JEDDAH: A senior UN figure on Friday rushed to the defense of Qatari-owned Al Jazeera — on the very same day he spoke out against Qatari media that “significantly distort” the facts and had misrepresented him.
The Al Jazeera news network has become embroiled in the diplomatic rift between Qatar and its biggest Gulf Arab neighbors, which accuse Doha of supporting terror groups.
A leaked list of 13 conditions to end the dispute reportedly issued by other Arab states includes the demand to close Al Jazeera, which is seen by some as a propaganda tool for Doha which also served as a mouthpiece for some of the region’s most notorious terrorists.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US, Al Jazeera’s Arabic-language channel was accused of being a “mouthpiece” for Osama Bin Laden, because of its willingness to air Al-Qaeda video messages and what was perceived as its anti-US bias.
Yet, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein on Friday issued a statement that criticized the demand made to close the channel and other Qatar-backed media.
“The High Commissioner is extremely concerned by the demand that Qatar close down the Al Jazeera network, as well as other affiliated media outlets,” a statement said.
“Whether or not you watch it, like it, or agree with its editorial standpoints, Al Jazeera’s Arabic and English channels are legitimate, and have many millions of viewers. The demand that they be summarily closed down is, in our view, an unacceptable attack on the right to freedom of expression and opinion.”
Yet, in a statement issued on the very same day, the same UN body also moved to strongly criticize Qatari media for “inaccurate accounts.”
The erroneous media reports apparently relate to a meeting held Thursday between Al-Hussein and Ali Khalfan Al-Mansouri, Qatar’s permanent representative at the UN.
“While confirming the meeting did take place, the UN Human Rights Office said reports appearing in the Qatari media significantly distort the remarks of the High Commissioner,” the statement said.
“The UN Human Rights Office does not normally comment on bilateral meetings with states, except on the rare occasions when it believes the state concerned has publicly misrepresented the content of the meeting.”
A spokesman for the commissioner told Arab News that the erroneous report relates to an article in the Qatari daily The Peninsula, which in turn was apparently sourced to a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or state news agency. However, parts of the same report have appeared on the same Al Jazeera channel which the UN figure is defending.
The report said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had expressed his “condemnation” over the actions taken by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain against Qatar. This claim was not representative and had been “exaggerated,” the spokesman said.
UN body slams Qatar media on one hand, defends it on the other
UN body slams Qatar media on one hand, defends it on the other
Ceasefire with Kurdish-led force extended for another 15 days, Syrian army says
- The defense ministry said the extension was in support of an operation by US forces to transfer accused Daesh militants to Iraq
- The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces confirmed the ceasefire extension
RAQQA, Syria: Hours after the expiration of a four-day truce between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led fighters Saturday, Syria’s defense ministry announced the ceasefire had been extended by another 15 days.
The defense ministry said in a statement that the extension was in support of an operation by US forces to transfer accused Daesh militants who had been held in prisons in northeastern Syria to detention centers in Iraq.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces confirmed the ceasefire extension.
“Our forces affirm their commitment to the agreement and their dedication to respecting it, which contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of the necessary conditions for stability,” the group said in a statement.
Over the past three weeks, there have been intense clashes between government forces and the SDF, in which the SDF lost large parts of the area they once controlled.
Earlier in the day, the Kurdish-led force called on the international community to prevent any escalation.
The end of the truce came as government forces have been sending reinforcements to Syria’s northeast.
Syria’s interim government signed an agreement last March with the SDF for it to hand over territory and to eventually merge its fighters with government forces. In early January, a new round of talks failed to make progress over the merger, leading to renewed fighting between the two sides.
A new version of the accord was signed last weekend, and a four-day ceasefire was declared Tuesday. Part of the new deal is that SDF members will have to merge into the army and police forces as individuals.
The SDF said in a statement Saturday that military buildups and logistical movements by government forces have been observed, “clearly indicating an intent to escalate and push the region toward a new confrontation.” The SDF said it will continue to abide by the truce.
On Saturday, state TV said authorities on Saturday released 126 boys under the age of 18 who were held at the Al-Aqtan prison near the northern city of Raqqa that was taken by government forces Friday. The teenagers were taken to the city of Raqqa where they were handed over to their families, the TV station said.
The prison is also home to some of the 9,000 members of the Daesh group who are held in northeastern Syria. Most of them remain held in jails run by the SDF. Government forces have so far taken control of two prisons while the rest are still run by the SDF.
Earlier this week, the US military said that some 7,000 Daesh detainees will be transferred to detention centers in neighboring Iraq.
On Wednesday, the US military said that 150 prisoners have been taken to Iraq.
