Dubai: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied reports in Qatari media saying that the court has condemned the Qatar boycott by the Arab bloc.
The ICC said it did not issue any statement on the Qatar crisis. The denial comes after Al Jazeera network and other media organisations in Doha reported on a meeting between Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman Al Thani and the ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in Doha.
The Qatari media claimed that the foreign minister briefed Bensouda on the latest developments regarding the Qatar crisis and that she expressed her regret on what she called “human rights violations” stemming from the boycott. Moreover, the Qatari media said Bensouda had praised Qatar for its handling of the crisis.
This denial by the ICC on Qatari media’s coverage of the crisis is the latest in a series of Qatari fabrications targeting at European, American and international figures.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties and severed air, land and sea links with Qatar early last month over Doha’s support to terrorism. They later issued a 13-point list of demands that included cutting ties with terrorist groups, curbing relations with Iran and shutting media outlets including Al Jazeera.
Qatar claimed that it had formed a governmental committee to deal with what it called compensation claims by individuals and companies that have been affected by the boycott measures taken by Arab bloc. This is a pre-emptive step by Qatar in response to the international campaign which began two days ago in Europe with the aim of exposing Qatari complicity in supporting and financing terrorism.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Anbar tribes have confirmed that they are considering filing lawsuits against Qatar.
Egypt also has confirmed issuing documents that show how the Qatari regime is involved in supporting active terror groups in Egypt and other places. Despite this, Qatar is still trying to play the role of a victim and complain that the boycott has caused harm to many individuals — while the countries fighting terrorism have confirmed that the steps they are taking do not target the Qatari people or residents of Qatar but the Qatari government.
