SECTION27 welcomes the intervention of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to demand that Al Jazeera reemploy MR in the position of Managing Editor with retroactive effect. MR is a South African journalist who was dismissed by Al Jazeeera, detained in Doha State Prison and then deported from Qatar in January 2011 because of his HIV status. ITUC, which represents 175 million workers all over the world, has written letters to the Emir of Qatar and the Ministry of Labour urging the government of Qatar to ensure the retroactive reappointment of MR. They have made these letters public. <http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/12_01_25_ituc_letter_hivaids_qatar_mol.pdf>

94% of workers in Qatar are migrants, primarily from developing countries. The dismissal, detention and deportation of MR is not an isolated incident. In this respect, ITUC’s letters point out that “The legally-sanctioned dismissal and deportation of these migrant workers in the event that they test HIV positive places a major burden on their home countries in dealing with loss of income, increased unemployment and increased demands on domestic health systems.”

The South African labour movement, particularly COSATU and FEDUSA, and the South African government support SECTION27 in challenging the laws and policies of Qatar through the Independent Labour Organisation (ILO), and in demanding that Al Jazeera reemploy MR in the position of Managing Editor with retroactive effect and a formal apology for the discrimination he has suffered.

Up to this point, SECTION27 has received no response to letters we have written to Al Jazeera and the Qatari government. As a result, we will hold a picket of Al Jazeera from 1-2pm on Tuesday 14 February 2012 at the Al Jazeera offices in Johannesburg at 1 Park Road, Richmond, Johannesburg, 2092. We call on trade union members, journalist and people who believe in human rights to show solidarity and join us.