QNA
Riyadh


The Gulf Co-operation Council member states said they are following with great concern the abduction of a number of Qatari citizens in southern Iraq, considering it as a shameful act and a flagrant violation of international law and human rights, and contrary to the provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.
They added that the abduction is unacceptable act that hurts the bonds of fraternal relations between the Arab brothers.
A statement released by the GCC General Secretariat yesterday said, while condemning the abduction of innocent citizens who entered the Iraqi territory legitimately and legally, the GCC countries express full solidarity with the Government of the State of Qatar in all the actions taken in this regard, and hoped that the contacts taking place between Qatar and Iraq will result in the release of hostages and their safe return to their home country.
The statement pointed out that the GCC countries, which continue to co-operate with the Iraqi Government in its quest to achieve security and stability in Iraq, are demanding the Iraqi Government to shoulder its international legal responsibilities, to take decisive and immediate measures to guarantee the safety of the abductees and release them as soon as possible, especially since Qatari citizens had entered Iraqi territory with official permission issued by the embassy of Iraq in Doha and approved by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, and since the kidnapping incident took place in the territory under the control and sovereignty of the Iraqi Government.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Khalifah expressed deep concern over the kidnapping.
This came in a telephone conversation between Sheikh Khalid and his Iraqi counterpart Dr Ibrahim al-Jaffari.
During the meeting, the minister pointed that the Iraqi government ought to assume its responsibility and take the necessary crucial procedures for the safe release of the abductees and their return unharmed to Qatar.
Meanwhile, the Arab Parliament has condemned the kidnapping of Qatari nationals and urged the Iraqi government to take measures to ensure the safety of the abductees, and release them as soon as possible.
The Speaker of the Arab Parliament Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Jarwan  in Cairo described the kidnapping as “shameful” against any Arab citizen, especially that the Qatari nationals who entered Iraq legally, asserting rejection of these terrorist acts which constitute a breach of international law, and a violation human rights, and contrary to the principles of brotherhood relations among Arabs and Muslims.”
He expressed support for the Qatari and Iraqi efforts to release the abductees, hoping that the ongoing contacts between the two governments would result in the release of the Qatari hostages soon and return home safely. He called on the Iraqi government to exert more effort in this regard as its responsible for their safety as guests and Arabs and Muslims brothers.