| Qatar has been cited for frequent abuses in human rights. In its first annual report, a Qatari human rights group said the emirate has engaged in illegal arrests and detentions. The Doha-based National Human Rights Committee cited the arrest and detention of people without cause. "There are cases where people are detained without trial or have been arrested without any apparent reason," Ali Bin Samikh Al Merri, secretary-general of the committee, said. "However, we have raised the issue with the Interior Ministry and we are confident they will follow up on the cases." The report said illegal detentions and arrests have been prevalent in 2004. The committee was approved by the emirate and issued its report on May 9. |