GCC: Migrant workers subjected to phone searches, arrests & restricted freedom of expression as war continues, says Human Rights Watch

According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, citing investigative findings from Human Rights Watch, migrant workers in Qatar are being subjected to invasive surveillance and arbitrary arrests as part of a crackdown on freedom of expression. The report, dated June 2026, claims that security forces have been stopping workers in public spaces and demanding access to their mobile phones to inspect their social media activity and private communications. These searches are reportedly aimed at identifying individuals who have expressed critical views of the Qatari government or who have shared information about the ongoing regional conflicts. As reported by the organization, workers who are found with 'suspicious' content on their phones have been summarily arrested and, in some cases, deported without a trial. The report alleges that these practices have created a climate of fear among the expatriate population, effectively silencing any form of dissent or advocacy for better working conditions. Human Rights Watch asserts that these actions constitute a gross violation of the right to privacy and freedom of speech. Furthermore, the report highlights that the legal basis for these searches is often unclear, and workers are rarely informed of their rights or provided with legal representation. The organization emphasizes that this repression is particularly concerning given Qatar's role as a major international hub and its public commitments to human rights. The report concludes that the international community must hold Qatar accountable for these authoritarian tactics and demand an end to the harassment of its migrant workforce.