policies and the reduction of human rights’ violations.

If the National Human Rights Committee forges ahead in this manner strongly, in a unified fashion, adhering to the parameters of its duties, they will need more support from the state and national actors interested in human rights issues. Since the state has provided them with the impetus to face resistance to, not in favour of, its activities, and prosecution and condemnation of human rights’ violations, the participation of enthusiastic, young people working as volunteers in monitoring and transferring complaints, and activating solutions, will create a credible civil society.

A tribute must be paid to Dr Ali bin Semaikh Al-Marri and the publication that conducted the interview for opening the channels of dialogue between citizens and the Committee. Every new beginning and has its tracks, channels, and branches. I sincerely stand by Dr Al-Marri’s hopes and ask him to insist on achieving the goals of the  National Human Rights Committee to promote and protect the dignity of human rights, whether for citizens or residents of the State of Qatar.

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