AOHR files a complaint against Qatar over Hajj crisis

CAIRO- 22 August, 2017: Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) in the UK filed a complaint on Monday to United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief against Qatar over preventing its citizens from performing this year’s Hajj rituals.

Saudi Airlines announced Sunday that it failed to transport Qatari pilgrims to the Kingdom, as it was unable to receive permission to land at Doha airport from Qatari authorities amid a diplomatic rift between two states.

AOHR accused Qatar of committing a serious violation against its citizens’ right to perform religious rituals including Hajj, pointing out to the Qatari pilgrims’ discontent with the authorities’ reluctance to carry out the needed measures to have them- Qatari pilgrims- performing this year’s Hajj.

AOHR called on Human Rights Council to discuss the latest Qatari violations on its upcoming conference scheduled to be held in Geneva from 11 to 29 September.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia had ordered last week the dispatch of a Saudi Arabia Airlines plane to fly Qatari pilgrims to KSA at his own expense so that they could go on to Mecca and perform Hajj.