Activists condemn Qatar for nationality revocation decision

CAIRO – 14 September 2017: Hafez Abu Seada, the chairman of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights and member of the National Council for Human Rights, told press on Thursday that the revocation of the nationality of 55 Qatari citizens is a blatant breach of human rights and international law.

The well known activist said that the Qatari regime had no right to revoke the nationality of any citizen without pursuing the legal measures and without prosecution.

“There is a rule in international law stating that states should not revoke the nationality of its citizens increasing the number of the stateless individuals,” Abu Seada said.

The activist encouraged the 55 Qatari citizens to resort to the United Nations and international human rights organizations for help.

The human rights lawyer and consultant of Human Rights Committee at the parliament Said Abdel Hafez criticized the decision saying that the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani governs the princedom as a private property of his.

Abdel Hafez told press that Sheikh Tamim rules Qatar with absolute authority without the participation of any other institutions such as the parliament or the judiciary. He explained that the Qatari Emir has the right to give and revoke citizenship to anyone without the approval of the judiciary.

Qatar revoked the nationality of 55 of its citizens because they belong to the opposition. Among these are Sheikh Taleb bin Mohamed bin Lahoum bin Sherim, other members of his family, and members of Al Morra tribe.

Those citizens who had become stateless include 18 women, and children, according to the organization.