The issue involving about 2,000 people whose citizenship was withdrawn some time ago will be resolved soon, a senior official of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has said.

“The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) had a different view on this issue. A joint committee set up under the Ministry of Interior is handling this issue and it will be resolved soon. Citizenship has already been restored to some of the affected,” NHRC chairman Ali bin Simaikh Al Merri said, while speaking at the Lakhom Al Qarar programme on Qatar TV.

There were 1,500 to 2,000 people involved, who hold Qatari travel documents.

Several human rights issues in Qatar were raised by participants at the live programme.

Asked about incidents where expatriates seeking a change of sponsorship had been deported by the authorities, Al Merri said the NHRC was against such actions. However, they can be justified if the deportation is prompted by security related issues and concerns.

He said the NHRC in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior had been conducting regular visits to the central prison and the detention center to see the condition of the inmates.

“Prisoners in Qatar have been treated well. There is no difference in the treatment meted out to ordinary prisoners and political prisoners,” said Al Merri.

He said it is natural that NHRC had been receiving more complaints from expatriates given the large number of foreign work force in the country.

Human rights will soon be included in the school curriculum. He hoped that the press law which is expected to be issued soon will be instrumental in promoting freedom of expression in Qatar.

Date: 29 December 2009

Source: The Peninsula