Qatar jails four election protesters, including two for life

DUBAI, Could 12 (Reuters) – Qatar has sentenced 4 males to jail, together with two for all times, after they protested a brand new regulation that barred some members of their tribe from voting within the nation’s first legislative elections, courtroom paperwork confirmed.

The 4 males have been convicted on Tuesday on a number of expenses together with gathering plenty to demand adjustments to legal guidelines, disturbing public safety, and refusing police orders to depart, in keeping with the paperwork, seen by Reuters.

Hazaa Abu Shraydeh al-Marri and Rashid Ali al-Marri, who’re each legal professionals, got a life sentence, whereas two males described as exiled poets who appeared in on-line movies linked to the protests have been sentenced to fifteen years in absentia. The 4 can attraction the decision.

Members of the Al Murrah tribe, one of many Gulf’s largest Bedouin teams with roots tracing again to jap Saudi Arabia, gathered in August to protest a brand new electoral regulation that deemed a few of them ineligible to vote. learn extra

The vote, held final October to elect two thirds of the advisory Shura Council, infected home tensions round electoral inclusion and citizenship within the small however rich Gulf state, the place political events are banned.

Rights teams stated 1000’s of Qataris have been excluded from voting.

“Sentencing critics of an inherently discriminatory regulation to life in jail is a obvious reminder that Qatar is little completely different from its autocratic neighbors,” stated Michael Web page, deputy director within the MENA division of Human Rights Watch.

“These extreme sentences ship a crystal clear message to Qatari residents, residents, and even incoming World Cup followers: There isn’t any area totally free speech right here,” Web page added.

The Qatari authorities declined to remark.

The problem of rights in Qatar has come to the fore forward of the Gulf nation’s internet hosting of this yr’s soccer World Cup. learn extra

The Al Murrah tribe has had a fractious relationship with Qatar’s ruling household stretching again a long time. In 2005, Qatar stripped some tribe members of their citizenship, which the federal government stated was as a result of they held twin nationality, however which the tribe stated was punishment for suspected involvement in a failed 1996 coup.

Reporting by Gulf Bureau, enhancing Aziz El Yaakoubi and Rosalba O’Brien

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