Human rights follow-up

[qatar]

Practically every article in the online edition of today's Peninsula relates to the National Human Rights Committee report:

• Committees formed to study recommendations. I guess that's a good sign? More committees?
  
• QU refutes NHCR report, says that deaf students would be allowed to enroll if any ever applied. (I'm also thrilled to see that QU has a student organization devoted to human rights issues!)
  
• Imams urged to talk about maids' woes

The following aren't directly related to the report, but they illustrate some of the rights abuses the report discusses.

• Mother urges NHRC to help jailed son write school exam plus the stories of four other individuals who have recently approached the NHRC for help.
  
• Filipina domestic worker seeks asylum at embassy
  
• National accused of forcing maid into flesh trade
  
• 70 workers forced to evacuate labour camp
  
• State emerges as villian in love story
  
• And here is a representation of the usual Qatari concern about manual laborers: NIMBY!!!!!. Poor Qatari families, having to see your slave class. Boo hoo.

And, mostly unrelatedly, a shocking 85% of Qataris are unhappy with the work of Qatar's one democratic body, the Central Municipal Council.