With the constant controversy surrounding Qatar hosting the FIFA World cup I’ve decided to have a deeper look at the issues surrounding human rights in the host nation. The Country has a ban on homosexuality with a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment. Showing public affection and same sex affection is illegal and punishable by incarceration. A women can only marry with permission of her male guardian and with two male witnesses present. Women also suffer legal discrimination in divorce, inheritance, child custody, nationality, and freedom of movement. Workers from the likes of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries who helped to construct the stadiums for the World Cup were living in overcrowded slum conditions and worked 10-hour days in 40–50-degree heat with very few breaks in between and little access to water. Foreign workers make up about 85% of the nation’s population. This has led to many people boycotting the tournament in disgust over the laws in Qatar. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has twice said it was a “mistake” to allow Qatar to host the tournament.
Several European captains from the likes of England, Belgium, Wales, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland were planning on wearing Onelove armbands which shows the fight against discrimination of any kind. However, once the tournament started, the football associations were told the players seen wearing this armband would receive a yellow card as it was thought to be targeting Qatar anti-LGBT Laws. This stopped Harry Kane and other captains from wearing the armband as the yellow card would impact the players performance as they would be scared to receive a second yellow.
Former German footballer Philipp Lahm has decided to boycott the World Cup due to these issues in the home nation. He said “I’m not part of the delegation and I’m not flying there as a fan. Human rights should play the biggest role in the awarding of a tournament. That shouldn’t happen again in the future.” How do you feel about Qatar hosting the World Cup and should they have been allowed to?
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