The United Nations’ highest court is to begin hearing an urgent case brought by Qatar against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which Doha accuses of “human rights violations” amid a Saudi-led boycott of the country.

The three-day hearing is to begin at The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) later on Wednesday. Qatari and Emirati lawyers are to defend their respective states on the first two days, while both will be given chances to address the tribunal on the final day.

Qatar went to the court against the UAE earlier this month, saying Abu Dhabi “implemented a series of discriminatory measures directed at Qataris based on their national origin.”

It has asked the tribunal to urgently order the UAE to “cease and desist from all conduct that could result...in any form of racial discrimination against Qatari individuals and entities.”

“The unlawful measures imposed by UAE have torn apart families,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said earlier this month.

“The UAE deprived Qatari companies and individuals of property and assets and denied fundamental access to education, medicine and justice in the UAE courts,” it added.

In launching the case, Doha is seeking recourse to the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Last year, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, slapping the country with an economic embargo and expelling its nationals. The Riyadh-led quartet accused Doha of supporting terrorism, a charge Qatar strongly denies.

The emirate has condemned “an unlawful land, sea and air siege against Qatar as part of a campaign of political and economic coercion.” – Press TV