On November 18 and 19, 2024, an event celebrating the fight against corruption showcased the efforts of two prominent figures in the international judicial landscape: Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, former Attorney General of Qatar and now a deputy in Qatar’s Shura Council, and Iván Vincenti Rojas, Attorney General of Costa Rica. This event, intended to highlight global advancements in transparency and integrity, took on a deeply ironic, if not cynical, tone given the documented actions of these two individuals.
Ali bin Fetais Al Marri: The False Champion of Transparency
Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, previously heralded as a leading figure in Qatar’s fight against corruption, embodies a glaring contradiction between rhetoric and reality. While Qatar invests heavily in cultivating an international image of justice and transparency, the truth reveals a much darker reality.
The case of Tayeb Benabderrahmane, a French citizen subjected to grave human rights violations during his time in Qatar, exemplifies this hypocrisy. In January 2020, during Ali bin Fetais Al Marri’s tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Benabderrahmane was arbitrarily detained, subjected to 307 days of physical and psychological torture, deprived of his fundamental rights, and sentenced to death in absentia following a secret trial. These abuses, revealed through media investigations and corroborated by documents disclosed by a Qatari whistleblower, underscore the duplicity of a state that claims to uphold international justice.
Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, in his capacity as Attorney General, not only tolerated these abuses but played a central role in enabling them. Under his leadership, Qatar’s judicial system was weaponized to suppress dissenting voices, falsify documents, extort sensitive information, and impose inhumane sentences in blatant disregard of international norms. Although he now serves as a deputy in Qatar’s Shura Council, his legacy as Attorney General casts a long shadow. How can credibility be granted to someone who presided over such systemic corruption and repression?
Iván Vincenti Rojas: A Complicit Silence?
On the Costa Rican side, Iván Vincenti Rojas, the Attorney General, seems to have aligned himself with this charade by participating in events that highlight Ali bin Fetais Al Marri as a key figure in the fight against corruption. By sharing a stage with an individual so closely tied to systemic human rights abuses, Mr. Vincenti Rojas not only undermines his own credibility but also tarnishes the reputation of his country.
Costa Rica, long celebrated for its commitment to human rights and the rule of law, risks damaging its image through such associations. By ignoring Qatar’s blatant abuses, Iván Vincenti Rojas sends a troubling message: strategic alliances and diplomatic collaborations take precedence over the defense of fundamental principles.
A Troubling Double Standard
How can one claim to transparency and the fight against corruption while turning a blind eye to Qatar’s numerous human rights violations? The case of Tayeb Benabderrahmane, widely covered in the media, exposes the repressive and arbitrary practices of a state that manipulates justice for political ends. Yet, neither Ali bin Fetais Al Marri nor Iván Vincenti Rojas has publicly addressed these abuses.
Instead, their collaboration in international forums, ostensibly dedicated to promoting human rights and combating corruption, reveals a deeply concerning double standard. Such events become mere public relations platforms, whitewashing the reputations of individuals who, in reality, perpetuate entrenched systems of corruption and repression.
The Tayeb Benabderrahmane Case: A Test for the International Community
The plate of Mr. Benabderrahmane is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern of systemic repression, judicial falsification, and intimidation of those who dare to expose wrongdoing. If individuals like Ali bin Fetais Al Marri and Iván Vincenti Rojas choose to remain silent—or worse, cooperate with the regimes responsible—they betray the very principles they purport to uphold.
It is time for the international community to demand accountability. The human rights violations committed under Ali bin Fetais Al Marri’s watch and Iván Vincenti Rojas’ complicit silence must not go unnoticed. These men, who style themselves as champions of justice, must be held to account. Defending human rights and promoting transparency require more than empty rhetoric; They demand concrete actions and an unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
A Call to Vigilance
The case of Tayeb Benabderrahmane serves as a stark reminder that lofty speeches are not enough. Global citizens must remain vigilant against figures who, under the guise of noble intentions, perpetuate systems of repression and impunity. The fight against corruption cannot be credible when led by those who benefit from its very existence.
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