Kathmandu, April 17
The government of Qatar has denied a charge made by the international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, that it expelled many Nepali workers in the name of testing them for the coronavirus infection.
The organisation on Wednesday had said it had interviewed 20 Nepali men who told that the Qatari police detained them in March saying they were being tested for the virus, but expelled them to Nepal after several days.
However, the Qatari government’s Communications Office says, “The individuals were repatriated to their country of citizenship in accordance with Qatar’s legal system.”
It informs, “During routine inspections as part of the government’s coronavirus control measures, officials uncovered individuals engaged in illegal and illicit activity. This included the manufacture and sale of banned and prohibited substances, along with the sale of dangerous food goods that could seriously threaten the health of people if consumed.”
The government has also denied keeping the workers in appalling conditions in detention centres, saying, “The State of Qatar treats all who are arrested or detained in our country with respect, dignity, and humanity in line with international standards.”
Meanwhile, the statement accuses Amnesty of being biased against Doha. “Since the start of the coronavirus global pandemic, Amnesty International has committed a disproportionate amount of time and resources to make unfounded allegations against Qatar. They consistently distort the reality of the public health response and fail to acknowledge the numerous measures introduced to protect the wellbeing of citizens and residents. “
