براء نزار ريان@BaraaNezarRayan
Public statement
Qatari authorities arrested me over a single tweet, threatened me with three years’ prison, tortured and terrorized me, cut off my livelihood, and denied my legal rights.
After the U.S. struck Iran in June 2025, I tweeted: “They paid Trump trillions to protect them, yet he set their house on fire — take heed, people of insight.” I named no ruler or country and meant no insult. The next day security summoned and detained me; while I was jailed, Iran struck Al-Udeid — my tweet had been posted a day or two earlier and was unrelated.
A conceited officer, M. M. Sh., interrogated me, dismissed my record defending Qatar, and demanded my phone passwords and social-media logins, especially X. I refused, saying I had a wife, four veiled daughters, and family photos on the device. He recorded my refusal and barred me from contacting my family; my wife only found me after two days at Al-Deheyl prison for cybercrimes.
I spent four days among criminal detainees and was brought before the State Security Prosecution twice. I was accused of “stirring public opinion” — publishing inflammatory material with intent to agitate — a charge that can carry up to three years. The prosecutor extended my detention, ordered a special investigation, and authorized seizure and inspection of my devices and confiscation of my X account.
My arrest came as my children sat final exams; my son Nizar was taking high-school finals. By the grace of God, he remained unaffected and scored nearly 99%.
From arrest to release, officers pressured me to pledge silence on politics; I refused, saying I could not be silent while my people in Gaza were under attack. In the hours before my release I was physically and psychologically abused: a cybercrimes officer tightened iron cuffs until they dug into my bones, then threw me into a transport van where my hands were further damaged. I showed the deep marks at the cybercrimes headquarters in Unaizah; the officer mocked me.
They threatened indefinite imprisonment unless I unlocked my phone and surrendered my accounts. I refused; they kept my phone. I grieve most for the family photos I cannot retrieve. After failing to extract my passwords, an officer warned they would not forgive my “stubbornness.”
About a month after my release, last July, I was denied boarding on a flight to Doha and learned my name was blacklisted from entry to Qatar. Two months later, on 30 September, the university housing office ordered me to vacate my home — effectively forcing my family to uproot mid-school year. I asked that only my salary be stopped so my daughters could finish the year; the security decision would not allow it, despite my contract running to August 2028.
Recently I have faced orchestrated harassment and insults from some Qatari influencers—some implicated in the smear campaign that led to my arrest and apparently linked to security bodies. They claim to defend Qatar but, in my view, damage its image. Their attacks compelled me to tell my side.
I lived in Qatar six years without insulting anyone, performed my work well, and received top evaluations. I spoke respectfully and refused to be silent while my people were under fire; I refused to surrender my privacy without cause and have willingly paid the price.
I remained silent about everything that happened to me and did not attack Qatar in a single word even after leaving — not out of fear or greed, but out of respect for the many dear friends I have there — many of them intervened on my behalf. Qatar still holds a special and valued place in my heart. However, I did not expect the harm to continue and extend even after my termination, nor to be subjected to attacks and insults despite my silence and efforts to preserve goodwill.
Baraa Nizar Rayyan
21.03.2026
