• Qatar/Libya: Forced Return of Rape Victim
    Jun 2, 2011
    The Qatari government forcibly returned Eman al-‘Obeidy, a recognized refugee, to rebel-held Benghazi in eastern Libya on June 2, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. Al-‘Obeidy and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) both repeatedly protested her forcible return but were ignored, Human Rights Watch said.
  • UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights
    Jan 20, 2008
    When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights.
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Qatar

  • Women in the Crossfire
    Jun 8, 2011
    Iman Obeidi became famous in March when she burst into the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli and accused Libyan forces of raping her. She was quickly taken by authorities, but eventually found her way to Qatar to seek refugee status in the West. Last week, Qatari authorities inexplicably sent her back to Libya. She has since begun the process of moving to the U.S., where she will apply for refugee status. Her story has highlighted a growing problem – the use of rape as a tool in war zones. [Note: This interview took place before news broke that Obeidi is headed to the U.S.]
  • Help Obeidy out of Libya
    Jun 5, 2011
    The call was urgent, the news shocking: Qatar, a close US ally and supporter of the NATO campaign in Libya, had forced a Libyan woman who said she was raped onto a plane back to Libya.
  • Qatar/Libya: Forced Return of Rape Victim
    Jun 2, 2011
    The Qatari government forcibly returned Eman al-‘Obeidy, a recognized refugee, to rebel-held Benghazi in eastern Libya on June 2, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. Al-‘Obeidy and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) both repeatedly protested her forcible return but were ignored, Human Rights Watch said.
  • Organisation of the Islamic Conference: Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism
    Mar 11, 2008
    Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism.
  • UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights
    Jan 20, 2008
    When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights.
  • Letter to Governments in Asia and the Middle East on International Migrants' Day
    Dec 18, 2007
    We are writing on December 18, 2007, International Migrants’ Day, to call upon you to implement key reforms to respect and uphold migrants’ rights. On January 21-22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest round of the “Colombo Process,” a series of regional consultative processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. We believe this meeting could provide an important stepping stone to establishing regional minimum standards regarding recruitment, employment, and protection of migrant workers.
  • Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse
    Dec 17, 2007
    Governments in Asia and the Middle East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant workers, several migrants’ and human rights groups said in a joint letter on the eve of December 18, International Migrants’ Day.
  • U.S. State Department Trafficking Report Undercut by Lack of Analysis
    Jun 11, 2003
    The U.S. State Department's third annual trafficking in persons report fails to meaningfully evaluate governments' efforts to combat trafficking in persons.
  • Saudi Arabia/GCC States: Ratify Migrant Rights Treaty
    Apr 10, 2003
    Millions of migrants who work in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries lack real legal protection, Human Rights Watch said today. In letters to the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- Human Rights Watch strongly urged their leaders to endorse the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
  • Qatar: Prosecute Iraqi Official for War Crimes
    Mar 5, 2003
    Qatar should arrest and prosecute Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, a visiting senior Iraqi official suspected of responsibility for crimes of genocide, mass murder and torture, Human Rights Watch urged today.
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