Philippine overseas workers in Qatar faced arrest after participating in a rally against the apprehension of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Migrante Middle East, a support group for overseas Filipino workers, urged the Philippine government on November 3, 2023, to provide legal assistance to the detained individuals.
The rally, held without proper authorization from the Qatari government, led to the arrest of more than a dozen Filipinos.
The Philippine Embassy in Qatar confirmed the arrests and is currently engaged in discussions with Qatari authorities to offer consular assistance to those detained.
Migrante Middle East emphasized the necessity for OFWs to understand the legal frameworks of their host countries while expressing their views.
The incident raised concerns among several parties about the free speech rights of overseas Filipino workers.
Various sectors have called for solidarity with the detained OFWs and have highlighted the need for adherence to the legal processes in Qatar.
