Saudi Arabia affirmed that the decision to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar came from the Kingdom's exercise of its sovereign rights guaranteed by international law and to protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.
Saudi Arabia said in a lengthy report on the measures and humanitarian efforts carried out by the Kingdom during the Qatari crisis, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) today, that the Kingdom has taken the decision to boycott as a result of serious violations by the authorities in Doha in secret and publicly, explaining that Qatar is practicing incitement to exit the state Since 1995, its sovereignty has been compromised, terrorist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Daesh and Al-Qaida, have been permanently promoted through the media.
The Kingdom and its sister countries in the GCC have made strenuous and persistent efforts to urge the authorities in Doha to abide by their commitments and to abide by the agreements, but Qatar has consistently reneged on its international obligations and did not abide by the commitments it signed in the Riyadh Agreement in 2013.
She noted that after the GCC countries exhausted their political and diplomatic efforts and the Emir of Qatar reneged on his pledge to stop negative policy, which led to the withdrawal of ambassadors and not return them only after the signing of the supplementary agreement in 2014.
She pointed out that Qatar has violated the agreements signed under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and work to divide the Saudi internal rank and incitement to exit the state and prejudice to its sovereignty, and embrace multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilizing the region, which led to the decision of the four countries to boycott to protect National security.
She pointed out that regardless of the hostile practices committed by the authorities in Doha, the Kingdom will continue to support the brotherly Qatari people and support their security and stability.
In this regard, Saudi Arabia has taken the necessary measures to address the humanitarian cases of Saudis and Qatari brothers affected by this decision, most notably the issuance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Order No. 43522 to form a committee to take into account the humanitarian cases of joint families headed by the Ministry of Interior and membership of the competent authorities.
The Ministry of Interior has also assigned officially announced phone numbers to receive and process reports on these cases in a timely manner.
Regarding the alleged criminalization of sympathy for Qatar, which includes the Kingdom imposed penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to 3 million riyals in the case of sympathy for Qatar, the statement said «This is not true, as the Kingdom's regulations guarantee freedom of opinion and expression for everyone Public order or society or its members or constants ».
The Kingdom's laws guarantee freedom of opinion and expression for every human being, unless it infringes upon or violates the public order, society, individuals or constants. This restriction has a legislative basis at the national level consistent with the relevant international standards, most notably in article 29, paragraph 2. Of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed relations with Qatar in mid-2017, accusing them of supporting «terrorism».