Rights groups demand release of jailed Qatar World Cup ex-staffer

Human rights groups on Wednesday called for the release of Abdullah Ibhais, a former employee of Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, after a UN body said he was denied a fair trial.

Ibhais, a 38-year-old public relations specialist, was detained in 2021 and sentenced in Qatari court to three years in prison for misuse of public funds and bribery.

The Jordanian national said his confession was coerced and that the charges stemmed from his criticism of the handling of a migrant workers’ strike in Qatar.

Qatari officials have said the trial adhered to legal procedures and that Ibhais was convicted based on strong evidence.

Rights groups Amnesty International, FairSquare and Human Rights Watch urged Qatari authorities to “immediately free” Ibhais, describing his detention as arbitrary.

They cited a May report by the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which said there had been no legal basis for Ibhais’ detention, also calling for his release.

Activist group Human Rights Watch said Ibhais is due to be released in October but could face an extension until April 2025 if he is unable to pay a court-imposed fine.

At the time of his sentencing, the World Cup organising committee said Ibhais claim his case was triggered by his defence of migrant workers was “ludicrous, defamatory, and absolutely false”.