Forum calls for an end to Qatari provocative practices against Bahraini fishermen

Manama, Jan.9 (BNA): Bahrain Professional Fishermen’s Society, Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, Bahrain Journalists Association and other independent human rights advocates hailed the royal directives, assigning competent authorities to compensate Bahraini sailors affected by the Qatari abusive practices, In a joint statement, they commended the decision of the Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directing competent authorities to assess the damage, disburse compensation and protect Bahraini fishermen’s rights. They commended ministries, particularly the Ministry of Interior, headed by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, for their support to fishermen and keenness on tackling their problems. The statement was issued at the conclusion of a workshop themed “Qatari violations against Bahraini sailors”. The event was organized at the headquarters of the Bahrain Professional Fishermen’s Society in Muharraq, in the presence of lawmakers, representatives of associations, civil society institutions, sailors and the family of Bahraini fisherman Habib Abbas, who is detained in Qatar. The participants expressed the hope that the positive spirit which marked the recent GCC Summit would benefit fishermen and enable them to exercise their profession without being subjected to the provocative acts of the Qatari coastguards and border security patrols, which confiscate fishermen’s boats, arrest them and detain them arbitrarily in Qatari prisons and disrupt their livelihoods. The participants said the Qatari practices against Bahrain's sailors must stop immediately, calling for the release of the Bahraini sailors Habib Abbas who is detained in Qatar. They said that they are looking forward to concerned Qatari authorities taking positive measures consistent with the resolutions of the Al-Ula Summit, the spirit of brotherhood that unites the Bahraini and Qatari peoples, and the special relations and the bonds that unite the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.