Doha Centre journalist forbidden to leave Qatar
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 24 March 2009 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Doha Centre journalist forbidden to leave Qatar, 24 March 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49cb32ba2.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders is deeply concerned about a hardening in the attitude of the Qatari authorities towards the Doha Centre for Media Freedom. Hajar Smouni, head of research at the Centre and a former member of the Reporters Without Borders staff, was prevented from leaving Qatar today.
"The Doha Centre has for months been struggling to keep its independence and is under pressure from the Qatari authorities," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said. "This ban is a violation of the undertakings Qatar gave to the Doha Centre."
Smouni was to have accompanied Doha Centre director-general Robert Ménard to Bahrain, where they were to meet with culture and information minister Sheikha Mai Al-Khalifa and parliamentarians to discuss Bahrain's press law. On arrival at Doha airport, she was told she was forbidden to leave the country. The ban was eventually lifted after the Centre intervened but Smouni missed her flight.
The Doha Centre was set up last year with Reporters Without Borders support under a cooperation agreement with the Qatar Foundation, which is headed by Sheikha Mozah, the wife of Qatar's Emir, Hamad Ibn Khalifa Al Thani.
