Qatari Poet’s 15 Year Prison Sentence Upheld

Qatari Court Upholds Jail Sentence for Poet Mohammed al-Ajami.

In November 2011 Qatari poet Mohammed al-Ajami was sentenced to life in prison for purportedly criticizing the emir in his poem “Tunisian Jasmine.” In February 2012 his sentence was reduced to 15 years. This October al-Ajami also sought the appeal of the Court of Cassation, which upheld the 15 year sentence.
This video was originally posted by SurenaNewsOnline on October 23, 2013.

Mohammed al-Ajami’s poem “Tunisian Jasmine.”

English translation of “Tunisian Jasmine.” Human rights organizations are using al-Ajami’s imprisonment as an example of the lack of freedom of expression within Qatar.
This video was originally posted by SoapBox Poets on May 9, 2013.