DOHA, Qatar — A Qatari poet was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for an Arab Spring-inspired verse that officials claim insulted Qatar’s emir and encouraged the overthrow of the nation’s ruling system, his defense attorney said.
The verdict in a state security court is certain to bring a fresh outpouring of denunciations by rights groups, which have repeatedly called for the release of poet Muhammad ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami. It also marks another example of tough measures by judicial and security officials in the Gulf against possible challenges to their rule since the Arab Spring revolts began.
Comments
We should offer to bring this man and his family to the United States. Although we have current security issues in the region, our long term interests and those of legitimate critics of anti-democratic regimes would be served by a more decisive demonstration of concern for human rights...especially of poets.