Human Rights Watch and FairSquare have once again called for FIFA and Qatari officials to offer a fair trial for World Cup 2022 Organising Committee whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais as the case heads to Qatar’s final Court of Appeal.
Rights groups have claimed that the judgement that upheld Ibhais’ conviction on December 5, 2021, at the appeal court has further violated his rights for a fair trial.
"While it is Abdullah Ibhais who has been on trial, it is the Qatari justice system that should be scrutinised following such flawed judgments," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
"The Qatari justice system is responsible for protecting the rights not just of Ibhais, but of thousands of people connected with the World Cup."
Ibhais plans to appeal his conviction for bribery at Qatar’s Court of Cassation as he believes that the court based his conviction on a tainted confession and that it was a retaliation for his criticism of Qatar’s handling of a strike by migrant workers in 2019.
Ibhais was convicted on charges of bribery, violations of the integrity of tenders and profits, and intentional damage to public funds. The charges against Ibhais and two other defendants - Ibhais’ brother who lives in Turkey and another Saudi citizen - relate to a Supreme Committee tender for social media services.
Ibhais’ confession, which he retracted, was the sole piece of evidence considered by the appeal court. Ibhais also said the confession was extracted in a...
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