On the occasion of the Seventh Anniversary of the International Day of Parliamentarianism, the Shura Council has the honor to extend its highest appreciation and gratefulness to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (May Allah protects him), in recognition and gratitude of unlimited support His Highness accorded to the Shura Council. His keenness and his deep belief in the importance of popular participation in decision-making are based on his insightful vision.
The Shura Council also congratulates Their Excellencies the members of the Council and all parliamentarians the world over, on the occasion. The Day is celebrated the worldwide on 30 June of each year, in recognition of the importance of parliaments and parliamentarians in representing the will of their peoples, and in appreciation of the vital role, they play in achieving the aspirations of their peoples and in protecting their rights.
This year's celebration comes under the slogan: "Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding". The theme reflects the responsibility of the legislative assemblies and parliaments, in building bridges for peace and commitment to understanding and dialogue to settle all differences and disputes. Bringing peoples closer, spreading peace and harmony throughout the world emerges from the serious and aggravated deterioration the international peace and security is currently facing. The threat is due to gross violations of human rights and horrific war crimes, including the genocide launched by the occupying entity of Israel, for more than eight months in the Gaza Strip and the other occupied territories in Palestine, in flagrant, violation of all international norms and laws.
The Shura Council expresses its strongest condemnation and denunciation of these violations, and calls upon the international community to take immediate actions to stop these crimes, lift the siege from the besieged Palestinian cities, and achieve justice and peace.
The Council affirms that the inability of the international community to deter the occupying entity and hold war criminals accountable to their heinous crimes make it imperative for parliamentarians to exert all possible efforts to deter the injustice practiced against the Palestinians and contribute to building global peace.
The Shura Council appeals to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and all its members, including national parliaments, parliamentary unions and organizations, to muster maximum efforts to stop the unjust aggression on Gaza, lift the siege imposed on Palestinian cities. The Council calls all parliaments and parliamentarians to urge their governments to turn the slogan of the International Day of Parliamentarism into acts. The theme aims to establishing the rule of justice and building bridges of peace and understanding, which should start from the occupied territories of Palestine and spread therefrom to all other regions ravaged by conflicts and wars over in the world.
The Shura Council takes this opportunity to affirm that the concerted efforts of all concerned parties have contributed to strengthening Parliamentarism in the State of Qatar, and in this regard, the Council appreciates the support accorded to it by all Qatari people, the esteemed government, the local media, and all community bodies and institutions.
Finally, the Shura Council affirms its resolution to continue its contributions to achieving the supreme interest of the State of Qatar, under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (May Allah protects him).
