Global celebrities have highlighted the double-standard approach criticizing Qatar as the host of major sporting events.
British superstar Robbie William has invoked ‘hypocrisy’ amid criticism he has faced over his upcoming performance in Qatar at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Williams told La Repubblica’s Il Benerdi magazine on Friday that it would be “hypocritical” not to perform in Doha because of Doha’s human rights record.
“I will not tolerate human rights violations of any kind. But if human rights violations are not tolerated anywhere, this will be the shortest tour in the history of the world. I wouldn’t even be able to perform in my own kitchen.” Williams said.
Williams is set to perform at the Doha Golf Club in Qatar on December 8th to celebrate the World Cup alongside other global pop stars.
Several celebrities who have confirmed their participation in the festivities have faced similar backlash amid a broader Western-led campaign against the World Cup, the first ever in the Arab world.
Criticism has mostly focused on Qatar’s human rights record and its stance on the LGBTQ+ community.
“People who leave the message ‘no to Qatar’ are doing so about Chinese technology,” added Williams, pointing to the double standard in the criticism he faced.
“I think there is a hypocrisy that if you take that case in this place, you have to apply it unilaterally to the world. explained.
anti qatar campaign
The British singer’s comments come as Qatar faces a largely Western-driven campaign over hosting the World Cup.
Qatari officials, as well as celebrities from the Middle East and beyond, have taken aim at leveled racism in Qatar, the first Arab and Muslim country to host a major event.
A wave of scrutiny has evolved over the years, from criticism of Doha’s small geography, hot climate and treatment of migrant workers, to outright racist attacks.
Qatar has responded with repeated efforts to amend its laws to address concerns. Under this system, employees were not free to change jobs.
Addressing Saturday’s criticism, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Europe should apologize for “what it has been doing for 3,000 years” rather than offer a “moral lesson”.
“I am European. The president of FIFA told reporters in Doha on Saturday that he must apologize for the next 3,000 years before giving him a moral lesson for what he has done in the world for 3,000 years. it won’t work.
Questioning Qatar’s silence on progress, Infantino added that “unilateral moral precepts are nothing but hypocrisy.”
Regarding discrimination, Infantino further stated: Today I feel Qatar, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel migrant workers. ”
Last month, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said, “No other host country has faced such criticism.”
The Amir added that the criticism has helped Qatar “develop the aspects that need development” but continues to rear its ugly head.
Sheikh Tamim said: “Unfortunately, the campaign continues and escalates to the point where it reaches a level of ferocity that leaves many wondering about the real reasons and motives behind it, often including slander and double standards. It became clear very quickly,” Sheikh Tamim said.
Infantino on Saturday spoke of the lack of media coverage of the reforms Qatar has undergone and the media’s failure to draw attention to these developments.
“Why is no one acknowledging progress since 2016? [when Infantino became Fifa president]The kafala system has been abolished, minimum wages have been introduced and heat measures have been introduced,” he said.
“The ILO, the trade unions acknowledged this, but the media did not, or some media did not,” referring to the International Labor Organization.
To make further claims about media hypocrisy, Infantino also turned to the topic of the disabled population. There were about 400 journalists at his press conference on Saturday, compared with just four at the previous event.
“There [are] There are 1 billion people with disabilities in the world,” he said. “A billion people with disabilities. No one cares.”
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani told Sky News earlier this month that critics of the World Cup in Qatar were “arrogant” and “cannot accept a small country in the Middle East. ” he said.
Similarly, Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser Al Khater said, “European countries feel they have a monopoly on the World Cup.”
“Europe has hosted 11 of the 22 tournaments. Of course, countries like Qatar and Muslim Arab countries refuse to host tournaments like the World Cup,” he said. Al Hatel told Al Jazeera Arabic in a television interview earlier this month.
Responding to scrutiny, Al Khater said anti-Qatar campaigns had been unfolding over the past decade and were aimed at Qatar’s size as a small geographical country and its hot summer climate. .
“From the beginning, we have said that this tournament represents all Arabs and is for the entire Arab world. ,” Al-Hater said.
Qatar are set to start the Middle East’s first World Cup on Sunday.
