Qatari Man Gets Life in Prison for Poetry Critical of Emir
Today, a court in Qatar sentenced Mohamed ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami to life in prison, probably for his “Jasmine Poem.”

The charges, according to Reuters (via al-Ajami’s lawyer), were “incitement to overthrow the government and criticising the ruling emir.” Doha News said it remained unclear what al-Ajami was convicted of, but:
Gregg Carlstrom @glcarlstrom: Confirmed to me by lawyer for Qatari poet Mohamed al-Ajami: sentenced to life today for charges reportedly including “insulting the emir.”
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Amnesty International said in October that “The prosecution’s case against him is reportedly based on a poem he wrote in 2010 criticising Qatar’s emir,” but it’s widely believed that the real reason is al-Ajami’s “Jasmine Poem,” which declares that “we are all Tunisia in the face of the repressive” regimes.
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According to Amnesty, Al-Ajami has one week to submit his appeal.
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More:
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Global Voices: Life Sentence for Qatari Poet for Insulting Amir
Poeta catarí es condenado a prisión perpetua > Poemas del Alma
November 30, 2012 @ 3:02 pm
[…] http://arablit.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/qatari-man-given-life-in-prison-for-insulting-poetry/ http://poetryandpoetsinrags.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/news-at-eleven-mohammed-al-ajami-also.html […]
November 30, 2012 @ 6:42 pm
Hi, has anybody translated this poem into English? I can imagine that the case of this poet would be more known then in English speaking countries.
November 30, 2012 @ 7:00 pm
Angelica, I have asked around, and I haven’t turned up anyone who has done / is working on a translation. I think the radio program “The World” was looking for one as well.
December 15, 2012 @ 9:49 pm
Thank you very much for replieing. Yes, it is sad that his case cannot be promoted through that poem. When you know more, I would be very happy to know more too.
December 16, 2012 @ 9:22 pm
Here is a partial translation http://arablit.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/something-unbelievable-to-have-somebody-arrested-for-a-poem/
Also, I will be posting a letter shortly, I hope, that is being sent to Qatari embassies around the world.
Qatari Man Gets Life in Prison for Poetry Critical of Emir « theresaeaston
December 2, 2012 @ 7:10 am
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