Alleged Qatar blockade refuted

11 : 03 PM - 09/07/2017 Manama, July 9 (BNA): National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) President Said bin Mohammed Al-Faihani held a meeting with European Parliament member Hungarian ?d?m K?sa and briefed him about the role of the watchdog in protecting and consolidating human rights. Al-Faihani informed the EU Parliament member about the decision, which was taken by the Arab Quartet – Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the Egypt - to sever diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar. He noted the persistence of Qatar’s National Commission for Human Rights in describing the severance of diplomatic relations as being a "blockade" which, he said, is illogical in light of the royal directives to heed humanitarian cases involving mixed families. Al-Faihani said that the severance of diplomatic ties represents an inalienable sovereign right, which has nothing to do with the issue of human rights, for any country to protect its national security. "Blockade is declared through resolutions issued by the United Nations", he said, pointing out that Qatar’s airspace and territorial waters remain opened and freedom of movement is unhindered. He stressed the necessity for the Qatari’s national watchdog to avoid politicizing the issue of human rights. A H N BNA 1957 GMT 2017/07/09