Qatar's Hidden Brutality: Migrant Workers Expose Modern Slavery

According to an investigation published by Israel Hayom on 24 December 2025, migrant workers in Qatar have exposed what the report characterizes as a regime of hidden brutality under Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The report alleges that political opponents of the government have been subjected to torture, and that critics, poets, and dissidents have received harsh sentences including life imprisonment for expressing dissent. Israel Hayom further alleges deep corruption within the Al Thani ruling family, accusing it of using state institutions for private enrichment under the Emir's leadership. According to the report, migrant workers describe extreme exploitation, including twelve-hour working days, no days off for months at a time, and pervasive racism and xenophobia at the hands of employers and supervisors. The investigation directly addresses the Emir, holding him responsible for the conditions described. Israel Hayom frames the contrast between Qatar's global public-relations spending and the lived reality of workers and dissidents as evidence of a brutal regime that suppresses domestic criticism while cultivating an international image of moderation. The report draws on worker testimonies and documentation of the treatment of regime opponents. The allegations remain as reported by the source; Qatar has previously rejected similar accusations.