Qatar: prosecute 7 citizens for peaceful criticism undermines democratic openness

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Monday August 16, 2021, 6:41 a.m. Press release: Euro Med Monitor

Geneva – The referral by the Qatari authorities of seven citizens to the prosecution for “inciting racial and tribal conflicts” over their criticism of the conditions linked to the Qatari Consultative Council elections scheduled for next October raises serious concern as to the seriousness the country is demanding democratic openness, the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement on Thursday.

The Qatari Interior Ministry has referred seven people, including lawyer Hazza bin Ali Al-Marri, to the prosecution for investigation after expressing on social media platforms their rejection of the Qatar Consultative Assembly’s electoral law , which prohibits naturalized Qataris of non-Qatari origin from standing for election.

Last Sunday, the Interior Ministry announced via its Twitter account that the seven people had been referred to the competent authorities and that it “will not tolerate the taking of legal measures against anyone who adopts a racist speech aimed at threatening security, the stability and peace of society. “

He also called on users of social media platforms to “not offend any part of society on tribal or racial grounds”.

Qatar’s holding of Consultative Assembly elections for the first time is a positive step and paves the way for the start of a new phase of change, pluralism and democratic openness, but it should ensure equality of opportunities for all Qataris.

Lawyer “A-Marri”, one of the detainees, appeared in a video he posted on Twitter, speaking of his rejection of the election law because it prevents him and his tribe from To stand for elections. He addressed his message and that of his tribes to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, of their rejection of the new electoral law and any decisions relating to it, even if it led to their imprisonment.

Euro-Med Monitor viewed a video showing Al-Marri’s arrest on August 10, two days after the video was posted. In it, Qatari security forces belonging to the Criminal Investigation Department appeared in civilian clothes taking Al-Marri in a white vehicle, while mobs from the Al-Murra tribe tried to prevent the arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Al-Marri wrote on Twitter: “The criminal investigation is in my office now. They want me to go with them, and I will go, with a stronghold in God first, the sons Al- tribu Murra, the citizens of Qatar, as well as the constitution and the law. “

The new electoral law, which was ratified by the Emir of Qatar on July 29, divides Qatari citizens regarding the election and candidacy into three classes. The first class is made up of those who are of Qatari origin, and they have the right to stand for election and vote in elections. The second class consists of naturalized Qataris who were born in Qatar and whose grandfathers are Qataris, and they have the right to vote but cannot stand for election. The third class is made up of naturalized Qataris who do not have the right to vote or stand for election.

The new electoral law stipulates that anyone whose original nationality was Qatari has the right to elect members of the Consultative Assembly, provided they are 18 years old, and that anyone who has acquired Qatari nationality is excluded. of the original nationality condition, provided that his grandfather is Qatari and born in the State of Qatar.

As for the candidates, each of them must be of Qatari nationality of origin, and their age at the closing of the candidacy gate must not be less than 30 years.

Sending Qatari citizens back to the prosecution for a simple peaceful criticism of the new electoral law may affect the positive image portrayed by signs of democratic openness. By dividing citizens into classes, and by refusing the second class, in particular naturalized Qataris of Qatari origin, their right to stand as a candidate constitutes an infringement of the rights of these citizens and invokes the law to deprive them of exercising their rights. inherent rights.

The Qatari authorities should immediately release the detainees and respect the rights of individuals to express their views and their right to peaceful assembly.

The Qatari authorities should also review the texts of the new electoral law and endeavor to amend it so as to preserve equality of candidatures and electoral rights for all Qataris, in accordance with Qatar’s relevant national and international obligations.

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