On 27 March, 16 Filipino workers were arrested in Qatar for organising a political manifestation that was defined as “unlawful”. This protest, however, had nothing to do with the political situation in Qatar. It was, in fact, a demonstration in support of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was recently arrested on charges of crimes against humanity. The workers faced a three-year imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 Ryials due to the arrest. However, after a few days of uncertainty, the charges against them dropped, and they were provisionally released.
Despite the “positive” conclusion, this case reveals how Qatar restricts any peaceful demonstration or assembly. Law No. 18 of 2004 on Public Meetings and Demonstrations is the legislation that regulates these events. It stipulates that anyone wishing to organise a public assembly must first receive a permit from the Director General of Public Security. Therefore, anyone organising these events without prior permission can risk what the 16 Filipinos risked after their protest.
The content of the aforementioned law can easily be used to limit all kinds of demonstrations or protests even before they rise. In particular, the government can restrict protests relating to human rights or taking a critical stance against the government. This does not allow the support of human rights, and the actions of human rights activists and associations are strongly limited.
A situation like this is problematic because Qatar has many human rights issues. For example, foreign workers are a category that continues to face serious abuses. This issue had already arisen during the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It was highlighted how these workers were being exploited, working long hours without rest and in poor safety conditions. In addition to all this, workers in Qatar are also victims of wage theft, being deprived of their wages and having to live in borderline situations.
There are also concerns regarding the recognition of freedom of expression. Exemplary is the case of the brothers Hazza and Rashed al-Marri, who, in 2022, were sentenced to life imprisonment for publishing online speeches critical of the government. What they were criticising was the electoral law that was discriminating against the members of the al-Marri tribe. Specifically relevant to this case is that, among the various charges brought against the two, one accused them of organising and participating in unauthorised public demonstrations.
In the face of these human rights issues, public gatherings or protests become a way to make one’s voice heard and assert one’s rights. The right of public assembly is a right that must necessarily be granted and is also recognised by Article 21 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Qatar, moreover, is also a signatory state to this Covenant. It is, therefore, controversial how any kind of public meeting is restricted in the country. Indeed, it seems that the law concerning these meetings is mainly used as a political tool to silence protests and curb the actions of those who criticise the government.
The case of the 16 Filipino workers arrested in Doha, therefore, becomes another example of how Qatar silences any kind of protest. This case is somewhat borderline since the workers’ protest had nothing to do with the situation in the country. However, the way the affair unfolded should not be underestimated. Any kind of public demonstration is restricted in Qatar, which makes it impossible to bring to light the country’s problems and the cases of restriction of human rights. People must be free to organise these kinds of events, and the continuous restrictions imposed by Qatar reveal repression that cannot last long.