On 05 November 2024, the Qatari authorities conducted a referendum for citizens on the draft constitutional amendments for the year 2024, pursuant to the decree issued by the Emir of the country, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, inviting all citizens to participate in it.
On the same day, the Minister of Interior, who is also the head of the General Referendum Committee, announced popular approval of the referendum by 90.06%.
One of the most important constitutional articles included in the amendment is Article (77), which before the amendment stated the following: “The Shura Council shall consist of forty‐five Members, thirty of whom shall be elected by direct, general secret ballot; and the Emir shall appoint the remaining fifteen Members from amongst the Ministers or any other persons. The term of service of the appointed Members in the Shura Council shall expire when these Members resign their seats or are relieved from their posts.” This article, after amendment, became as follows: “The Shura Council shall consist of no less than 45 members, and the appointment of the members shall be issued by an Emiri decree.”
This amendment, which revokes the right of citizens to choose their representatives in the Shura Council, clearly and explicitly contradicts the text of Article (146) of the Qatari Permanent Constitution, which states the following: “Provisions pertaining to rights and public liberties may not be subject to amendment save for the purpose of granting more rights and guarantees for the interest of the citizen.”
It is suspicious and questionable that the Emir of Qatar calls on all citizens to vote to cancel their right to directly elect their representatives. During the last Shura Council elections, which took place on 02 October 2021, he allowed neither other naturalised Qatari citizens to run for office or vote, nor migrant and immigrant workers residing permanently in the country, nor the Bedoon community in Qatar, who number several thousand and do not enjoy their full civil or human rights. All these groups have been denied the right to vote or be represented in the Shura Council, including women from any group.
Recommendations:
Once again, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) calls on the Qatari authorities to:
- Refrain from revoking the right of citizens to political participation, and ensure free public representation in a fully-empowered Shura Council that possesses both legislative and political powers;
- Allow all Qatari citizens and stateless individuals, including women, to enjoy equal political rights in voting or elections for the Shura Council without discrimination; and
- Ensure that the State Security Apparatus is not involved in repressive measures against citizens for voicing opinions on their country’s political affairs, in accordance with the state’s commitments to human rights.
