Stateless communities and risks of statelessness in Qatar 20. Current UNHCR statistics indicate that as of the end of 2017, there were 1,200 stateless persons in Qatar. This number has not changed since 2014.19 No further information is provided about the composition of this figure or how it was derived. The Bidoon (for Bidoon jinsiya, or without nationality): 21. The Bidoon are mostly descendants of nomadic groups in the Arabian Peninsula who are stateless because they failed to be registered as citizens at the time of Qatar’s state formation. This may have been because they did not know about the registration procedure, did not understand its importance and/or were travelling during the registration period. The figures are unknown, but the size of the population in 2013 was estimated to be around 1500, though it is now smaller.20 In the country today, the Bidoon are considered "illegal residents".21 These Bidoon cannot access naturalisation procedures, neither do they have any nationality claims in other countries. However, the Qatari authority have made no attempts to resolve their statelessness, or ensure that their access to rights in the country are protected. Members of the Al Murra Tribe 22. On 1 October 2004, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior reportedly issued an administrative decree depriving 927 male “heads of households” of citizenship. Under then current practices, this resulted in the revocation of nationality to 5,266 people as their citizenship depended on the man recognized by the government as the family head. All of those involved were from the al-Ghufran (Gufran) clan, or branch of the Al Murra tribe and only a few families were exempt. The decree did not provide for any exceptions in relation to, for example, the elderly, widows or children.22 23. The decree was based on provisions forbidding the possession of another citizenship apart from Qatari, which was (and is) forbidden under law. Its implementation, nevertheless, was not subject to legal challenge, review or appeal: it was arbitrary.23 24. From the closing months of 2004 through to the first half of 2005, the decree appeared to take effect and Qatar withdrew nationality from 5,000-6,000 individuals from the Al Murra tribe and alGhufran clan, and they were subject to deportation proceedings.24 One estimate put the upper figure of those affected at 10,000.25 19 Navigate UNHCR’s website relating to people of concern, at:http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern Human Rights Watch, Qatar Country Profile, 2013, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2013/country-chapters/qatar 21 Ibid. 22 The 18 May 2005 article by William Wallis, “Citizenship ordeal casts spotlight on Qatar's human rights record: The plight of members of the al-Ghfran [saic] clan, a sub-set of one of the Gulf state's largest tribes, is drawing international attention” is an excellent overview of the plight of the al-Ghufran. 23 The authors have not been able to obtain a copy of the decree. 24 See Gulf News, Dual citizenship 'is not allowed under Qatari law', 24 June 2005, at: https://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/dual-citizenship-is-not-allowed-under-qatari-law-1.291746 and 25 See paragraph 5 of a 10 May 2005, classified US government cable, released as part of the Wikileaks project. It states, in part, that: “It is alleged that approximately 6,000 to 10,000 people have lost Qatari nationality through revocation. Those holding government employment have lost jobs, and their entire families lose government benefits (housing, education, employment, 20 5