Mohammed al-‘Ajami, a well-known
Qatari poet, is serving a 15-year prison sentence for writing and reciting a
poem considered critical of the ruling family. He is a prisoner of conscience,
held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Mohammed al-‘Ajami was in Egypt, studying Arabic Literature at Cairo
University, when on August 24, 2010, he recited a poem (‘The Cairo Poem’) in
his apartment to a group of about seven people. The poem was recorded and
uploaded to YouTube by one of the seven and was circulated widely online. More
than a year later, on November 16, 2011, state security agents arrested
Mohammed al-‘Ajami in Qatar.
The authorities deemed that the poem insulted the Emir, Qatar’s head of
state, and Mohammed al-‘Ajami was tried on charges including ‘publicly inciting
the overthrow of the ruling system’ and ’publicly challenging the authority of
the Emir‘.
Here is a sample letter for you to send, including the address.
In Service,
Alireza Azizi
Qatar Country Specialist
