Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record have been under the spotlight since it was awarded the hosting of football’s 2022 FIFA World Cup
Doha, Qatar – A Kenyan national, arrested in Qatar last month and charged with “spreading disinformation”, has been released but charges against him have not been dropped, according to rights organisations.
The 28-year-old Malcolm Bidali, who works as a security guard in the capital Doha for GSS Certis, was arrested from his accommodation on May 5 and “placed under investigation for violating Qatar’s security laws and regulations”, Qatar’s Government Communication Office (GCO) said last month.
On May 30, the GCO said Bidali was “formally charged with offences related to payments received by a foreign agent for the creation and distribution of disinformation within the State of Qatar”.
Salem al-Mohannadi, the Qatari owner of GSS Certis, confirmed to Al Jazeera that the 28-year-old was released.
“He has been released but I don’t have any more details,” al-Mohannadi told reporters on Thursday. “This is a government case now. We are fully behind our country and it’s difficult to understand who is working against Qatar.”
Rights groups have voiced concern that his arrest may be in reprisal for human rights work.
Blogging under the pseudonym Noah, Bidali wrote about labour rights issues, including long working hours, issues with wages, working conditions and unsuitable accommodation and conditions at his workplace.
Earlier, Migrant-Rights.Org, where Bidali used to blog about life as a migrant worker in Qatar, confirmed that Bidali was “released from custody but the charges against him remain”.
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