Campaign by lawyers to free Qatar 'Mandela'

A London law firm has begun a campaign to secure the release from prison in Qatar of a man that it claims is a 'Mandela in the making'.The campaign coincides with the second anniversary of the incarceration of Abdul Rahman Al-Nuaimi, who north London firm Salfiti & Co said has not been charged or tried.Solicitor Amjad Salfiti, who is representing Mr Al-Nuaimi, added that Mr Al-Nuaimi has not been allowed access to his lawyers.The firm has retained a barrister from Cherie Booth QC's human rights set Matrix Chambers, who will launch a Pinochet-style challenge when Qatari government members visit the UK this summer.Mr Al-Nuaimi's arrest in 1998 came shortly after he handed a petition to the Qatar parliament, criticising the government's policies and lack of genuine reforms.

LINKS www.qatarprisoner.com

Neil Rose