MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The four Arab states involved in the diplomatic row with Qatar are violating international law and abusing the rights of Qatari nationals by isolating Doha, Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.
"There are obvious and gross violations of international law, and they affect citizens of Qatar," the minister said in the interview with Al Jazeera broadcaster.
Moreover, he said that Saudi Arabia is engaged in the politicization of the Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
"Qatar never politicised the issue of Hajj… It was Saudi Arabia trying to politicise the Hajj pilgrimage amid the Gulf crisis… There has been no suggestion by any Qatari official about internationalising the issue," Al-Thani said.
Jubeir's statement was based on unreliable sources, Al-Thani added. He went on to stress that Qatari authorities did not close the registration of their citizens for the Hajj, but that Saudi authorities had ceased their communication on this issue.
In June, Cairo, Manama, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi cut off diplomatic relations with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs. They subsequently gave an ultimatum containing 13 demands to Qatar, including requests to sever Qatar’s relations with Iran, close Turkey’s military base in Qatar, shut down Al Jazeera and end support for the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
