Manama: Bahrain’s parliament is set to start procedures to file an international lawsuit against the government of Qatar for its subversive role in the kingdom.
Several lawmakers said that a parliamentary and official action would be launched to prepare a thorough dossier, in partnership with the community, and set up a central committee to claim compensation for the damage inflicted upon Bahrain and all those affected by the Qatari subversive interference.
On Sunday, First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ali Al Aradi called for lodging an international lawsuit against the government of Qatar for its direct involvement in supporting radical groups in the kingdom since 2011.
Lawmakers on Tuesday said that a substantiated dossier documenting Qatar’s crimes against Bahrain and support for terrorist groups would be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and would include claims of compensation for the incurred damage.
“Bahrain’s national interest requires an action to deter Qatar-backed terrorism through an international lawsuit,” they said. “Countries calling for combating terrorism are urged to contribute to the dossier which will document Qatar’s role in subverting security and stability and interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign countries,” the lawmakers said in a statement.
The crimes perpetrated by the government of Qatar do not fall under the penal statute of limitations as they concern state security, they added.
MP Abdul Rahman Boumjeed, member of the Arab Parliament and the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee, urged affected citizens to come forward, in accordance with the procedures which will be announced soon, and contribute to documenting the Qatari violations against Bahrain.
MP Abbas Madhi, Asian Parliament Congress Deputy Speaker and head of the Parliamentary Services Committee, said the establishment of the central committee was a positive step and stressed the need to include official and community parties.
Other MPs have also backed the move, saying that Qatar tried to exploit human rights issues to defame the image of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with fallacious reports.
The GCC, established in 1981, is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The lawmakers stressed the need to include the compensation claims in the suit.
“Bahrain has compelling documents that indict Qatar’s subversive role and collusion with the radical and terrorist groups, apart from the policemen who fell in the line of duty and injured citizens,” they said.
Engaging all citizens, official authorities, civil society organisations, the trading and social communities to contribute to Bahrain’s national dossier against Qatar is highly significant, they added.
In his call earlier this week, Al Aradi said that it was the responsibility of lawmakers to “go beyond media pressure and claim compensation for the losses incurred due to the Qatari-supported terrorism.”
“The Qatari government’s subversive policies and support for terrorism and radical groups are punishable by international law. Anyone who takes part in terrorist attacks, supports them, incites or finances them is considered as a war criminal and should stand trial before the International Criminal Law,” he said. “The representatives of the people will not remain passive while our beloved Kingdom is targeted. The masks have fallen, just like the allegation by the Qatari authorities about Bahrain’s stability and prosperity. The Qatari claim that it was engaged in mediation efforts no longer fools anyone, especially since it has no right or justification to do so.”
The 40-member Council of Representatives is the elected chamber of the bicameral parliament.
