Qatar’s human rights record takes centre stage at FIFA Congress

Norway’s soccer chief lashes out at FIFA and Qatar whereas the World Cup hosts and the game’s governing physique each level to labour reforms made within the nation.

The 72nd FIFA Congress going down in Doha on Thursday [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Doha, Qatar – Questions and issues over Qatar’s therapy of migrant employees took centre stage because the 72nd FIFA Congress kicked off within the capital Doha, a day forward of the ultimate draw for the 2022 World Cup.

Thursday’s assembly was the primary in-person Congress of soccer’s world governing physique since 2019 as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

Qatar’s therapy of migrant employees and its human rights file have been underneath the highlight because it was awarded the internet hosting of soccer’s 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, delivering the opening remarks on the Congress, mentioned the nation was “trying ahead to internet hosting everybody”.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino pointed to the World Cup performing as a catalyst for change in Qatar [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

“We shall be representing not solely our nation but additionally the Arab world, opening a window to assist the whole world see the potential of the area, trying ahead to constructing bridges between our tradition and the tradition of the world,” Al Thani mentioned.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino pointed to “the modifications which have occurred on this nation” as a optimistic signal in direction of Qatar being awarded the World Cup.

“The human rights, employees rights, all this wouldn’t have occurred with out the World Cup being right here,” Infantino added.

Qatar’s file questioned

Norwegian Soccer Federation President Lise Klaveness took to the stage in the course of the Congress and termed the awarding of the match to Qatar in 2010 “unacceptable”.

”In 2010, World Cups had been awarded by FIFA in unacceptable methods with unacceptable penalties,” mentioned Klaveness.

“Human rights, equality, democracy, the core curiosity of soccer, weren't within the beginning eleven till a few years later. These fundamental rights had been pressured on to the sector as substitutes, primarily by outdoors voices.

“FIFA has addressed these points, however there may be nonetheless an extended strategy to go. The migrant employees injured or households of those that died within the construct as much as the World Cup should be cared for. FIFA, all of us, should take all essential measures to essentially implement change.”

Hassan al-Thawadi, chief of Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, mentioned labour reforms achieved by Qatar have been “historic” [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Her speech was adopted by remarks from Hassan al-Thawadi, chief of Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, who mentioned labour reforms achieved by Qatar have been “historic” and the occasion would go away “actually transformational social, human, financial and environmental legacies”.

“By taking time to know complexities on the bottom and a shared dedication, as soon as adversaries have now turned our allied companions,” al-Thawadi mentioned.

“We have now showcased to the world what a match being hosted in a rustic can obtain. Legacy is being delivered as we communicate. Going ahead, organisations will look in direction of us as a benchmark on learn how to utilise these tournaments to depart a legacy.

“What we are saying is what we’re providing them, offering a secure World Cup, a welcoming World Cup for everyone. And that is the chance for everyone to take a seat down and construct relations.”

In August 2020, Qatar introduced landmark modifications to the labour legislation, together with scrapping the necessity for an NOC – employer’s permission to vary jobs – that rights activists mentioned tied employees’ presence within the nation to their employers and led to abuse and exploitation.

Qatar’s Authorities Communication Workplace (GCO) has informed Al Jazeera prior to now that the nation “has made substantial progress on labour reforms and it continues to work with NGOs… to make sure that these reforms are far-reaching and efficient”.