For Immediate Release 17th July 2025: Justice Abroad is representing Labour Rights Activist Andy Hall to Overturn Unjust In Absentia Conviction in Qatar
For Immediate Release 17th July 2025: Justice Abroad is representing Labour Rights Activist Andy Hall to Overturn Unjust In Absentia Conviction in Qatar
Justice Abroad is representing Andy Hall, a renowned British labour rights activist. Andy was seized by local authorities on arrival in Doha, Qatar on 1st July 2025. He was then detained in relation to a conviction and prison sentence imposed on him in absentia in the country. The case concerned his passing on information in relation to alleged modern slavery to authorities and FIFA days before the World Cup 2022 began.
Andy Hall has spent over 20 years investigating and exposing forced labour, human trafficking, and abuse of migrant workers, particularly across Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. His campaigning and corporate engagement on this issue has contributed significantly to accountability, government reform, and global awareness of migrant worker rights issues.
Mr Hall only found out that he had been tried in absentia days before the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and sentenced to 1 month’s imprisonment and a 1,000 Qatari riyal fine, when he arrived at Doha Airport on 1 July 2025 and was unexpectedly detained and threatened with immediate imprisonment. Mr Hall had never been informed about the trial which took place and his conviction in absence can be seen as an attempt to deter activists from speaking out for workers in Qatar.
Andy’s conviction was based on him simply forwarding on emails that had asked for attention to be paid to workers rights issues in Qatar.
Mr Hall was denied access to a lawyer or an independent translator whilst Qatari Government officials attempted to force him to sign a document that he could not read and which had not been translated into English. After an international outcry, Mr Hall was eventually released from detention at Doha Airport, and he immediately left the country. However, he now has an unjust criminal conviction under Qatar’s cybercrime laws, which could hinder his advocacy work around the world and prevent him from assisting individuals and groups in Qatar to help protect workers there.
Qatar ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2018. Article 14(3)(d) of the ICCPR provides that a person facing a criminal charge ‘has the right to be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own.’
Justice Abroad’s Director, Barrister Michael Polak is representing Mr Hall with the aim of removing this unjust conviction. He stated the following ‘Andy’s work for the most vulnerable around the world is inspiring and countries like Qatar should be welcoming him to help them to improve the conditions of workers there, rather than attempting to stifle his work. States like Qatar have the resources to be leaders in workers’ rights and unjust convictions such as Andy’s, carried out in secret courts, do no credit to the country. Qatar has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and convictions in absentia, such as Andy’s, put them in breach of their international obligations under this treaty as well as customary international law, which protects the right to a fair trial, if they refuse to expunge Andy’s conviction.’
Mr Hall is raising funds for his legal defence and the travel involved in seeking to overturn his conviction. He hopes that his fight will inspire people around the world to take a stand and to speak out for those who are the most vulnerable. You can support this campaign here.
Notes for the Press
For comments on this case by the lawyers or Mr Hall please email contact@justiceabroad.co.uk or andy@andyjhall.org or call +44 20 7936 3637 or +44 741 519 1591 (Michael Polak, Justice Abroad), +9779823486634 or +447456263653 (Andy Hall)
Andy Hall is a human rights defender and independent migrant worker rights specialist, researcher/investigator and activist, based in Asia since 2005. Born in the United Kingdom, he lived in Thailand from 2005 to 2016, during which time he became an internationally recognised human rights defender, migration specialist and campaigner on migrant rights, empowerment and modern-day slavery within international supply chains. He frequently travels to address committees and plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg, as a recognized and expert voice on migration, human rights and forced labour issues.
British migrant rights defender Andy Hall (centre) speaks to the media at the Bangkok South Criminal Court after the verdict was announced in a criminal case brought against him by Natural Fruit Company Ltd for criminal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act, in Bangkok, on Sept 20, 2016. Fundraising
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.
