Saudi human rights society condemns Qatari pilgrim assault

CAIRO – 11 September 2017: The National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia condemns Qatari government for violating human rights by beating and humiliating Qatari citizen Hamad Abdul Hadi Al-Marri after he had returned from Hajj. The organization also condemned Qatar’s filming of the assault and the publishing thereof, adding that it is a crime against the principles of human rights.

Since the video was released, the National Society for Human Rights has followed his case and assured that the person in the video is the pilgrim, who entered Saudi Arabia on August 24 through the Salwa border crossing for his pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Society said it can prove that he was assaulted as he appeared in several media outlets, including the Saudi News Channel, praising Saudi Arabia in facilitating Hajj and securing them. This contradicts the official statements of Qatari authorities that deny the existence of Qatari pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

The representatives of the society tried to reach Marri to check up on him, however they have been unsuccessful as all means of communication with him have been severed.

“The National Society for Human Rights in Qatar and all International Human Rights organizations should do their duties to ensure the fate of Marri, to protect him from assaults and violations and to ensure his safety and that he is not subjected to pressure imposed by political entities for practicing religious rituals and freedom of expression. All political authorities exploiting their power to abuse and assault him should be prosecuted,” according to the Society’s statement.

The organization also called on the Qatari government to absolve themselves of guilt by identifying the perpetrators and punishing them, while also granting Marri compensation.

The organization has also said it will provide all international human rights organizations with a list of Qatari pilgrims to ensure their safety, calling upon Qatari National Society for Human Rights and other human rights organizations to assume their responsibility towards those who are exposed to torture for religious rituals.

The Qatari government stands accused of politicizing the Hajj, but high-profile talks between the Saudi leadership and Qatar’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani, a Qatari royal family member, resulted in easing border restrictions for Qatari pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia reopened the Salwa border crossing for the entry of Qatari pilgrims and covered all costs of transporting pilgrims from Dammam’s King Fahad International Airport and Al-Ahsa International Airport under the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud program for Hajj and Umrah.

Since the four Arab countries severed their ties with Doha over accusations of the country’s support for terror and meddling in the internal affairs of its neighbors, many world leaders and top diplomats, including the emir of Kuwait, have tried mediating relations between them, but none have been successful in ending the rift.