Qatar acknowledges the deaths of “400 to 500 migrant workers” at World Cup venues

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar has drawn much criticism and calls for a boycott, particularly in Europe, because of the environmental, financial and human costs associated with hosting the competition in the gas-rich Gulf emirate. British newspaper in February 2021 The Guardian:published an investigation finding that 6,500 migrants (Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Nepalese..) have died since 2010 while building infrastructure and football stadiums for this World Cup.

For its part, Doha has always denied these figures, putting forward a much lower official figure of 37 migrant deaths in Qatar between 2010 and 2022, for all causes of death combined. However, in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan on November 28, WHO director-general Hassan al-Tawadi said the figure was higher than previous official figures because “A total of 400 to 500 migrants are believed to have diedIn Qatar, according to him, during this time.

In fact, Hassan al-Tawadi maintains Qatar’s official position, but with nuance. It distinguishes between migrant deaths during the construction of stadiums and migrants who died during the construction of other infrastructure. According to him, three migrants died while building the football stadiums. Thirty-seven migrants who were also working on the stadium are also said to have died, but outside of their working hours. “We’ve always been transparent about that“, he said, before adding that the numbers “400 or 500 migrantsThe deaths corresponded to the total number of deaths for the construction of all the infrastructure (hotels, roads, restaurants, etc.) needed to host the World Cup.

Regarding the criticism of Qatar, he singled out the critics.constructive“which would allow his country”.dialogue and improve by discussing with colleaguesand the criticisms are groundedmisinformation“which wouldn’t do anything, though”dialogue requests that we have submitted“.

Qatar is “very proud” to host this World Cup

Beyond these revelations, Hassan al-Tawadi answered other more general questions about the current progress of the World Cup. He said that Qatar “very proud to host this world championship“. “QWhen you watch the people on the streets from all over the world and the spectacular football pitches, it’s phenomenal. This being the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia’s victory over Argentina and Morocco’s victory over Belgium were incredible for everyone here.», he finished.

According to the tournament director, between 2010 and 2022, Qatar has developed its labor laws in cooperation with trade unions in Germany and Switzerland to improve health and safety standards for migrant workers. “I think the need for reforms was necessary. These reforms were not made just because we had to organize the World Cup, they are progress that we had to make before 2010.“, he specified, adding that the world iscatalyst that accelerated these reforms“.

Responding to players wanting to wear LGBT support armbands during matches, Hassan al-Tawadi said that these types of mobilization “worried him because they are directed against Qatar, even if on the other hand he is not worried that Europeans are doing such actions in Europe;“, then stating that”everyone could come to Qatar with their own culture to exchange with all cultures of the world with mutual respect“. According to him, “Gay people are welcome in Qatar like everyone else to visit the country as well as to live there“but”public displaynot part of the country’s culture.

Hassan al-Tawadi has justified this position by opposing Western values, which will come first.”focused on individual rights“and the values ​​of the Arab world and the Middle East, which will come first”focused on religious values“. From his point of view, despite this “oppositionValues, this world championship proves itwe can find a way to coexist“.