On January 26, 2014 the UN Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul concluded her first ever visit to Qatar where she was assessing the independence of judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, as well as the functioning of its justice system. The post of the Special Rapporteur was created in 1994 based on "both the increasing frequency of attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials and the link which exists between the weakening of safeguards for the judiciary and lawyers and the gravity and frequency of violations of human rights."
At the end of her mission, the UN expert held a press conference in Doha. The Gulf Times (run by the former head of the Emir's court), headlined the outcome: "Qatar's judicial independence hailed." It reports on Gabriela Knaul's visit: "The recognition of the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary in Qatar's Constitution has been lauded by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. 'The unification of the courts under one system is also a welcome development...I thank the government of Qatar for the invitation to conduct this official visit and for its engagement with my mandate...' she said, while observing that Qatar's recent engagement...has been exemplary..."
The situation in Qatar on the subject of judicial independence, however, is not exemplary. According to 2012 State Department Human Rights Report: "[T]he emir, based on recommended selections from the Supreme Judicial Council, appoints all judges, who hold their positions at his discretion. Approximately 75 percent of the judges were foreign nationals dependent on residency permits. Suspects held in pretrial detention under the law had limited access to the legal system."
As for how justice is administered in Qatar: "At least six men and women, all foreign nationals, were sentenced to floggings of either 40 or 100 lashes for offences related to alcohol consumption or 'illicit sexual relations'... At least two men were arrested apparently because they were suspected of criticizing the government, and two people were jailed for blasphemy. At least 46 people, most of them foreign nationals, were convicted on charges of 'illicit sexual relations' and either deported or imprisoned followed in some cases by deportation."