Expats who have been issued deportation orders by Qatar’s courts will now have an opportunity to appeal the decision, the government official has said.

The procedure will be done through a new appeals court to the Court of Residency Affairs and serve all residents, said Col Nasser Mohamed al-Sayed, director of the Interior Ministry’s Search and Follow-Up Department. 

Meanwhile, those under litigation – namely, absconding workers – will be required to stay in detention centers, al-Sayed said.

Gulf Times reports:

The department has created four public service halls to receive requests such as reporting absconding labourers or receiving those who give themselves up. Detention cells for deportees have been upgraded to comply with the international standards.

Al-Sayed explained that the inmates were not considered as prisoners. “They are there temporarily until their deportation process is concluded.”

The director called upon sponsors to pay maids’ salaries in time, adding that overwork and delayed payments were the main reasons for their absconding.

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