More Human Rights Issues for Qatar World Cup Organizers

(WFI) As Qatar 2022 confirms the start of renovation work on Khalifa International Stadium, concerns have been raised about the safety of two missing human rights activists who were investigating migrant workers’ conditions.

British nationals, Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev, reportedly disappeared on Sunday after informing colleagues they were being followed and harassed by Qatari security agents as they documented "extreme violations of workers’ rights in the Gulf state" linked to World Cup construction.

"Qatar seems to think that creating a climate of fear and intimidation will somehow turn the eyes of the world away from its modern slavery economy," Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary said in a statement on Thursday.

"Hundreds of migrant workers, many of them women, are languishing in Doha’s detention centres simply for running away from abusive and violent employers. Foreign journalists have been detained for trying to report the truth, and state repression is actually increasing in a country that already showed no respect for basic human rights and legal standards."

Norwegian-based human rights NGO GNRD, which employs the two investigators, said it was "deeply concerned that these employees, both British citizens, may have been subjected to enforced disappearance and are currently at risk of torture".

In the past year, reports of migrant workers' abuses have prompted FIFA president Sepp Blatter to visit Qatar on two occasions. Qatar 2022 says no workers have died on World Cup stadium projects and point to a new Workers' Charter as evidence that the government is addressing concerns. However, the kafala system of tied employment remains, making it difficult for migrant workers to quit their jobs and leave the country.

FIFA Talks on Qatar Date Switch

News of the pair’s disappearance comes as FIFA confirms that its Qatar 2022 task force will hold its first discussions on Monday on whether the tournament should be switched from the searing desert heat of a Qatari summer to winter.

Task force leader and Asian football boss Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa will chair the meeting at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, with officials from all six continental confederations in attendance along with representatives from clubs, leagues, sponsors and other World Cup stakeholders. Anothermeeting is set for November with a decision to move the World Cup to winter expected to be taken next spring.

"FIFA appears to have forgotten about the plight of the hundreds of thousands of migrants building the World Cup infrastructure, with a least one worker losing their life every day," Burrow added.

"Even the cosmetic changes to the kafala system of servitude have been put back for as much as 18 months while the local Chamber of Commerce decides if it will allow even these so-called reforms to see the light of day.

"FIFA should vote again on who should host in 2022 rather than dancing to the tune of corporate sponsors and multinational construction firms at the expense of some of the world’s most exploited workers," she added.

Fourth World Cup Stadium Starts

Qatar 2022 confirmed to Around the Rings that a contract has been awarded to revamp Khalifa International Stadium, main venue for the 2006 Asian Games, which will play a key role at the World Cup. It’s the fourth World Cup venue now underway following the announcement of developments taking place for Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Al Rayyan stadiums.

Qatar 2022 said the Khalifa stadium project was a joint venture between Midmac and Six Construct, the main contractor for the refurbishment works. Built in 1976 and upgraded in 2005 for the Asian Games, is has a 34,000 capacity. Upgrades will include a new roof, addition of cooling technology and increasing seat capacity.

Work on another of Qatar’s 12 proposed stadiums for the FIFA World Cup will begin before the end of the year. FIFA has already indicated that 12 venues will be too many for a country the size of Qatar; a minimum of eight is required to host the competition.

Qatar 2022 said it will submit a proposal in the coming months "for an appropriate number of host venues, whilst ensuring a suitable legacy for the country and the national league after the tournament".

The FIFA Executive Committee is expected to confirm the number of host stadiums for the 2022 World Cup at its meeting next March.

Reported by Mark Bisson.

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