PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 22/001/2006

14 February 2006

Further Information on UA 63/05 (MDE 22/001/2005, 15 March 2005) and follow-up (MDE 22/002/2005, 18 August 2005) - Fear for Safety

QATAR Hamda Fahad Jassem Al-Thani (f)

Hamda Fahad Jassem Al-Thani continues to be forcibly confined to a room in her family’s home in the capital, Doha. Amnesty International received a plea for help from her in December 2005. She said: “I ask you to help end my suffering and to help me return to my husband, whom I chose entirely of my own accord, this being the most fundamental of my God-given rights, as enshrined in international human rights conventions. Moreover, I am almost 30 years old and a university graduate, which is to say that I am a rational, educated adult who is aware of the decisions she makes.”

The ill-treatment experienced by Hamda is incompatible with her most basic human rights including Article 3 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” and Article 16 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that: “Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.”

Hamda Fahad Jassem Al-Thani married an Egyptian national, in Egypt, on 5 November 2002. Nine days later, she was allegedly drugged and abducted by members of the Qatari security forces, who took her back to Qatar. According to reports, she was detained in secret in the al-Selyea area of Doha for five months, until April 2003, and then transferred to the offices of the state's Special Security Directorate in Doha, where she was detained until November 2003. The security forces reportedly then handed her over to the custody of her family, who have held her against her will at their home since then.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- expressing concern that Hamda Fahad Jassem Ali Al-Thani continues to be forcibly confined at her family's home against her will and that she is at risk of ill-treatment;

- urging the authorities to take immediate steps to intervene on her behalf and end her forcible confinement;

- urging the authorities, in compliance with their obligations as a UN member state, to protect and enable Hamda Fahad Jassem Ali Al-Thani to exercise her right to liberty and security of person and her right not to be subjected to arbitrary detention.

APPEALS TO:

His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Amir of the State of Qatar

PO Box 923

Doha, Qatar

Fax: + 974 436 12 12 (It may be difficult to get through; please keep trying)

Salutation: Your Highness

His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

PO Box 115

Doha, Qatar

Fax: + 974 432 7734/ 432 3339 (It may be difficult to get through; please keep trying)

Salutation: Your Highness

COPIES TO:

His Excellency Shaikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO Box 250

Doha, Qatar

Fax: + 974 438 3745/ 429 454 (It may be difficult to get through; please keep trying)

His Excellency Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanem

Minister of Justice

PO Box 917

Doha, Qatar

Fax: + 974 483 28 68

and to diplomatic representatives of Qatar accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 27 March 2006.