Articles for Qatar

On 18 June 2015, during the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)'s 29th session, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (SR IJL), Gabriela Knaul presented the

On 20 October 2013, the Cassation Court in Doha upheld the 15-year prison sentence confirmed by the court of appeal that was rendered in January 2013 against Qatari poet Mohamed Al-Ajami (also known as Mohamed Ibn Al-Dib).

Mohamed Al-Ajami has been detained since 2011 simply for exercising his right to freedom of expression – charged for "inciting to overthrow the regime" and "insulting the Emir," both overly broad charges. In addition, his trial was permeated with irregularities, according to his lawyer Najeeb Al-Nuaimi.

Salim Al Kawari was arrested on 7 February 2011 by State Security personnel who first took him to his house with the intention of searching it, then took him to an unknown location.  His family did not know that he had been detained at a State Security site until six weeks later.

In this regard Alkarama sent a letter on 9 May 2011 to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, requesting that they intervene with the Qatari authorities to persuade them immediately to release Mr. Kawari or to bring him to trial while providing all the required guarantees stipulated by law.

Following 11 months of detention without charge or trial in the Qatari police station of Asima in Doha, Mohamed Farouk Al Mahdi was released yesterday, on 14 September 2010.

Alkarama calls for the release of Mohamed Farouk Al-Mahdi, a UK citizen held without charge or trial by the Doha's Public Prosecution since 15 October 2009. Mohamed Al-Mahdi is a former employee at a bank in Doha.

Alkarama is currently preparing his case for submission to the United National Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

On 9 June 2010 Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group's report (A/HRC/14/2) on Qatar. The review previously took place on 8 February 2010 during the UPR's seventh session. State party representatives had the opportunity to present their recommendations, which were later documented in the report, while their views and commitments of Qatar to the protection of human rights were also put forth.

On 2 May 2010, Qatari authorities released Nayef Al-Attiyah. He was previously arrested on 4 September 2009 in order to intimidate his cousin Fawaz Al-Attiyah, a British national, who had asked Nayef Al-Attiyah to raise his case with the Prime Minister of Qatar.

Nayef Al-Attiyah was released without ever being subject to any legal proceedings during his detention. Alkarama's sources have confirmed that the entire episode was simply an attempt to settle a personal score.

Reliable sources have confirmed that Nayef Bin Ghanim Al-Attiyah was arrested by the Qatari intelligence services following the arrest of his cousin Fawaz Al-Attiyah, who is a British national. Alkarama's source has confirmed that Nayef Al-Attiyah was arrested after he raised a case against the Qatari Prime Minister before a Qatari Court on behalf of his cousin Fawaz Al-Attiyah.

Alkarama received reports that Fawaz Al-Attiyah, a British national and former spokesperson of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was handed over to the Qataris by Saudi authorities and is currently detained incommunicado in solitary confinement. He has been denied all visitation rights and has not been outside for more than five months.