It is possible to speak out against abuses in Qatar, but the consequences may vary depending on who you are. Philipp Lahm, captain of the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, received public acclaim when announce He did not attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and criticized the country’s human rights record. But when Malcolm Bedale, a Kenyan migrant worker in Qatar, raised public accusations of abuse, forcibly hidden He was placed in solitary confinement.
When the World Cup begins in November, German players and fans will be part of a tournament built on a mountain of abuse. The stadiums and infrastructure were built by workers who faced unexplained deaths, injuries, and wage theft. Qatari women have witnessed preparations for one of the world’s largest sporting events as the authorities continue to subjugate them To their male guardians who make decisions for them. In the stands, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) fans cheering for their teams are forced to hide their sexual orientation and gender identities because Fear of persecution.
The German Football Association (DFB) and its players have become bolder and more influential against abuses in Qatar.
In 2021, the German Confederation published His human rights policy AndPosition paper on Qatar The host countries of the major tournaments and FIFA are calling for commitment to human rights. The players came to a match with T-shirts that read “Human Rights”. More importantly, the DFB president pledged to put pressure on FIFA to compensate migrant workers whose rights have been violated.
100 days before the start of the tournament, Human Rights Watch and others are calling on FIFA and Qatar to Provide reparations for serious violations. FIFA claims it is “currently looking into compensation mechanisms” for migrant workers who have sustained an injury or death in the workplace.
With enough pressure from the German Football Association – FIFA’s largest member national association – and other football associations, compensation may be possible. Qatar and the countries of origin of workers have potential Access to documents Such as health reports and death certificates. They know who died while building stadiums and roads, and who their family members struggled to make ends meet without their breadwinners.
Qatari authorities have a record of cracking down on those who speak out about human rights abuses, such as Malcolm Bedale. If the German Football Association and other federations are serious about human rights, they should use their platform to amplify these voices and keep pushing for solutions until FIFA and Qatar eventually pay reparations.