Archive: qatar

24th December 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
A fake human rights group which apparently tried to gather intelligence about genuine campaigners is claiming that its strange behaviour was the result of threats from "the bad guys". The group, calling itself "Voiceless Victims", purported to be campaigning on behalf of exploited construction… Read more
23rd December 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
A "non-profit" organisation which claimed to be campaigning on behalf of exploited construction workers in Qatar has been exposed as a fake.  Purportedly operating from France, where it used a false address, "Voiceless Victims" contacted several genuine organisations concerned about employment… Read more
5th December 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom was set up by the emir of Qatar in 2007. Press freedom and quality journalism, its mission statement says, "are vital for empowering citizens to participate in social and political life. Well functioning media are crucial for healthy societies and sustainable… Read more
1st September 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
THE GULF STATE of Qatar is small but exceptionally rich and uses its money relentlessly to acquire friends and influence. The recipients of its largesse have been many and various, from Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation in the United States to the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups.… Read more
9th August 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
Last Friday the Doha News website did something rather shocking – at least, by Qatar's standards. It posted an article entitled: "What it's like to be gay and Qatari". Attached to the article was a note from the editors explaining their decision to publish it: "Doha News is aware that any extra-… Read more
22nd May 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
Progressive social policies are increasingly under attack in international forums. Muslim countries are in the forefront of this campaign but they are also aided by rightwing elements in the United States and by countries where social conservatism has become part of nationalist discourse.… Read more
11th March 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
At the United Nations, Qatar has been boasting about its support for the right to "freedom of religion or belief" and the right to "freedom of opinion and expression". The "positive practice" of these two rights "can contribute to strengthening both of them", according to Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim… Read more
17th August 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
DIDN'T Arianna Huffington realise what she was getting into when she decided to launch HuffPost Arabi? In the first three weeks it has certainly been attracting attention, but mostly of the wrong sort. The new Arabic-language website was born amid a show of bravado from Ms Huffington. Avoiding "… Read more
3rd July 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
Ammar Abd Rabbo" src="/sites/default/files/moza.jpg" style="height:235px; width:388px" /> Sheikha Mozah, wife of Qatar's former emir, returned to the spotlight this week when previously-confidential emails were released by the US State Department. The emails reveal that while Hillary Clinton was… Read more
2nd July 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
A GNRD supporter at the UN Human Rights Council accused Norway's public prosecutor of racism In recent statements the Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) has portrayed itself as an organisation struggling to "forge a genuine international will to combat terrorism" – in the face of… Read more