Speaking at the Freedom of Expression conference organised by Qatar's National Human Rights Committee earlier this week, he said that was why so many human rights and journalistic organisations have rallied to Qatar's defence in the ongoing rift with its Gulf neighbours. "But that also highlights the importance of Qatar maintaining the moral high ground by using this crisis as an opportunity to reform itself."
He said: "We are all aware of the terrorism allegations that are said to be the foremost concern. I can't speak to the claims of secret financing. But I am aware that long-term, open Saudi financing of Wahhabi and Salafist preachers and schools has promoted an extreme form of Islam that lies behind many terrorist groups today.
Panelists at the Freedom of Expression conference organised by Qatar's National Human Rights Committee in Doha earlier this week.
"And while we tend to limit the terrorist label to non-governmental groups, the Saudi-led coalition has been causing a humanitarian disaster in Yemen. Indiscriminate bombing has repeatedly killed many civilians. An embargo has led to widespread malnutrition and even starvation. A weakened population now faces the world's largest cholera outbreak, surpassing Haiti's by a wide margin.
"We're here to discuss free expression and broader political freedoms. It's telling that the leading demands against Qatar by its neighbours seem to involve these rights."
He blasted the call for shuttering Doha-based pan Arabic Al Jazeera channel.
"Most obvious was the demand to close or control Al Jazeera. In a region known for stultifying official media, Al Jazeera was a breath of fresh air."
Roth said though Al Jazeera was not perfect, it was a key forum for those who wanted to challenge the autocratic rule that remains the norm in the Middle East and North Africa. "It reached its heyday during the Tahrir Square revolution in Egypt. It gave people throughout the region a means to be heard when challenging autocratic, unresponsive, often corrupt rulers. It was, and continues to be, a dictator's nightmare.
"The second key demand was that Qatar stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood means different things in its different manifestations. Some involve violent attacks on civilians and intolerance of dissent - such as Hamas in Gaza."
He said beyond pressuring Qatar to stop supporting Al Jazeera and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Saudi, Emirati, Bahraini and Egyptian governments have rounded up their own Muslim Brotherhood supporters. Bahrain and UAE have even threatened to punish anyone "expressing sympathy" for Qatar.
Dignitaries and guests at the conference
"So at its heart, the current tensions between Qatar and its neighbours is about free expression and political freedom. Yet I would be remiss, speaking here in Qatar, if I left the impression that Qatar were beyond reproach with respect to free expression."
He highlighted the plight of some Al Jazeera workers.
"Human Rights Watch interviewed 14 Al Jazeera employees, including seven Egyptians, six Saudis, and one Bahraini who said that they cannot renew their passports and thus are worried about losing their Qatari residency permits. Many of the Egyptian employees moved to Qatar after authorities in Egypt threatened, intimidated, beat, or arrested them. One journalist said he applied to renew his Egyptian passport in January 2017, but that Egyptian embassy officials told him in April that they would not renew it. His passport will expire in August. These AJ employees are classic refugees who need protection."
So to conclude, there are important things that Qatar can do to maintain the moral high ground from which it has so greatly benefited in its dispute with its neighbours. As the old adage goes, every crisis is also an opportunity. Yes, Qatar today faces a crisis, but it is also an opportunity to become a regional leader on human rights. I hope Qatar will seize that opportunity," he added.
Kenneth Roth: free expression at heart of crisis. PICTURE: Thajudeen
Political freedom and especially free expression are at the heart of the current Gulf crisis, Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, has said.
