NEW YORK (May 26, 2026) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) calls on the Kingdom of Jordan to honor its international human rights obligations by ensuring that Abdullah Ibhais, a media strategy expert and Qatar FIFA World Cup whistleblower, can freely travel to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum from June 1 to 3, 2026.
On May 10, 2026, Jordanian authorities at Queen Alia International Airport detained Ibhais for nearly three hours upon his return from speaking at Nordic Media Days in Bergen, Norway. Officials questioned him extensively about his public engagements, confiscated his passport, and summoned him to the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) headquarters in Amman.
During multiple subsequent visits to the GID headquarters to retrieve his passport, authorities subjected Ibhais to prolonged questioning by unidentified officers. He was informed that a previous understanding allowing him to discuss his arbitrary detention in Qatar was being revoked. Authorities instructed him to cancel all planned public engagements, including his upcoming participation at the Oslo Freedom Forum, and to cease all commentary regarding Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his personal legal case, and the conditions of migrant workers.
The interrogations heavily centered on his public advocacy. Officers accused him of misrepresenting his treatment in Qatari custody and repeatedly dismissed the findings of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which had previously ruled his imprisonment in Qatar as arbitrary and a violation of international law.
Authorities then pressured Ibhais to sign a written pledge committing to total public silence regarding Qatar. Following his refusal, officers warned of a potential travel ban, prolonged administrative detention, and blacklisting. They threatened to charge him with “disturbing relations with a brotherly country” and ensure that he would spend seven years in prison.
Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer of HRF, urged Jordanian authorities to align their actions with international standards.
“We call on Jordan to honor its human rights obligations and ensure that a dedicated human rights defender can freely pursue his case and continue to advocate for marginalized workers,” El-Hage stated.
“The actions of Jordanian authorities risk turning a diplomatic issue for Qatar into an unnecessary human rights crisis for Jordan. Abdullah Ibhais is a whistleblower who has already endured severe hardship for refusing to compromise the truth,” said El-Hage.
His passport currently remains in the custody of Jordanian authorities, leaving his legal and travel status entirely uncertain. Without his travel documents, Ibhais is unable to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum. Furthermore, he is prevented from participating in a virtual deposition on May 30, 2026, where he is scheduled to testify as a witness. This deposition is part of a pending U.S. District Court case concerning allegations of forced labor and human trafficking associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup. To fulfill this legal mandate securely, the arrangement requires his physical presence in Oslo, Norway.
HRF urges Jordanian authorities to resolve this matter promptly, ensuring that Ibhais can travel safely and continue his vital advocacy work.
Hit enter to search or ESC to close
