The Saudi National Society for Human Rights, NSHR, has announced that it was surprised by the Qatari government's sudden withdrawal of citizenship from Sheikh Talib bin Mohammed bin Lahoum bin Shraim, along with 54 other members of his family and the tribe of Al Morah, including a number of children and 18 women.

Saudi Press Agency quoted a statement from NSHR as saying that the move violates all their legal rights and the principles of human rights, and exposes them to displacement in an international precedent, similar only to what the Qatari government did in 2005, when it displaced more than 6,000 of its citizens from the tribe of Al Ghofran and withdrew their citizenships without any justification or reason compatible with international standards.

The society said that the 55 persons were Qatari citizens who had not been subjected to any trials, and that the withdrawal of citizenship came abruptly having been citizens with a permanent identity, they have now become displaced without a homeland or stability and are subjected to all kinds of risks including deprivation of health care and housing.

The statement added, "Although the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now providing them with all services to prevent their harm, this does not negate their full rights to citizenship, which cannot be withdrawn by any law, and the need to return all their stolen rights.

"The National Society for Human Rights expressed its regret and condemnation of this indiscriminate punishment, which included children and women because they belong to certain families, noting that nationality is not a passing gift but an inherent human right.

The society called upon all humanitarian bodies and organisations to play their role and monitor the situation of these victims, saying, "We are now witnessing the 36th session of the Human Rights Council, which seeks to promote the values of protection and advocacy for every right that is clearly and unequivocally denied, and that silence about this blatant abuse, flagrant violation and collective punishment of innocents whose only guilt is that the authorities in Qatar felt that they should be punished, is like participation in it and it is a blow to the credibility of human rights and their universal values.

"All of these persons are now threatened with all kinds of risks arising from the withdrawal of citizenship, and any danger to them is a condemnation of organisations, bodies and human rights around the world, especially the Qatari Human Rights Society, which has ignored this crime and never mentioned it," added NSHR.

Source: Khaleej Times