Dubai: The Emirates Association for Human Rights (EHRA) denounced Qatari authorities’ freezing of all assets of Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani — a member of Qatar’s ruling family — as a flagrant violation of human rights that has become “a systematic approach of intimidation adopted by the State of Qatar”.
Qatar’s action is a blatant infringement of personal and human rights, and an illegal, condemned action that corroborates Doha’s insistence to continue its violations of Arab and international human rights charters and conventions, Mohammad Salim Al Kaabi, EHRA Chairman, said.
Freezing of the assets
EHRA also condemned the Qatari government’s freezing of the assets of Shaikh Sultan Bin Suhaim, whose palace was stormed last week by the Qatari state security forces, causing damage.
“These actions fly in the face of all human rights treaties and drive home the fact that Qatar has become a police state that blatantly defies all legal restrictions,” Al Kaabi said.
Shaikh Abdullah is the second son of the late Qatari Emir Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani.
Palace raided
Shaikh Sultan’s palace in Doha was raided by the Qatari State Security Forces last Thursday, who confiscated 137 bags and a number of iron safes containing documents and holdings of Shaikh Sultan, as well as the possessions and archives of his father, former foreign minister Suhaim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
The seized items contain a wealth of information of political value, and accurate records of the history of Qatar and its domestic affairs from the 1960s until his death in 1985.
In a previous violation of privacy, state security agents also stormed the private quarters of Shaikha Mina Al Dosari, the widow of Shaikh Suhaim and the mother of Shaikh Sultan, and confiscated her personal and family pictures, as well as all her valuables and money.
During the three operations, minors were subjected to assault, beatings, and arrest.
