human rights defender

Rashid Al-Marri

Actions and Campaigns

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.

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