Bahrain and UAE human rights groups condemned on Thursday Doha’s move to revoke the citizenship of Sheikh Taleb bin Lahom bin Shreim, the head of the al-Murrah tribe in Qatar.

The head of the al-Murrah tribe in Qatar, Sheikh Taleb bin Lahom bin Shreim, told Al Arabiya on Wednesday that Doha revoked his citizenship along with 54 of his relatives.

Sheikh Taleb said the actions of the Qatari authorities has not surprised him. He had recently met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accompanied by a number of al-Murrah Sheikhs, and affirmed his support to Riyadh against the policies of the present Qatari leadership.

“The Qatari authorities have become a source of haven for terrorists and their sponsors, and the subject of discussion is much bigger than nationality. It is a big attack on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states,” he told Al Arabiya.

The Manama Center for Human Rights and the Emirates Human Rights Association said the move was a form or collective punishment against the history of systematic hierarchy in the country.

The Manama Center also said the action violates international laws and standards of human rights, “especially as decision taken by the Qatari government has been issued without any legal justifications.”

A statement added: “We call on all humanitarian institutions and organizations inside and outside the State of Qatar to carry out their role and follow up on this situation, especially the Qatar Foundation, which has not paid attention to this violation and has recently implemented Qatari politics and abandoned the defense of human rights principles.”

source: Alarabiya