Qatar: Crackdown on online dissent follows funeral of Father Amir

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Qatari security forces have detained at least 18 individuals, including citizens and long-term expatriates, for social media posts deemed 'disrespectful' during the national mourning period for the Father Amir. According to HRW, the detentions mark a significant escalation in the use of the country's repressive 2014 Cybercrime Law and the 2020 Penal Code amendments. The report alleges that those detained were questioned about their opinions on the state’s succession process and their past criticisms of the country’s legal system. HRW claims that several of the detainees are being held in incommunicado detention, with families being denied information regarding their whereabouts or the legal basis for their arrest. The source further notes that Qatari authorities have increased digital surveillance, using advanced spyware to monitor private messaging groups of known human rights defenders and academic critics. As reported by HRW, this crackdown contradicts the state’s efforts to project an image of a modern, stable constitutional monarchy. The organization emphasizes that the arbitrary detention of peaceful critics violates international human rights standards, including the right to freedom of expression and due process. HRW calls on the Qatari government to immediately release all those held for peaceful speech and to repeal laws that criminalize 'spreading fake news' or 'insulting the state,' which are used as catch-all tools for political repression.