Gulf states review HIV/Aids deportation policy

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Humaid Mohammed al Qutami told the assembly the policy was “under review”. (Paulo Filgueiras/UN)

Two Arab states have hinted they are reviewing their deportation policy on HIV/Aids, in what may be the first move towards a more sympathetic stance for carriers.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have both said they are considering scrapping the contentious law that deports expatriates affected by the disease.

Speaking at a United Nations summit held in New York last month, UAE Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed al Qutami said the policy was "under review" and had to be "discussed in the future".

Dr Sayed al-Zinari, a representative for the UN in the Middle East and North Africa, said Qatar was in talks to revise its policy to remove "only those expatriates who pose a threat to public health".

The UN is lobbying for Qatar to offer residents treatment over deportation, al-Zinari said.

"The social stigma attached to the disease just hampers efforts to fight it. I think Qatar could be a pioneer in this regard."

Hints of a softening of Gulf policy on HIV/Aids would sit well with the UN General Assembly. In his opening speech, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said: "I call for a change in laws that uphold stigma and discrimination - including limitations on travel for people living with HIV."

The UAE and Qatar were among 70 governments named in a letter circulated at the meeting. Signed by 345 non-governmental organisations, the letter urged countries to lift travel restrictions.

According to UNAIDS, as many as 74 countries subject HIV/Aids carriers to discriminatory measures, including imprinting a mention of the disease on their passports.

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