Qatar deports migrant workers after they organized protest

DOHA, Aug. 23 (YPA) – A labor rights organization has said that Qatar deported migrant workers after they organized a rare protest against non-payment of wages, less than three months before the start of the World Cup soccer tournament.

The Qatari government, which has faced criticism over its treatment of migrants, confirmed the arrest of some workers who participated in the August 14 protest, but gave no details of their expulsion or their stay.

During the protest earlier this month in the capital Doha, at least 60 workers — including some who had reportedly not been paid for seven months — held up traffic outside the Al Bandary company, according to Equidem, a London-based labor rights campaign organization.

“We have spoken to workers involved in the protests, (including) one who has been deported back to Nepal, and confirmed he has returned,” Equidem head Mustafa Qadri said.

“Others from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Egypt and the Philippines have also been deported,” he added.

Qatar’s government said on Sunday “a number of protesters were detained for breaching public security laws.”

“A minority of protesters who failed to remain peaceful and acted in breach of Qatar’s public security laws face deportation by court order,” it added.

It did not, however, give details of how many workers were involved.

YPA