Qatar emir slams ‘unprecedented’ campaign against World Cup hosts
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Qatar has been hit by an “unprecedented campaign” of criticism over preparations for the football World Cup, its ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday.
“Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced,” the emir said in a speech.
FIFA awarded the World Cup to Qatar in 2010 and it has since spent tens of billions of dollars on preparations.
But the energy-rich Gulf state has faced constant scrutiny over its treatment of foreign workers as well as LGBTQ and women’s rights.
“We initially dealt with the matter in good faith, and even considered that some criticism was positive and useful, helping us to develop aspects of ours that need to be developed,” the emir told Qatar’s legislative council.
“But it soon became clear to us that the campaign continues, expands and includes fabrication and double standards, until it reached an amount of ferocity that made many question, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” he said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said the Qatar World Cup, the first in an Arab nation, will be the “best ever”.
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Comments (41) Closed
Oct 25, 2022 01:43pm
Pak-Qatar friendship; Zindabaad.
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Oct 25, 2022 01:46pm
He is actually right. Apart from workers issues (which are common across the gulf) its a smear campaign.
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Oct 25, 2022 02:08pm
The heart-burnt West in huge envy against their own created hate.
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Oct 25, 2022 02:12pm
Guards for the football events are from a country that is pure. Put on your neutral thinking caps and think.
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Oct 25, 2022 02:24pm
Yup you visit the country you abide by its rules, unlike in Pakistan where you can do whatever you want
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Oct 25, 2022 02:31pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Qatar-Slavery friendship; paindabad
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Oct 25, 2022 02:40pm
We all suppor Qatar, Its an honour for everyone in Asia
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Oct 25, 2022 02:40pm
Qatar is the best
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Oct 25, 2022 02:47pm
@M. Saeed, Actually some of its Arab Neighboring countries have been jealous of Qatar for getting the rights to host the World Cup 2022 and have been trying to spread misinformation to discredit Qatar.
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Oct 25, 2022 03:01pm
@FAZ, true. The western countries forget their mean descrimination of non Europeans! Why don't they stay at home and boycott the games. Money Man money.
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Oct 25, 2022 03:09pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, There is no friendship in true sense . It is client and banker’s relationship.
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Oct 25, 2022 03:42pm
inter-Arab feud and rivalry
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Oct 25, 2022 03:48pm
The enemies of Islam and muslims are constantly looking for any piece of negative information to denigrate and malign Muslims and the nations. Be it the scandal surrounding Sheikh Mohamned of Dubai and how his ex wife fled to the UK, to labor camps in most Gulf states - as if this is a new phenomena. From women's rights in Afghanistan to anti-hijab protests in Iran.
Yet no one talks about scandals surrounding Boris Johnson, Emanual Macron to US Supreme Court denying women the right to choose.
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Oct 25, 2022 04:02pm
If you want focus then you should be prepared for criticism.
They bribed to get the tournament
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Oct 25, 2022 04:03pm
Muslim nations should stop participating in western sports
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Oct 25, 2022 04:03pm
Shame on the people and countries who are coming up with
unfounded criticism of Qatar now that they have succeeded with
complete preparations of the most colourful Event of FIFA World
Cup 2022. Congratulations Qatar.
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Oct 25, 2022 04:46pm
Qatar doesn’t deserve to host word cup. Their hosting should be snatched.
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Oct 25, 2022 04:47pm
It is politically motivated criticism.
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Oct 25, 2022 04:50pm
Something nice happening in the Muslim lands is hard to digest for so many. They will come up with all sorts of criticism.
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Oct 25, 2022 04:51pm
That's their country you shall respect their law
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Oct 25, 2022 04:52pm
Qatar is a great country with a highly dignified leadership. The world should respect how they deal with matters according to their law and culture
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Oct 25, 2022 04:53pm
Remind Western countries of their Neo-Colonial attitude
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Oct 25, 2022 05:21pm
Qatar is a tiny city state that lacks the infrastructure to host an event like the World Cup. I’m in Qatar and the entire city of Doha is under construction causing traffic jams and long delays. One of the biggest problems I encountered after attending a qualifier match at Ahmad Bin Ali stadium was transportation back to my hotel. Uber and other cab services weren’t available at the stadium. I’m dreading the prospect of experiencing the same thing at the World Cup.
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Oct 25, 2022 05:32pm
Other than workers rights issue, Qatar is correct to take a stand on their morals and values which also reflect the region.
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Oct 25, 2022 06:00pm
@FAZ, their abusive style of treating workers has to be highlighted and they should properly compensate. The same goes to all Middle Eastern countries. They cannot be hosting world events through abuse and pretend its all right!
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Oct 25, 2022 06:14pm
Qatar is not the only country that faces criticism from some "liberal" minded in the west. These people want every country to follow the policies advocated by them. The failures in their own countries (UK Govt. collapses, questions about the US President's mental condition, etc.) do not concern them. Their criticisms should, therefore, be rejected with the contempt they deserve.
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Oct 25, 2022 06:54pm
What did they expect?
If you do the crime, you must do the time.
History will never forgive your Crime
Shame on you for the economic abuse of poor citizens of Asia.
Qatar: Human rights abusers of 20th Century
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Oct 25, 2022 07:58pm
Those who are doing unprecedented campaigns will continue to campaign against Qatar because they are paid by west and our senseless gulf friends who are paid by west to destroy the unity among the muslim world by promoting tourism and allowing white tourists in their country. Because a stronger and unified muslim world will always push back western agenda and hence will focus more on science and technology, its own culture and its own civilization but since muslim world is weakest so no chance.
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Oct 25, 2022 08:32pm
@Qbmx, and civilised countries taking part in money making.
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Oct 25, 2022 09:54pm
Fact Check:
The abusers of human rights in Qatar are not Qataris but the British Managers they retained to run the show.!
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Oct 25, 2022 10:33pm
... He is honest and well spoken. Other Middle East potentates are just jealous.
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Oct 25, 2022 10:44pm
Is it not true that migrants, women, other religion people are not subject to harassment and human rights abuse in your and all Muslim countries? Emir look in the mirror.
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Oct 26, 2022 12:13am
Qatar should not offer soccer World Cup first place
since Qatar already spent billions of dollars for this
projects building new stadiums, roads and hotels,
don’t worry what someone is saying, let this game
go according to the plan and finished it nicely with
fireworks and music etc.etc. Good luck Qatar.
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Oct 26, 2022 01:07am
If you do the crime, you must do the time.
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Oct 26, 2022 01:52am
@Hashim,
Actually the world cup played a major role in reforming those laws. Still its my personal experience that KSA is a worst place for a worker to be working in.
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Oct 26, 2022 01:55am
@Parsa,
I am also here in Qatar and have proudly played part in building that infrastructure. When you see an incomplete project is not because of Qatari leadership, its post covid issues like messed up supply chains of all goods required. They have now started real testing of the bus services and the border control building is still in handover stage.
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Oct 26, 2022 03:08am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
The article is about the World cup 2022!
Didn't realise it was about Qatar - Pakistan friendship.
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Oct 26, 2022 03:11am
@FAZ,
Many migrant workers died. They lived in extremely poor accommodation. Worked long hours and were paid poorly.
Any ruler must be held accountable. The Muslim world particularly Pakistan have shut their eyes and ears. I'm glad Western journalists and governments are questioning.
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Oct 26, 2022 04:53am
Can he fairly come open with the death rate of slave labourers who were being paid 200$ pm. And worked to death not to mention the abhoric residences.
Sorry but no. You cannot be excused to have billions to play and not provide basic acceptable accommodations and working conditions to normal levels not slaves.
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Oct 26, 2022 05:29am
Emir is talking about the continues efforts put by the other Gulf countries to discredit Qatar. Misinformation campaigns started right from the day Qatar was declared the hosts, starting from workers safety back in 2018-19 and continues even now.
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Oct 26, 2022 05:58am
The west always does that if any big games are not held in their continent....
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