Justice Abroad is representing Labour Rights Activist Andy Hall to Overturn Unjust In Absentia Conviction in Qatar
Justice Abroad is representing Andy Hall, a renowned British labour rights activist. Andy was seized by local authorities on arrival in Doha, Qatar on 1st July 2025. He was then detained in relation to a conviction and prison sentence imposed on him in absentia in the country. The case concerned his passing on information in relation to alleged modern slavery to authorities and FIFA days before the World Cup 2022 began.
Andy Hall has spent over 20 years investigating and exposing forced labour, human trafficking, and abuse of migrant workers, particularly across Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. His campaigning and corporate engagement on this issue has contributed significantly to accountability, government reform, and global awareness of migrant worker rights issues.
Mr Hall only found out that he had been tried in absentia days before the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and sentenced to 1 month’s imprisonment and a 1,000 Qatari riyal fine, when he arrived at Doha Airport on 1 July 2025 and was unexpectedly detained and threatened with immediate imprisonment. Mr Hall had never been informed about the trial which took place and his conviction in absence can be seen as an attempt to deter activists from speaking out for workers in Qatar.
Andy’s conviction was based on him simply forwarding on emails that had asked for attention to be paid to workers rights issues in Qatar.
Mr Hall was denied access to a lawyer or an independent translator whilst Qatari Government officials attempted to force him to sign a document that he could not read and which had not been translated into English. After an international outcry, Mr Hall was eventually released from detention at Doha Airport, and he immediately left the country. However, he now has an unjust criminal conviction under Qatar’s cybercrime laws, which could hinder his advocacy work around the world and prevent him from assisting individuals and groups in Qatar to help protect workers there.
Qatar ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2018. Article 14(3)(d) of the ICCPR provides that a person facing a criminal charge ‘has the right to be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own.’
Justice Abroad’s Director, Barrister Michael Polak is representing Mr Hall with the aim of removing this unjust conviction. He stated the following ‘Andy’s work for the most vulnerable around the world is inspiring and countries like Qatar should be welcoming him to help them to improve the conditions of workers there, rather than attempting to stifle his work. States like Qatar have the resources to be leaders in workers’ rights and unjust convictions such as Andy’s, carried out in secret courts, do no credit to the country. Qatar has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and convictions in absentia, such as Andy’s, put them in breach of their international obligations under this treaty as well as customary international law, which protects the right to a fair trial, if they refuse to expunge Andy’s conviction.’
Mr Hall is raising funds for his legal defence and the travel involved in seeking to overturn his conviction. He hopes that his fight will inspire people around the world to take a stand and to speak out for those who are the most vulnerable. You can support this campaign here.
Notes for the Press
For comments on this case by the lawyers or Mr Hall please email contact@justiceabroad.co.uk or andy@andyjhall.org or call +44 20 7936 3637 or +44 741 519 1591 (Michael Polak, Justice Abroad), +9779823486634 or +447456263653 (Andy Hall)
Michael Polak
Michael Polak is an international barrister based in London. He practises in international, criminal, and human rights law from Church Court Chambers. Michael is also a Director of Justice Abroad which helps people who need assistance dealing with legal proceedings overseas as well as working on human rights advocacy for groups and individuals. He is chair of the group Lawyers for Uyghur Rights and was awarded the International Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for 2021.
Andy Hall
Andy Hall is a human rights defender and independent migrant worker rights specialist, researcher/investigator and activist, based in Asia since 2005. Born in the United Kingdom, he lived in Thailand from 2005 to 2016, during which time he became an internationally recognised human rights defender, migration specialist and campaigner on migrant rights, empowerment and modern-day slavery within international supply chains. He frequently travels to address committees and plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg, as a recognized and expert voice on migration, human rights and forced labour issues.