The Daily Mail reports that Qatari women’s rights activist Noof Al- Maadeed, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances after returning to Qatar from Britain, is being forcibly held in a psychiatric hospital.
A relative of Noof stated that she was still alive but under severe anesthesia and faced “imminent danger.”
The relative told The Times: “We talked to someone inside the hospital for information. It looks terrible and we want to get her back safely immediately.”
Human rights activists had called on the Qatari authorities to prove that she was alive.
In her last post on social media before she disappeared, Noof said: “If you haven’t seen any posts from me in the coming days, that means I’ve been handed over to my family against my will.”
She said earlier that there had been three attempts to kill her, adding that the authoritarian ruler of the State was “the only one who can stop the danger to my life.”Her case, which highlights the discrimination women face in Qatar, became famous two years ago when a video documenting her trip to Britain went viral.
She drew attention to the male guardianship system in Qatar, in which women depend on men to obtain permission to marry, travel, pursue higher education, and access reproductive health care.
In March, Noof appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Watch, and stated that she had always suffered “physical and emotional abuse” at the hands of “some members of my family”, and said her freedom of movement was also restricted.
Her decision to return to Qatar surprised many, and she said in a video clip: “I lived a normal life in the United Kingdom, until that day when I felt that I did not belong to it, and wanted to live in my country, but many difficulties, fears and dangers stood in the way of returning to my country.” .
She added, “I’m still the same Noof who ran away defending women’s rights.”
She continued: “We and her friends have not been able to contact her, if refusing or preventing someone from contacting the outside world amounts to detention in isolation from the outside world.”
Begum asked to hear directly from Noof regarding her own wishes for the assistance she requested from the State, including her protection and care.
The detention of anyone against their will, regardless of their location, without any legal basis amounted to arbitrary detention.
She added: “We have repeatedly requested the Qatari authorities to ensure that Noof Al- Maadeed is not subjected to any form of detention; To allow her access to the outside world, including her phone; and support its decisions to lead an independent life. “
Records show that 21 members of the British-Qatari All Party Parliamentary Group were on the free trip – worth nearly £160,000 – from October 7 to 17 last year.
On October 13, Ms al-Maadeed, 23, who had fled to Britain following years of domestic abuse but returned to Qatar after receiving assurances from the authoritarian regime she would be safe, posted a video online.
Chillingly, she said: 'If you do not see any posts from me in the coming days, that means I have been handed over to my family against my will.' No other posts followed at the time.
Ms al-Maadeed had sought asylum in the UK in 2019. When a video documenting her journey to Britain went viral, she became a cause celebre, highlighting the discrimination facing women in the Gulf state.
Since her disappearance, reports have suggested she has been murdered or is being held in a psychiatric hospital.The activist reappeared on social media on January 10 and has since tweeted six times. She has also appeared in two videos saying that she is safe and well.
Supporters, including Human Rights Watch, said they hoped the change in tone on her Twitter account reflected 'the start of Qatari authorities taking steps to ensure that she can live an independent and free life'.
The MPs' trip was organised and paid for by the Qatari regime's foreign ministry, and insiders say they were put up in one of the country's top hotels – the five-star St Regis Doha. It has 12 restaurants, a 22-bed spa retreat and a private beach.
The group included Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, Labour's Rupa Huq and Angus MacNeil of the Scottish National Party.Last night, one of the MPs on the trip insisted that it had been a fact-finding mission and that Qatari officials had been challenged on the country's poor human rights record.
Official records say the MPs went to 'discuss Qatar's humanitarian and political response to the Afghanistan crisis, preparations for the World Cup, workers' rights reform, and bilateral relations'
On average, flights, accommodation, internal travel, food and drink for each MP came to £7,500, with a total cost to the Qatari foreign ministry of £158,199.