A controversial new cybercrimes law that criminalizes the spreading of false news on the internet poses a serious threat to freedom of expression in Qatar, said Amnesty International.

Under the new law, the authorities may ban websites that they consider threatening to the safety of the country and punish anyone who posts or shares online content that undermines Qatars social values or general order, though the law fails to define the meaning of these terms.

The new cybercrimes law is a major setback for freedom of expression in Qatar, said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Programme.

It contains broad and vaguely-worded provisions that fly in the face of international standards. They effectively grant the government extensive powers to punish anyone who posts or shares content that officials consider harmful to Qatars social values or national interests.

There is a real danger that legitimate, peaceful expression could be seriously undermined by this new law by facilitating arbitrary crackdown on peaceful dissent.

The law addresses hacking, forgery, intellectual property rights and other acts that are recognizably criminal under international law but also requires telecommunications providers to block access to websites or supply evidence or records at the request of the authorities.

Freedom of expression in Qatar is strictly controlled and the local press routinely exercizes self-censorship.

In one case that demonstrates the extent of the authorities grasp on freedom of expression, well-known Qatari poet Mohammed Rashid al-Ajami is serving a 15-year prison sentence for writing and reciting a poem that was considered critical of the ruling family. It did not incite hatred, sectarianism or violence. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has repeatedly called for his immediate and unconditional release.

Mohammed al-Ajamis case is a perfect example of how the Qatari authorities have flouted the rules on freedom of expression at their whim in the past, said Said Boumedouha.

Despite Qatars attempts to portray itself of as a progressive country committed to the respect of international human rights standards, we are seeing the authorities rolling back freedoms instead of taking steps to ensure freedom of expression is protected.

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Qatar: New cybercrimes law endangers freedom of expression