A delegation representing the Qatari Al-Ghufran tribe met recently with the Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the UN High Commission for Human Rights Muhammad Al-Nusoor here. The delegation's goal from the meeting was to acquaint the UN High Commission with the sufferings of Al-Ghufran tribe and seek restoration of their rights to the Qatari citizenship, which they are being deprived of within Qatar and abroad. The delegation cast light on the grave violations practiced against them, beginning with arbitrarily stripping them of their original citizenship and leading to a total absence of all civil rights. They also highlighted the sufferings of the forcefully displaced members of Al-Ghufran tribe, who are not allowed to return to their country and are now residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. During the meeting the delegation held at the UN High Commission for Human Rights headquarters in Geneva several days ago, they expressed their hope that the UN High Commission's intervention would be fruitful in causing the Qatari authorities to desist from implementing their cruel decisions and restore the Qatari citizenship to Al-Ghufran tribe. Al-Ghufran delegation drew attention of the UN High Commission to the fact that their relatives in Qatar are living in constant fear from the cruelty of the Qatari authorities, being detained by the security agencies and being forced to sign undertakings not to visit or demand of any government authority to restore their citizenship and other rights. These illegal practices are forcing their relatives in Qatar to remain silent about demanding their rights, they said. The delegation mentioned the policy of forcing people to keep their mouths shut, being followed by the Qatari authorities. They expressed fears that the Qatari authorities might go beyond these malpractices to more serious violations unless the UN High Commission for Human Rights supports them with real protection that enables them to peacefully demand the restoration of their rights.
