Tuesday, December 04, 2012

News at Eleven: A Qatari poet has been sentenced to life

in prison for inciting the overthrow of the government of Qatar and insulting the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his son, the crown prince, reports say.

The verdict is likely to prove an embarrassment for Qatar which has worked hard to cultivate a progressive, modern image, and is currently playing host to a major international climate change conference.

The charges relate to a poem that 37-year-old Mohammed al-Ajami, a father of four, recited in 2010 before a small, private audience in his flat in Egypt. One audience member subsequently posted the poem online.

from BBC News: Qatari poet appeals over life prison sentence
then Human Rights Watch: Qatar: Poet's Conviction Violates Free Expression
then The Wall Street Journal: Qatari Poet Sentenced To Life In Prison
then The Globe and Mail: Qatar sentences poet to life in prison for criticizing emir
then Amnesty International News: Qatar: Outrageous life sentence for 'Jasmine poet'
then Bikya Masr: Qatar poet hopes appeal to save him from life in jail

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