Nepalese faces jail in Doha for insulting islam

Kathmandu, May 9 – A Nepali citizen (recently fired Qatar Academy chemistry teacher) has been in jail for the past week over charges of insulting Islam in front of students, his former colleagues have said. 

 

The teacher, Dorje Gurung of Nepal, has denied the charge, which was apparently levied against him after an argument with 12-year-old male students that took place some two weeks ago at QA.

 

Gurung was fired shortly after the incident and had been set to leave the country last weekend. But he was called to the police station last Wednesday and has not been home since, his colleagues have told, Doha News reported.

 

The Nepalese embassy has confirmed that Gurung is in jail, but said they do not have any more details. A lawyer working for the embassy said that it is sending a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request permission to meet with Gurung, who currently has no legal representation. Teachers said they are taking up a collection to help him pay for a lawyer.

 

According to LinkedIn, Gurung has taught at the Australian International School Saigon, the International School of Azerbaijan and Bishop Mackenzie International School. He pursued higher education in the US and UK and has not lived in Nepal for 24 years, his website biography states. Agencies