Human rights groups including Amnesty International asked Qatar on Thursday to disclose the whereabouts of a Kenyan man who was taken for questioning last week.
The man has written about migrant rights in the Gulf state using the pseudonym of Malcolm Bidali.
He was taken from his residence by the state security service on the night of May 4.
The rights groups expressed concern for his well-being and called for his immediate release if his detention is based solely on “peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression”.
“Malcolm is a security guard, blogger and activist who has been vocal about the plight of migrant workers like himself and has written for a number of online platforms,” MigrantRights.org, FairSquare, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre wrote in a joint statement.
“A week before his arrest, Malcolm gave a presentation to a large group of civil society organisations and trade unions about his experience of working in Qatar.”
The country’s human rights record has been in the spotlight as it prepares to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Doha has introduced labour reforms that aim to address some of these concerns.
A Qatari government official said a Kenyan national was taken into custody on May 5 and placed under investigation for flouting Qatar’s security laws and regulations.
“The individual retains all his rights under the law. All procedures of the investigation are being carried out in accordance with Qatari law,” the official said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
