VIENNA 1 July 2017: A group of international citizens and activists from various countries have launched a campaign to combat Qatar government’s funding of global terrorism, which will also see the filing of compensation claims of ‘a large number of casualties’ affected by this financing.
In a statement announcing the launch of the ‘Global Campaign Against the Qatari Financing of Terrorism’ during a peaceful demonstration outside the Qatari embassy in Vienna on Friday 30th June, activists said that the global campaign aims to combat Qatar’s government funding of global terrorism and to stand against extremist practices of terrorist organisations financed by the state of Qatar around the world, said Wam.
“Qatar’s government provides material and logistical support to terrorist organisations as well as hosting their leaders in its territory. In addition, Qatar is adopting radical and hatful rhetoric of extremism that goes against the culture of pluralism and tolerance toward various ethnic and religious groups; violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international treaties and conventions,” the statement said.
“Our global campaign against Qatari funding for terrorism will focus on international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism,” the statement continued.
The group explained that the campaign also aims to produce information and implement cultural educational programmes and organise international activities for the United Nations and other forums focusing on the social and cultural impact of terrorism and extremism financed by the State of Qatar on the global community, and means to combat them.
“The campaign will prepare illustrated documented material that will reveal real stories of victims that were subjected to suffering and violence from terrorist organisations and will disclose the positive impact on their lives as a result of leaving such groups financed by Qatar,” it said.
The international campaign also plans to organise a number of human rights, cultural and social events related to the campaign’s themes, in cooperation with international organisations and initiatives against global terrorism.
“One of the most important objectives of the campaign is to spread the culture of diversity, pluralism, tolerance and peace in the face of extremism that have spread in recent years, primarily due to Qatari funding,” the statement noted.
The statement concluded by saying that the campaign itself will take place on Saturday, July 1st, 2017, in cooperation with international legal advisory offices, to file claims for compensation against the State of Qatar for the financing of global terrorism as it is the cause of a large number of casualties, of which the organisation has recorded and documented cases of multiple victims.
Qatar exploits human rights to address its crisis: AFHR
GENEVA: The Arab Federation for Human Rights (AFHR), has condemned the incessant continuation of the Qatari Government to label the boycott imposed by the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt as a “blockade,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a report issued by the AFHR, it disclosed that, in accordance with the provisions of international law, an embargo is defined as a coercive measure taken against a state by a resolution of the Security Council, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. It is imposed with a military force.
It added a boycott is fundamentally different. “A boycott is a sovereign right of all countries to establish or sever diplomatic ties with any country, in case the latter seeks to stir unrest and insecurity amongst the international community. Accordingly, Qatar’s description of its boycott as a “blockade” is not justifiable.”
The report refuted the allegations of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee, which described the boycott as a blockade. “Such a description lacks objectivity and aims merely for gaining international sympathy.”
It noted that the European Union has rejected Qatar’s description of the current measures taken by the four countries as a blockade, and it called on Doha to commit itself to combatting terrorism. Meanwhile, the Russian government has also adopted the same position.
The report quoted Adam J. Szubin, Acting Secretary of the Treasury, who previously served as Acting Under-Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, as saying, “Qatar has shown a lack of political will to implement anti-terrorist financing laws effectively.” This stance was supported by Daniel L. Glaser, Former Assistant Secretary for the Department of the Treasury of the United States, who said, “The designated terrorist financiers are openly and publicly operating in the State of Qatar.”
By Rajive Singh