Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and FairSquare called Wednesday for the immediate release and compensation of Abdullah Ibhais, a former media manager for Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, following a determination by a UN Body that his 2019 detention was arbitrary and linked to his criticism of migrant worker conditions on World Cup construction sites.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Ibhais’ detention was arbitrary, classifying it under three key violations: detention without legal basis, detention due to the exercise of peaceful expression, and failure to observe international fair trial standards. The Working Group also found that Ibhais was denied legal assistance despite multiple requests after his arrest on 12 November 2019. He was interrogated without a lawyer present and could not contact a lawyer until nine days after his arrest, violating Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 14(3)(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Furthermore, Ibhais signed a confession under duress, which was the only incriminating evidence at his trial. The court’s refusal to investigate his claims of coercion violated Article 14(3)(g) of the ICCPR and Principle 21 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.

In August 2019, around 5,000 migrant workers living in the al-Shahaniya labour camp protested in Qatar over unpaid wages, poor work conditions, and the threat of reduced salaries as the 2022 FIFA World Cup approached. Despite the country’s ban on protests, workers under the kafala system, which ties them to their employers, took to the streets. Specifically, Article 116 of Qatar Labor Law No. (14) 2004 grants only Qatari nationals the right to form workers’ associations or trade unions, effectively denying migrant workers the freedom of association and the ability to form trade unions. Despite Qatar’s accession to the ICCPR and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 2018, it upheld several reservations, including interpreting “trade unions” according to its national law.

Hassan Al-Thawadi, general secretary of Qatar’s Supreme Committee, allegedly directed his communications team to downplay the connection between the strike and the World Cup. Ibhais, who had personally spoken with the striking workers and witnessed hundreds living in unsuitable conditions without food or running water, advised against issuing misleading statements. Ibhais was soon removed from his position, accused of fraud over a contract tender, and sentenced to five years in prison. In September 2021, Ibhais reached out to FIFA through its online whistleblowing platform. In November 2021, FIFA responded, stating that “any person deserves a trial that is fair” and promised to “continue to follow this matter closely,” but they did not commit to supporting Ibhais further. Al-Thawadi later admitted in 2022 that there had been “between 400 and 500” migrant worker deaths in connection with the World Cup construction over the past 12 years.

The Qatari government was given two months to respond to the UN Working Group’s findings, but it has not done so. The Working Group has called on the government to “release Mr. Ibhais and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, under international law.” Ibhais is scheduled for release in October. However, his sentence includes a fine, and failure to pay it could delay his release until April 2025.