Story Publication logo October 30, 2017

Migrant Life in Qatar

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Zina laws criminalize unmarried sex. Pregnancy becomes proof of a crime and women end up going to jail with their babies. Image by OM. Qatar, 2017.
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When unmarried sex is outlawed, pregnancy out of wedlock is proof of a crime. Women are jailed—along...

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Screenshot from Rappler video. 2017.
Screenshot from Rappler video. 2017.

Far from home, Filipino workers share stories of delayed wages, maltreatment, and challenges they face under the kafala system in Qatar.

Yet they persist—seeking opportunities for a better future and a better life.

This is an animated video about "Joanne," a Filipino woman who spent almost three years in jail with her son for the crime of becoming pregnant out of wedlock. During that time, she kept a journal and shared the last volume with Pulitzer Center grantee Ana Santos.

Migrant Life in Qatar, a micro site on Rappler, is a collection of articles, videos and infographics that aims to give a holistic view of what life is like for overseas workers.

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