According to reports, a woman who disappeared after she returned from Britain in support of women’s rights is being held at a mental hospital.
23-year-old Noof Al-Maadeed was last seen on October 13, when she mentioned receiving threats.
Since then there have been growing concerns about her safety. Some reports even suggested that she might be murdered.
Now a relative has come forward to say that Noof – who sought asylum in Britain after years of domestic abuse – is alive but is being kept heavily sedated and faces ‘imminent danger’.
Noof al-Maadeed, a women’s rights activist who mysteriously disappeared after she returned from Britain to Qatar, was reportedly held in a mental hospital against her will. On October 13, the 23-year-old spoke out about having received threats and was last seen.
‘We have been speaking to someone inside the hospital for updates – the situation sounds horrific and we want to have her back safe immediately,’ the relative told The Times.
Human rights advocates are asking that Qatari authorities verify she is still alive.
Noof stated that her last social media posting before disappearing was: “If there are no posts by me over the next days, then it is likely I have been given to my family in violation of my will.”
She stated earlier that three attempted murders had occurred against her.
Noof fled to Britain in 2019 and returned in October. She had apparently been promised safety by Qatar authorities.
Her case – which highlights discrimination facing women in the Gulf state – became a cause celebre two years ago when a video documenting her journey to Britain went viral.
The focus was on Qatar’s male guardianship system, in which Qatari women depend on men to allow them to travel and marry.
Noof fled to Britain in 2019. She returned home in Oct after being assured by Qatari authorities that she was safe. Her case – which highlights discrimination facing women in the Gulf state – became a cause celebre two years ago when a video documenting her journey to Britain went viral. (File photo of Doha’s capital Qatar)
Noof made a March appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. She claimed she had suffered constant ‘physical, emotional, and verbal abuse’ from’some members of my family’. Her freedom of movement was also limited, she said.
It was a surprise to many that she decided to move back to Qatar. She said in a video that she had lived a normal life in Britain until the day that made me feel that I didn’t belong. That was when it became clear that she wanted to return to her home country. However, there were numerous dangers, fears, and difficulties if she did.
She said, “I am still Noof who fled defending women’s rights.”
Rothna Begum is a senior researcher in women’s rights at Human Rights Watch. She told The Mail that Noof was last heard of more than two months ago.
We and her friends were unable to get in touch with her. It would constitute incommunicado imprisonment to deny or prevent someone from accessing the outside world.
“We asked her to tell us directly what she would like from the state, including her wishes for protection and care.
“Holding someone against their will, regardless of where they are, would be arbitrary detention.
“We repeatedly called the Qatari authorities, asking them to release Noof Al-Maadeed from detention and allow her to access the outside world including the phone. We also supported her decision to lead an independent lifestyle.