British migrant rights activist Andy Hall was unjustly sentenced to prison in absentia in Qatar for whistleblowing on modern slavery
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Andy Hall is trying to raise €10,000 for a legal defense to clear his name. Help protect human rights defenders.
Summary
Renowned British migrant workers’ rights advocate Andy Hall has just found out that he was tried and sentenced in absentia, just days before the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, to one-month in prison and a 1,000 Qatari fine in Qatar. The conviction was based on false allegations that he made defamatory statements about human rights violations by a Qatari company when forwarding two email complaints.
Andy was never notified of the charges or the trial and sentencing that occurred without him being present, whilst the World Cup 2022 was being played, until he was unexpectedly detained and threatened with immediate imprisonment on arrival in Doha at the airport on 1st July 2025.
Andy is now seeking to raise €10,000 to hire a legal team in Doha to mount an appeal against his conviction. He wants quickly to clear his name so he can continue to pursue freely his strong commitment to defend the inalienable right to report on alleged human rights abuses, particularly those concerning forced labour and vulnerable migrant workers.
Main Story
On arrival in Doha, Qatar on 1st July at 1030am, I – Andy Hall, a migrant worker rights specialist — was detained for seven hours whilst being informed of a judgment and a one-month prison sentence handed down against me in absentia for a crime I didn’t even know that I was accused of and that I did not commit.
The allegations made, according to the judgement I was shown at the airport, were that I had made defamatory statements about a Qatari company engaging in modern slavery and forced labour in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. I did not even write the emails the Court and prosecution relied on in pursuing this criminal case against me.
I never received any formal notice of the investigation, charges, or trial relating to this unjust conviction. What’s more, when I was detained on 1st July on arrival in Doha, I wasn’t able to immediately access in person a lawyer, an independent translator or any consular assistance from the UK government.
At the airport, I was continually pressured to sign legal documents in Arabic—a language I do not understand—under threat of immediate imprisonment if I refused. Legal experts advised me remotely that signing these documents could have triggered detention, so I politely refused and stood my ground.
Thankfully, perhaps due also to pressure from diplomats, lawyers, activists and UN officials, I was eventually released from detention, my passport returned to me and I was told that I was allowed to leave Qatar. I bought a new flight ticket and immediately flew out of the country, absolutely confused and exhausted, on the same day as I had arrived.
But this saga is not over. I have on my record an unjust criminal conviction under Qatar’s cybercrime laws. This conviction may also prevent my freedom of movement around the world for my important work to defend migrant rights. A criminal conviction can also trigger other unpredictable negative consequences.
So now, I urgently need to raise at least €10,000 to fund legal representation in Qatar to challenge this baseless conviction and make a point that reporting or advocating on modern slavery issues is not a crime.
Why This Matters
This is not just my personal ordeal. This case is emblematic of shrinking space for human rights defenders globally. It’s about dangers of broad-reaching cybercrime and defamation laws. It highlights perils of allowing trials in absentia, denying unjustly accused activists, researchers and reporters the opportunity as free human being to fully defend against convictions with access to independent lawyers, translators and consular support.
This conviction must be challenged and overturned – not just to clear my name, but to ensure good faith whistleblowing on modern slavery issues in the public interest with good intention is never criminalised.
This campaign is part of my constructive and non-confrontational, peaceful efforts to seek justice and transparency from understanding Qatari authorities to overturn the unfounded judgment and sentence against me. This can ensure lessons are learnt in Qatar to prevent such abuses occurring in future too.
I am asking for your help to ensure I can build a credible legal defense, with experienced counsel and proper translation, to challenge this verdict fairly in court in Doha, Qatar.
How Funds Will Be Used
- Legal consultation and representation in Qatar
- Certified translation of legal documents
- Filing and administrative court costs
- Travel and logistics, if safe and necessary
- Communications support to ensure transparency and updates
- Advoacy support to help build and run my campaign and submit relevant documentation
- Any funds remaining will be utilized for my migrant worker rights advocacy work
These funds will allow me to appeal the verdict, defend against the fine and sentence, and ultimately protect the legitimacy of human rights reporting for all of those who dare to stand up to fight for justice.
Who I Am
I have spent over 20 years investigating and exposingforced labour, human trafficking and abuse of migrant workers, particularly across Asia, the Middle East and the UK. My campaigning and corporate engagement on this issue has contributed significantly to accountability, government reform and global awareness of migrant worker rights issues.
You can read more about my background and work at andyjhall.org. I’ve never profited from advocacy. But now I face criminalisation—simply for doing my job.
This case threatens not only my liberty and livelihood—but the broader ability of advocates everywhere to hold systems and corporations accountable for modern slavery issues and systemic exploitation.
I’m no stranger to being threatened with litigation for my work. I fought to clear my name for 10 years in Thailand, where the Supreme Court eventually dismissed all defamation and cyber crime charges filed against me for modern slavery work. I am still facing a US$20m defamation claim in Malaysia too.
Despite the challenges I face, those I work with and those I work to protect and empower continue to energize me to continue this fight for what’s right.
Can You Help?
Please consider donating to my legal defense fund so I can challenge this verdict and stand up for the rights of whistleblowers and the migrant workers I serve. Every euro matters. If you can’t donate, please share this fundraiser with your networks also.
Reporting modern slavery allegations should not be a crime anywhere in the world. I need your support to make this clear.
Together, we can send a message that seeking justice for voiceless migrant workers is not a crime. Reporting modern slavery allegations should not be a crime anywhere in the world too.
Thank you for standing with me and for your support.
Andy Hall
