GCRL calls on the Human Rights Council to put pressure on states to respect freedom of access to sacred sites

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GENEVA – Geneva Council for Rights and liberties ( GCRL) issued an appeal to the Human Rights Council urging it to call on some member states to protect the full right of their residents to freedom of access to places of worship and to make all efforts to create an environment where their religious rights beliefs are respected and avoiding the politicization of religion.
GCRL issued the joint statement with the International Institute for Rights and Development (IRDG) during the general discussion session on the eighth item related to the follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, from the agenda of the forty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council.
The statement delivered by Mrs. Nour Hamadeh, a researcher at the Geneva Center for Rights and Liberties, shed light on the impact of political and diplomatic conflicts and crises on some worship areas, such as the denial of many Christians in the Gaza Strip from traveling to visit the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, and the denial of Qatari citizens of their right to practicing religious rituals in Makkah Al-Mukarramah after the blockade imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Qatar based on the ongoing diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The statement called upon the Human Rights Council to put pressure on all parties to the conflict to respect freedom of access to the sacred areas, resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels, lift the siege, and protect civilians from the effects of their policies.

: Full statement here

Thank you Mr vice President,

Considering that the promotion and protection of human rights is a matter of priority for the international community, The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action emphasize the responsibilities of all States, to develop and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of race, gender, language or religion

However, we regret to that we are still witnessing flagrant disregard for the sanctity in conflict-affected areas.  For instance, Since December 2019, many of the Christians in the Gaza Strip aspire to travel to visit the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem, where Israel put many obstacles, preventing those who do not meet their conditions from traveling and practicing their religious rituals.

Besides, as part of the The Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict, Saudi Arabia put many restrictions on Qatari nationals affecting their right to practice religious rituals (such as Al-Haj), in clear violation of the right of freedom of religion and freedom of movement, which had negative impacts on economic and property rights of this population.

Mr. President, the alarming assault on freedom of religion in the Middle East is a flagrant violation of human rights. We urge the Council to call on all parties to safeguard their populations’ full right to freedom of access to places of worship and exert all the efforts to create an environment that respects and facilitate the access to all religions and beliefs, and ensure the safety and depoliticization of the places of worship.

IRDG and Geneva Council for Rights and Liberties is calling on the Human Rights Council and its member states to:

-Put pressure on all the conflicting parties to respect the freedom of access to holy lands and solve the conflict through diplomatic channels, to drop the blockade and neutralize the civilians from the effects of their policies.

Thank you

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