human rights defender
Rashid Al-Marri
Actions and Campaigns
Rashid Al-Marri
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Lawyer
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
Current Status
Released
HRD's bio and work
Rashid Al-Marri is a human rights lawyer in Qatar. On 11 August 2021, Rashid Al-Marri was arrested after attempting to legally represent his brother, Dr. Hazza Al-Marri who was arrested the day before. Both brothers participated in protests regarding a new law governing Shura Council elections, which was seen as discriminatory toward the Al Murra tribe to which they belong.
Detained since
Aug 11, 2021
Date of release
Dec 17, 2024
Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Spreading fake news
Sentence
Life sentence (25 years)
Latitude: 25.268459832557408
Longitude: 51.15783691406251
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Rashid Al-Marri was held in solitary confinement until at least the end of March 2022, during which time he was interrogated by the State Security Prosecution without his lawyers. His trial was in closed sessions, lacking minimum standards for fair and legal procedures. Al-Marri's lawyers were only allowed to peruse the case files and were not given copies to prepare their defense.
Recent case update / evolution
On 10 May 2022, the Second Circuit Criminal Court issued a life sentence against lawyer Rashid Al-Marri. On 31 October 2022, the Qatar Criminal Court of Appeal confirmed the life imprisonment sentence handed down against Al-Marri. The Al-Marri brothers were charged with: resorting to threats and other illegal means to compel the Emir to perform work within his legal jurisdiction”,“spreading false and malicious rumors and news at home and abroad with the intent of harming national interests”, “promoting, broadcasting and disseminating, through information technology means, incorrect news with the intent of endangering the safety of the state and its public order”, “stirring up public opinion and compromising the state’s social order”, and “organising a public assembly without a license”. On 31 October 2022, the Qatar Criminal Court of Appeal ratified the life imprisonment sentences handed down to the Al-Marri brothers.
On 17 December 2024, Qatari authorities released human rights lawyer Rashid Al-Marri.
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's Gender
- Man
- Type of HRD
- Lawyer
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Rashid Al-Marri is a human rights lawyer in Qatar. On 11 August 2021, Rashid Al-Marri was arrested after attempting to legally represent his brother, Dr. Hazza Al-Marri who was arrested the day before. Both brothers participated in protests regarding a new law governing Shura Council elections, which was seen as discriminatory toward the Al Murra tribe to which they belong.
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
- Geolocation of detention
Latitude: 25.268459832557408
Longitude: 51.15783691406251
- Geolocation of detention
- Detained since
- Aug 11, 2021
- Current Status
- Released
- Date of release
- Dec 17, 2024
- Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Spreading fake news
- Sentence
Life sentence (25 years)
- Recent case update / evolution
On 10 May 2022, the Second Circuit Criminal Court issued a life sentence against lawyer Rashid Al-Marri. On 31 October 2022, the Qatar Criminal Court of Appeal confirmed the life imprisonment sentence handed down against Al-Marri. The Al-Marri brothers were charged with: resorting to threats and other illegal means to compel the Emir to perform work within his legal jurisdiction”,“spreading false and malicious rumors and news at home and abroad with the intent of harming national interests”, “promoting, broadcasting and disseminating, through information technology means, incorrect news with the intent of endangering the safety of the state and its public order”, “stirring up public opinion and compromising the state’s social order”, and “organising a public assembly without a license”. On 31 October 2022, the Qatar Criminal Court of Appeal ratified the life imprisonment sentences handed down to the Al-Marri brothers.
On 17 December 2024, Qatari authorities released human rights lawyer Rashid Al-Marri.
- Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Rashid Al-Marri was held in solitary confinement until at least the end of March 2022, during which time he was interrogated by the State Security Prosecution without his lawyers. His trial was in closed sessions, lacking minimum standards for fair and legal procedures. Al-Marri's lawyers were only allowed to peruse the case files and were not given copies to prepare their defense.
- Protection actions and campaigns
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
Supporting files
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Date added
5 relationships, 4 entities