Qatar TV station to launch human rights watchdog

RIGHTS UNIT: Cameraman Sami al-Haj who spent six years at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay. (AFP)

Qatar's Al-Jazeera television has announced the launch of its own rights watchdog to be headed by its cameraman Sami al-Haj who spent six years at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.

The Public Liberties and and Human Rights Desk will "promote respect for human rights and public liberties by monitoring, documenting, broadcasting and raising awareness for these key issues," the Doha-based network said.

It will work closely with the news division of the Qatari-funded satellite channel and establish a specialised database on issues of human rights and public liberties.

The project aims to "build on Al-Jazeera's tradition of reporting events and stories that too often are not told," said Wadah Khanfar, general director of Al-Jazeera Network.

"We're very pleased to have Sami al-Haj to lead this initiative," he added.

Haj was arrested by the Pakistani army on the Afghan border in December 2001 and was held without charge from June 2002 until May 2008 at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"My years at Guantanamo made me appreciate in a very profound manner how basic human rights could be violated and the fundamental importance of public liberties. These experiences are etched deeply into my soul," he said.

The initiative will be formally launched on Saturday as Al-Jazeera celebrates its 12th anniversary.

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