Human rights flouted, conditions for migrant workers, excessive air conditioning, a few days before the launch of the 2022 World Cup, criticism remains strong against Qatar. But are they all justified? And the Qataris, what do they think? Anne Bernas is a journalist in the multimedia editorial staff of RFI. Back from Doha, the capital of the emirate, she tells.
” The World Cup atmosphere, we feel it even before arriving in Doha “, recount Anne Bernas in this episode of News cookies. ” On the national company, on the plane, it is big names in football who in a video deliver the usual safety instructions “. Once there, it’s hard to ignore that the 2022 World Cup opening is approaching: ” On the road that leads from the airport to the city center, all the panels are in the colors of Fifa and portraits of the players of the Qatari team are plastered on the facades “.
What Islam in this Arab and Muslim country?
“ Qatar is far from being Saudi Arabiaexplains Anne Bernas. Admittedly, these two countries practice Wahabism, a very strict application of religion, but in Doha, other faiths are tolerated. For example, masses are given every Friday in a large religious complex where hundreds of thousands of faithful Christians meet. “.
And women ?
“ They wear the abaya, the large black tunic that only shows the eyes, but they explained to me that it was more about something cultural, traditional, than religious. One of them did not hide to show me that under her tunic she was wearing short shorts and a tight t-shirt “.
” One should understand, pursues Anne, that in Qatar, women are much more visible than men. 60% of them work, drive and have the right to vote, which is not the case in other Arab countries. On the other hand, they do not have the right to travel without the authorization of a man before the age of 25. “.
And the rights of migrant workers?
” Very few complain, although they all concede that life is not easy. Since the problem of their exploitation appeared, efforts have been made, which is why Amnesty International does not call, like others, for a boycott of this World Cup. “.
And ecology in all this?
This is one of the points on which Qatar suffers the most criticism. ” Air conditioning is present everywhere, even outside. Qatar is the country that holds the record for CO2 emissions per capita. It is above all air traffic that will have a very negative impact on the environment, nearly 1 600 planes will land every day in Doha. And what you have to understand is that accommodation in Qatar is very expensive, fans have no choice but to go to neighboring countries, to get to the stadium, so they will take the plane “.
If there are still a lot of problems, especially on the issue of migrants, Qataris are proud that their country is hosting this 2022 World Cup. If the dialogue was easy with the inhabitantsconcludes Anne, many still called me on my return saying that maybe they shouldn’t have told me this or that. The feeling of fear exists “.
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