Qatar’s Child Jockeys
Written by Haitham Sabbah on 25. May 2005, 1359hrs // Part of Haitham Sabbah's adventure in Good News, Human Rights, Photos, Qatar // Other posts by Haitham Sabbah
Yesterday, Qatari official announced that it will reportedly slap jail sentences of between three to 10 years on anyone using child jockeys in camel races, will also risk fines of between 50,000 and 200,000 riyals (13,800 and 55,000 dollars).
The Qatari government in December banned the use of children in camel races and said it would instead use robots as jockeys.
Do you like - Qatar’s Child Jockeys - 
Article Tags>> 
May 25th, 2005 at 8:29 pm
Life in Exile had some items on the subject a few months ago. UAE outlawed it, but they’re still there. I hope Qatar does better.
May 25th, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Qatar’s Child Jockeys
(Photo: Child jockeys in Qatar in April 2005 - AFP/File/Salem) Yesterday, Qatari official announced that it will reportedly slap jail sentences of between three to 10 years on anyone using child jockeys in camel races, will also risk fines…
July 14th, 2005 at 7:58 pm
Efforts of Ansar Burney, Qatar also banned use of underage children as jockeys:
ISLAMABAD, May 26, 2005: The Great efforts of Pakistan’s renowned human and civil rights activist, Ansar Burney, Advocate has once again became fruitful when after UAE the Qatar government has also banned the use of underage children as child camel jockeys in Qatar. http://www.ansarburney.org
The Crown Prince of Qatar yesterday in Doha announced severe punishments on use of underage children as camel jockeys in Qatar.
It may be recalled here that Mr Ansar Burney visited Doha, Qatar some few months ago, and met Her Highness Dr Sheikha Ghalia bint Mohammed Al Thani, who heads a high-level committee set up by Amir of Qatar, to combat human trafficking and Chairperson of the Childhood Committee at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA). Mr Burney also met other high officials and some foreign missions and discussed in length with them to bane the use of underage children working on slave labour as child camel jockeys in the region and living at private jails.
During his visit of Middle Eastern countries Ansar Burney also visited Oman. In Muscat again Mr Burney met the officials and discussed the human rights issue of Child Camel Jockeys, with the Authorities.
According to Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International, thousands of underage children as much as two to seven years old are living in Private Jails and working on slave labour as ‘Child Camel Jockeys’ in the Middle East and other Arab region. They work on slave labour from 17 to 18 hours every day and living alike as in hell.
On the appeal of Ansar Burney, the United Arab Emirates Leadership has already abolished such inhuman practice of use of underage children from the UAE.
Mr Ansar Burney, member of the American Bar Association (USA), International Bar Association (UK) and Karachi Bar Association (Pakistan), who visited the Camel race track in UAE, Qatar and Muscat, rescued hundreds of kidnapped Pakistani, Bangladeshi and underage children of other nationals to send them back to their respective countries.
The hectic efforts of Pakistan’s renowned human and civil rights activist, Ansar Burney, has changed the history in Middle East as after UAE the Qatar has also banned the use of underage children as camel jockeys.
The other governments like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also assured UK based; Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International, that the government Saudia and Kuwait will abolish the use of underage children as camel jockeys soon.
*****************************************
July 14th, 2005 at 8:00 pm
US declared Ansar Burney, Queen Silvia and 8 others as International Human Rights Heroes:
Washington DC, June 03 (HRNI): The United States Department of State in it?s ?Trafficking in Persons? Report issued (Today) 3rd of June (2005) has highly applauded the great efforts of Pakistan?s renowned human and civil rights lawyer Ansar Burney, in the field of human rights.
The United States report with a caption ?HEROES ACTING TO END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY? and a picture of Mr Ansar Burney, lauded his great services for human rights in Pakistan as well as internationally.
The US State Department with a special section in the report, declared the names of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, Ansar Burney, Chairman, Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International of Pakistan, Nancy Kassebaum, Former U.S. Senator and Wife of Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker, Ms Aida Mbodj, Family Minister of Govt. of Senegal, Angelina Atyam, Co-Founder of Concerned Parents? Association, Uganda, Somaly Mam and Pierre Legros, Co-Founders, Acting for At-Risk Women (Agir Pour Les Femmes En Situation Precaire-AFESIP), Southeast Asia, Ricky Martin, Founder of the Ricky Martin Foundation, United States of America, Sisters of Adoration, Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity, Lima, Peru, Adiba Umarova, Journalist, Tajikistan, Dewi Hughes, Media Celebrity, Indonesia and Amod Kanth, Inspector General of Police, Indian Police Service as ?HEROES ACTING TO END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY?.
According to a US report; A noted Pakistani human rights activist, Ansar Burney has worked relentlessly to bring to light the plight of thousands of South Asian and African children trafficked to Arabian Gulf countries for exploitation as camel jockeys. These abused children, some as young as two years of age, are purposely malnourished (to keep them lightweight) and denied education. As a result of Mr. Burney?s efforts, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) established its first-ever shelter for rescued child camel jockeys, and rescued 68 such children and repatriated 43 through the shelter. Mr. Burney oversees this shelter. He is quick to point out, however, that much more needs to be done to rescue, rehabilitate, and repatriate thousands of trafficked children throughout the Gulf region. ( See http://www.ansarburney.org ).
The name of Ansar Burney, Advocate is also mentioned in different countries reports on Pakistan, Middle East and Arab countries in which the great efforts of Mr Burney for international human rights issues are highly lauded.
******************************
July 30th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
Widely known as Human Rights ‘Saint’ Mr Ansar Burney, is a true International ‘HERO’ in the field of humanity and human rights.
I say that Mr Ansar Burney deserves a Noble Prize in the field of human rights.
The website of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International is http://www.ansarburney.org
July 30th, 2005 at 5:20 pm
Condoleezza Rice congratulated Ansar Burney
The American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rica, on behalf of her government has congratulated Pakistan’s world renowned human rights activist, Ansar Burney, on receiving the declaration of International Human Rights ‘HERO’ from United States.
Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice in her letter to Ansar Burney, chairman; Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International, said that; On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, I congratulate you (Ansar Burney) on being selected as a ‘HERO’ in the fight against human trafficking in the 2005 trafficking in Persons Report”.
“I commend you for your unrelenting work in shedding light on the plight of thousands of South Asian and African children who are being trafficked to the Arabian Gulf Countries as Camel Jockeys. Your Passion for eradicating this form of modern-day slavery in Pakistan is remarkable, and your efforts on behalf of the victims of this crime are truly making a difference”. She added.
“In his inaugural address this year, President George W. Bush said, “No one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave.” The United States of America is committed to making these words a reality, and we are honored to stand with you in combating human trafficking and in promoting human dignity.” She further added.
Earlier the American State department in its yearly report issued on 3rd of June in that Chairman of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International Mr Ansar Burney, Queen of Sweden Silvia and American pop singer Ricky Martin and 8 others were declared as International Heroes.
The United States Department of State has honoured a certificate signed by US Secretary of State, declaring International ‘Hero’ to Ansar Burney, member of the International Bar Association (UK), American Bar Association (USA) and Karachi Bar Association (Pakistan) in recognition to his great services for humanity and human rights around the globe.
END.
****************************
September 10th, 2005 at 11:18 am
the efforts towards banning child camel race in Middle East are laudable. Please carry it on for the sake of humanity.
January 1st, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Ansar Burney warmly welcomed at State Department:
WASHINGTON, DC - Recently been declared as International ‘HERO’ in the field of human rights by the United States government, Ansar Burney, Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust has visited State Department in Washington, DC on Wednesday on an invitation by the State Department to met with the American NGO’s and High Officials. ( http://www.ansarburney.org ).
On his arrival at State Department to give speech on human rights and presentation on the issue of underage child camel jockeys living like in hell in Middle Eastern and Arab countries, Ansar Burney was very warmly welcomed by the officials and the American NGO’s. Senior Advisor to Secretary State, Ambassador John R Miller and other officials from State Department received and welcomed International human rights ‘HERO’ Ansar Burney his wife Shaheen Burney and son Syed Fahad Burney.
Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust, Ansar Burney, Vice Chairpersons Shaheen Burney and Syed Fahad Burney on an invitation by the United States Department of State are visiting Washington, DC on a twelve days visit of USA.
To listens his speech and to see presentation on the issue of underage child camel jockeys, young girls on prostitution against their will, domestic violence, labour problems, human smuggling and trafficking as well as other human rights issues in Middle Eastern, Arab and Asian countries, almost 40 American NGO’s including officials of State Department including representatives from the Embassies of Australia, Israel and Qatar were also present in State Department to listen Ansar Burney.
Before Mr Burney’s speech, Ambassador Miller introduced Mr Burney as human rights HERO.
Earlier widely known as human rights ‘Saint’ Ansar Burney, also member of the International Bar Association (UK), American Bar Association (USA) and Karachi Bar Association (Pakistan), along with Shaheen Burney and Fahad Burney also meet the high officials at State and Trade Departments on in Washington, DC and discussed with them international human rights issues especially human rights situation in Asian and Middle Eastern countries including underage child camel jockeys issue, modern days slavery, smuggling of young girls for prostitution, discrimination with foreign labours and domestic violation in Middle Eastern and Arab countries as well as other important issues including human rights situation in Pakistan.
The meetings of Mr Burney are going on in State and Trade Departments as well as with International American NGO’s and Embassies of foreign countries on coming days.
The great efforts of Mr. Ansar Burney has brought a very big human rights change in Middle Eastern countries when UAE and Qatar banned use of underage children as jockeys (Modern days Slavery) only because of Ansar Burney Trust.
It may be recall here that the US State department has recently been declared Mr. Ansar Burney as International HERO in the field of Human Rights (HERO ACTING TO END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY). The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed and presented the Certificate of International HERO to Mr. Burney.
According to US Department of State; a noted Pakistani human rights activist, Ansar Burney has worked relentlessly to bring to light the plight of thousands of South Asian and African children trafficked to Arabian Gulf countries for exploitation as camel jockeys. These abused children, some as young as two years of age, are purposely malnourished (to keep them lightweight) and denied education. As a result of Mr. Burney’s efforts, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) established it’s first-ever shelter for rescued child camel jockeys, and rescued 68 such children and repatriated 43 through the shelter. Mr. Burney oversees this shelter. He is quick to point out, however, that much more needs to be done to rescue, rehabilitate, and repatriate thousands of trafficked children throughout the Gulf region.
END.
************************************
April 16th, 2006 at 2:02 am
[...] kinpup06 - under consideration … http://www.slaveregister.com/personals/3 - 35k
Sabbah’s Blog » Blog Archive » Qatar’s Child Jockeys
The [...]