Earlier this week in Qatar, authorities finally released researchers Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev, who were detained for eight days while in the country for the Norway-based Global Network for Rights and Development. Their story is but the most recent example of the dangers that human rights professionals face...In order to meet global expectations, all businesses should undertake due diligence to ensure that their conduct, and the conduct of their suppliers and sub-contractors, is consistent with international human rights standards – in particular the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights....Obstructing research by human rights workers will only add to international criticism that the Qatari government has been facing, and may discourage future efforts to document workers’ conditions. Businesses should reflect on this reality, so that they know what it means if they operate in Qatar, when independent verification of operational reality in Qatar – such as what Upadhyaya and Gundev were reportedly doing – is not possible.