JEDDAH — "Notoriety is often mistaken for fame," is a famous quote that aptly describes the state of affairs in the State of Qatar. Despite unending international condemnations and denouncements of human rights violations in the country, Qatar seems to remain both defiant and indifferent. On Monday, the Human Rights Watch, a global rights body that investigates and reports on abuses, reported an outbreak of coronavirus in Doha's central prison and warned about its spread inside the jail complex, saying it could turn into "a public health disaster." The HRW has asked the Qatari authorities take urgent measures to better protect prisoners and prison staff from the deadly virus. It has asked for putting in place appropriate hygiene and cleaning protocols, including providing training and supplies such as masks, sanitizers, and gloves to reduce risk of further infection. "Qatari authorities should move quickly to avoid wider spread of coronavirus that risks infecting prisoners, prison staff, and Doha residents," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at HRW. "Qatar can start by releasing vulnerable prisoners such as older people and those held for low-level or nonviolent offenses and by ensuring that the remaining prisoners have adequate access to medical care." Qatar issued the statement late on Monday following the HRW's report, confirming that there are 12 coronavirus cases in its central prison. HRW's report is based on interviews it had with six foreign detainees recently. They described a deterioration in prison conditions in Qatar's only central prison in Doha after several prisoners were suspected of having contracted the virus. The detainees said that guards informally told them in recent weeks about the suspected outbreak, though Qatari authorities have not publicly confirmed it. HRW's stinging report follows a series of reports and investigations by international organizations including the HRW and Amnesty International, highlighting how the Qatari authorities continue to remain indifferent to the plight of migrant workers who are being exposed to coronavirus in their crowded workplaces as well as at their shanty camps. Qatar has reported an extraordinary high proportion of COVID-19 infections among the laborers as compared to other segment of the society.
