A Kenyan security guard, Malcolm Bidali, regularly wrote about the difficulty of migrant workers in Qatar has disappeared.
Human rights groups believed he had been detained by Qatari security services since Mr Bidali condemned overcrowded dormitories, confiscated passports, and the lack of privacy.
Not long before his disappearance, Mr Bidali spoke out about his unsuccessful attempts to seek better treatment to a group of civil society organisations and trade unions.
It turns out, Malcolm Bidali was detained by the Qatari security services and is being held in an undisclosed location.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said,
“We are extremely concerned for his wellbeing, and that he may have been detained in reprisal for his legitimate human rights work.”
“We urge the authorities to disclose Malcolm’s whereabouts, and ensure he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment … If Malcolm is detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, he must be released immediately and unconditionally,”
In a written response to the Guardian, the Qatari authorities confirmed a Kenyan national was taken into custody on 5 May and was under investigation for violating Qatar’s security regulations. “The individual retains all his rights under the law. All procedures of the investigation are being carried out in accordance with Qatari law,” said a government official.
