Peaceful Assembly
On 17th December 2024, authorities released human rights lawyer Rashid bin Ali Abu Shraydeh Al-Marri, who was serving a life sentence in prison. At a hearing on 10th May 2022, the Second Circuit Criminal Court issued a life sentence against lawyer Dr. Hazzaa bin Ali Abu Shraydeh Al-Marri, who was arrested on 10th August 2021, and his brother, lawyer Rashid bin Ali Abu Shraydeh Al-Marri, who was arrested the next day.
The ruling is linked to their active participation in peaceful protests that culminated on 9th August 2021, when protesters from the Al-Murra tribe gathered peacefully to demand the authorities overturn the Shura Council elections law, guarantee the right to full citizenship, respect freedom of expression, and promote social justice among citizens, and after lawyer Rashid Al-Marri publicly criticised Al Jazeera, which is fully funded by the Qatari government.
Expression
In other news, the Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed on 19th December 2024, in a statement published on X, that security forces had arrested 65 individuals and 90 minors of different nationalities due to the way they celebrated Qatar National Day, which falls on 18th December.
Reports confirmed that the security forces had detained the minors incommunicado for seven to eight days before they were released after being forced to sign pledges. Local reports confirmed that the juveniles were insulted by the police. Despite GCHR’s request to the Qatari government officials to provide clarification about what happened to the juveniles, they remained silent as is their custom when questioned about their human rights violations.