Emir of Qatar Visits Nepal for Labor and Hostage Discussions
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Nepal on Tuesday, marking his first visit to the South Asian nation. During his two-day stay, the Emir is anticipated to engage in talks on the working conditions of Nepalese migrant workers in Qatar and the ongoing hostage crisis involving a Nepalese student held captive by Hamas.
An estimated 400,000 Nepalese workers are employed in Qatar, primarily in construction and manual labor sectors. In recent years, concerns have been voiced regarding the extreme heat, inadequate living conditions, and instances of abuse faced by these workers. In a statement released on Sunday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch urged Qatar, Nepal, and Bangladesh to prioritize labor protection for migrant workers during the Emir’s visit.
‘It is crucial to move beyond diplomatic pleasantries regarding their long-standing labor ties and seize this opportunity to publicly commit to concrete, enforceable protections that address the serious abuses that migrant workers in Qatar continue to face,’ said Michael Page, the agency’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, as quoted in the statement.
The statement further noted that while jobs in Qatar have enabled migrant workers to ‘send remittances back home to their families,’ many have faced abuse, including ‘wage theft, contract violations, and chronic illness linked to unsafe working conditions.’
Nepali officials are also expected to seek the Emir’s assistance in securing the release of Bipin Joshi, a local resident held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Joshi was among a group of 17 Nepalese students studying agriculture near the Gaza Strip when Hamas attacked Southern Israel in October. Ten students were killed, six were injured, and Joshi was taken captive. While there has been no information on his condition or whereabouts, Nepalese officials believe he is still alive.
Hamas’ sudden attack in October resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages. This sparked a conflict that has claimed the lives of over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with at least two-thirds being women and children, according to the local health ministry.
Throughout the Gaza conflict, Qatar has played a key role as a mediator. Along with the U.S. and Egypt, it was instrumental in negotiating a brief cessation of hostilities in November that resulted in the release of dozens of hostages. A spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday that the country was evaluating its role in facilitating talks between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. He also mentioned that discussions were underway regarding Hamas’ presence in Qatar, where the militant group has maintained a political office in the capital, Doha, for several years. In January, France and Qatar brokered an agreement for the delivery of medicine to the hostages held by Hamas.
