Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Qatar (Ratification: 2007)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Penalties involving compulsory labour as a punishment for expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee recalls that sentences of imprisonment (which may involve hard labour by judicial decision, by virtue of section 61 of the Penal Code, and compulsory labour, by virtue of section 62 of the Penal Code) may be imposed under certain provisions of the national legislation in circumstances which are covered by Article 1(a) of the Convention, namely:

• section 115 of the Penal Code, which prohibits the dissemination of information or false statements on the country’s domestic situation which damage the economy, the prestige of the State or national interests;
• section 134 of the Penal Code, which prohibits any open criticism or defamation of the Prince or his heir (punishable by life imprisonment);
• section 46 of Act No. 8 of 1979 on publications, which prohibits any criticism of the Prince or his heir, and section 47 of the same Act, which prohibits the publication of any defamatory documents on the president of an Arab or Muslim country or a friendly country, as well as documents prejudicial to the national currency or raising confusion concerning the economic situation of the country;
• sections 15 and 17 of Act No. 18 of 2004 on public meetings and demonstrations, which prohibit public assembly without prior authorization;
• section 6 of Act No. 14 of 2014 promulgating the Cybercrime Prevention Law, providing for a maximum of three years in prison or a fine of 500,000 Qatari riyal for anyone convicted of spreading “false news” on the internet or for posting online content that “violates social values or principles,” or “insults or slanders others”;
• sections 42 and 53 of Decree-Law No. 21 of 2020 on private associations and foundations, repealing Act No. 12 of 2004 concerning associations, but reprising sections 35 and 43 of Act No. 12 of 2004, which prohibit the creation of political associations and provide for a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding one year for any person who carries out an activity contrary to the purpose for which an association was created.

The Committee takes note of the Government’s statement, in its report, that it carries out periodic reviews of all laws and legislation with a view to ensuring compliance with international standards. The Government also states that work of judicial detainees does not constitute forced labour, as it aims to develop prisoners in preparation for their integration into society as useful and productive members following their release. The Government therefore considers that this labour differs in its essence from the concept of “forced labour”, which is strictly prohibited under national legislation. The Committee recalls, in this regard, that the Convention prohibits the imposition of any form of compulsory prison labour in the situations covered under Article 1, even when the work is imposed because of a conviction by a court of law and is designed for rehabilitation purposes.

Moreover, the Committee takes note of the concern expressed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, in its 2022 concluding observations, about broad and vague provisions contained in Act No. 2 of 2020 amending the Criminal Code, under which punishment of up to five years of prison can be imposed for the dissemination of rumours or false news (CCPR/C/QAT/CO/1). The Committee observes that this refers to new section 136 bis, which authorizes the imprisonment of “anyone who broadcasts, publishes or republishes false or biased rumours, statements or news, or inflammatory propaganda, domestically or abroad with the intent to harm national interests, stir up public opinion, or infringe on the social system or the public system of the state”.

The Committee also takes note of the concern expressed by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), in its 2024 concluding observations, about reports that journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders who have published information on the situation of migrant workers in Qatar and other related issues have been detained, arrested or deported on the basis of broad and vague legal provisions such as the dissemination of rumours or false news, or the posting online of content that violates social values or principles or spreading false information on the Internet (CERD/C/QAT/CO/22-23).

The Committee therefore urges the Government to take the necessary measures to amend the above-mentioned provisions of the legislation so as to ensure that, in law and in practice, no penalties involving compulsory labour shall be imposed on any person as a punishment for acts through which they express political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in this regard. Pending the adoption of such measures, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of the above-mentioned provisions, including information on prosecutions and penalties applied, as well as on the facts that led to the convictions.