Tayeb Benabderrahmane v. Qatar
By: Maria Maalouf
The case of Tayeb Benabderrahmane is a striking example of how Qatar has failed to live upt to the promises of reform and human rights of the 2022 World Cup. Sentenced to death by the government of Qatar without his knowledge his case increasingly attracting attention.
When Tayeb Benabderrahmane first arrived in Qatar he was once a key insider. He was instrumental for Qatar foreign policy in the build up to the World Cup. In 2017 a number of Muslim majority countries and Africa boycotted Qatar and enforced on Qatar.
Working closely with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Benabderrahmane worked to improve Qatars image in the French speaking world.
Having proved Ali Al-Marri and the National Human Rights Council of Qatar he moved to Qatar and had a big future. He took on a role few wanted as fighter against corruption in Qatar. He studied the issue at an international level in France and elsewhere. However, his report was passed to Al-Marri he thought it was best he withdraw from his political advisory role and focus on business opportunities in the gas-rich emirate.
He thus announced in November 2019 that he would be ending his role as advisor to the NHRC on 31 December 2019. By then the blockade of Qatar was largely over. Qatar had won it was time to move on.
Tayeb Benabderrahmane was an advisor for Qatar. Until he attempted to leave under his own terms.
Then suddenly on January 13, 2020 he was arrested in Qatar for unknown reasons. He thought it was all a misunderstanding. Barely a month before he had negotiated a meeting between Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri and the President of Congo.
He would be held for 307 days. Without trial. Without charge. This sort of treatment for third party nationals in the cannot be tolerated.
His name was falsely signed to a number of documents during this period.
The cases significance for two reans. Firstly, the Decree of the Emir of 31 July 2024 (Decision No. 61 of 2024), has changed the composition of NHRC by appointing new members, such as lawyer Sultan Al-Abdullah, as well as others from various sectors, including civil society and the Ministry of Justice, social affairs, labour, and even the security forces.
Secondly, the Trump administration oversaw much of the blockade against Qatar during his first tenure in office. Qatar is likely to again be in focus for Trump during his second tenure in office.
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