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Tribune News Network
Brussels
The European Parliament on Tuesday witnessed a historic session that saw a strong presence of EU officials and the international media to hear — for the first time – shocking testimonies given by five people who are victims of human rights violations by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
The five people are Qatari student Jawahar Mohammed al Meer, who was expelled from the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University, Dr Wafaa Yazidi, a Qatari national, Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, British academician Matthew Hedges, who was jailed and tortured in Abu Dhabi, and Ali al Aswad, a member of the Bahraini parliament sentenced to life imprisonment.
The victims demanded that EU governments and the European Parliament adopt stronger and more effective stand to stop the grave human rights violations that have affected thousand of citizens and residents of Qatar since the blockade began. They also called on the EU lawmakers to take tough stand against the siege countries which have detained and held several people in their prisons.
Antonio Benzari, head of the Human Rights Sub-Commission of the European Parliament, stressed the commitment of the European Union deputies to defend human rights issues in various countries and specially mentioned the victims of human rights violations resulting from the Gulf crisis. He said the European Parliament will spare no effort to lift the siege imposed on Qatar.
He said the European Parliament will not allow Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to erase the stain of assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi no matter how hard he tries. “Protecting human rights in the world and the Gulf region is our priority,” he added.
The hearing witnessed heated debates in which European parliamentarians called for a halt to sale of arms to Saudi Arabia for human rights violations.
A number of MPs have vowed to move further in the face of Saudi and UAE violations after a resolution that has classified Saudi Arabia as a country accused of supporting terrorism and laundering money.
Dr Wafaa Yazidi barely managed to hold back her tears as she recounted her suffering in front of the European Parliament. “I came to you today, thousands of miles from the US, where I am currently undergoing treatment for a chronic rare disease, to represent a case which has made thousands of other mothers like me a victim of the blockade on my country,” she said.Five victims of siege violations give testimonies before European Parliament for the first time
Brussels
The European Parliament on Tuesday witnessed a historic session that saw a strong presence of EU officials and the international media to hear — for the first time – shocking testimonies given by five people who are victims of human rights violations by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
The five people are Qatari student Jawahar Mohammed al Meer, who was expelled from the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University, Dr Wafaa Yazidi, a Qatari national, Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, British academician Matthew Hedges, who was jailed and tortured in Abu Dhabi, and Ali al Aswad, a member of the Bahraini parliament sentenced to life imprisonment.
The victims demanded that EU governments and the European Parliament adopt stronger and more effective stand to stop the grave human rights violations that have affected thousand of citizens and residents of Qatar since the blockade began. They also called on the EU lawmakers to take tough stand against the siege countries which have detained and held several people in their prisons.
Antonio Benzari, head of the Human Rights Sub-Commission of the European Parliament, stressed the commitment of the European Union deputies to defend human rights issues in various countries and specially mentioned the victims of human rights violations resulting from the Gulf crisis. He said the European Parliament will spare no effort to lift the siege imposed on Qatar.
He said the European Parliament will not allow Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to erase the stain of assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi no matter how hard he tries. “Protecting human rights in the world and the Gulf region is our priority,” he added.
The hearing witnessed heated debates in which European parliamentarians called for a halt to sale of arms to Saudi Arabia for human rights violations.
A number of MPs have vowed to move further in the face of Saudi and UAE violations after a resolution that has classified Saudi Arabia as a country accused of supporting terrorism and laundering money.
Dr Wafaa Yazidi barely managed to hold back her tears as she recounted her suffering in front of the European Parliament. “I came to you today, thousands of miles from the US, where I am currently undergoing treatment for a chronic rare disease, to represent a case which has made thousands of other mothers like me a victim of the blockade on my country,” she said.Five victims of siege violations give testimonies before European Parliament for the first time
