Originally published on September 18, 2014, at ForceChange.com
Target: Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar
Goal: Applaud the release of human rights workers who were secretly abducted by the police
Researching human rights abuses against migrant workers living in Qatar, two British citizens disappeared while under heavy police surveillance. After being harassed and followed by law enforcement officials, the two human rights activists checked out of their hotel to return home and simply vanished. A previous ForceChange petition demanded the immediate release of these two human rights workers, and thankfully, the activists have been freed.
While working for the Norwegian human rights group, the Global Network for Rights and Development, Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev flew to Qatar to investigate the treatment of migrant workers constructing the facilities for FIFA’s 2022 World Cup. The night before their disappearance, Krishna Upadhyaya sent a message to a friend in Norway about the heavy police surveillance and harassment being conducted against them. On the day of their disappearance, many people reported seeing numerous plain-clothed policemen surveying their hotel.
andrewemett 