Sultan Khlaifa al-Khulaifi, is a Qatari blogger, human rights activist, and the former Secretary-General of the Swiss-based Alkarama Foundation.
Al-Khulaifi was in Qatar in March 2011. Both before and after his , al-Khulaifi advocated for individuals with close connections to freedom organizations.
Views
Between early 2009 and 2010, Al-Khulaifi wrote a blog which recorded his personal and political views.[1] In April 2009, al-Khulaifi published a post addressed to the Emir and people of Qatar. In the post, al-Khulaifi criticised the Qatari government for holding secular and what he called “blasphemous” laws about alcohol consumption, bars, and discos. He held the government responsible for the spread of prostitution. Al-Khulaifi called the government " because it did not follow the selected Qur'anic texts he provided in his post.[2]
Human rights activism
Until 2010, Al-Khulaifi served as Secretary-General of the Alkarama Foundation, a Swiss based human rights non-governmental organisation.
In early 2013, Doha News reported that al-Khulaifi was working with the Geneva-registered Adel Group for Human Rights. The Adel Group for Human Rights primarily examines cases of detention in Qatar.
Al Jazeera noted that Al-Khalaifi's last blog post had criticized censorship in Qatar. His lawyer stated that "just for expressing his own opinion, it must be, because [he], . The Qatari government declined to comment.[3] Al-Khalaifi in April.[4]
Reactions
Amnesty International criticized netizens.[5]
US conservative watchdog Accuracy in Media later criticized the reporting of the Qatar-owned network Al Jazeera on the al-Khalaifi case, for an article which concluded "The Qatari government could not be contacted for comment". A spokesman asked, "How could they not get comment from the very regime that owns them? That just doesn't make any sense."[6]
References
- ↑ "سلطان بن خليفة الخليفي". Blogger (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ↑ ": رسالة نصح واشفاق إلى أمير وأهل قطر". Binkhaleefa.blogspot.com. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ↑ "Amnesty: Qatari blogger detained". Al Jazeera. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "Freedom in the World 2012 - Qatar". Freedom House via UNHCR. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "2012: Netizens imprisoned". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ Sherry Ricchiardi (21 April 2011). "The Al Jazeera Effect". American Journalism Review. Retrieved 31 October 2012.