[ad_1]
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) condemned the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s attempt to “manipulate” African journalists in their attempts to oppose the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In a resolution issued on Wednesday, the FAJ expressed “frustration” at the UAE’s efforts to “manipulate the African Journalist Organization to issue public statements or oppose the 2022 FIFA World Cup”.
The resolution passed this week at the meeting of leaders of African journalists in Accra, the capital of Ghana, also called on FIFA, the governing body of the world of football, and the regional body, the African Football Federation, to investigate and sanction the perpetrators.
At the meeting of leaders of African journalists in Accra, Ghana, the resolution on the 2022 FIFA World Cup was passed and full support was expressed @ituc position. pic.twitter.com/BhUBwRIlRP
-The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) (@FAJafrica) June 3, 2021
FAJ Chairman Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed told Al Jazeera that people they believe have ties to senior UAE officials have contacted at least eight African journalists’ associations, and they pressured them to hold a press conference. Oppose Qatar to host the World Cup and encourage African teams to boycott the game.
He said that all contacts with these associations were carried out in the past three months, the latest report was about two weeks ago, and they were political demands “using Qatar’s’infringement of labor rights’ as an excuse.”
“The FAJ and its affiliated unions cannot allow African journalists to be used, just as Africans are cheap people who can be manipulated and used to solve political problems,” Ahmed said.
“We are not interested in political disputes in the Gulf region. Our main task is to defend journalists and their interests and media freedom.”
The resolution also mentioned concerns that “unprecedented interference” may affect the coverage of the game by African journalists.
Qatar will become the first country in the Middle East to host the biggest football match. The event will start in November next year.
As of press time, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.
Gulf dispute
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt severed economic and diplomatic relations with Qatar in June 2017 and imposed land, sea and air blockades, accusing them of supporting “terrorism”.
Qatar has repeatedly denied these claims.
In January of this year, Saudi Arabia announced End the dispute. But according to reports, diplomats and regional sources Say Saudi Arabia and Egypt repaired relations with Doha faster than the UAE and Bahrain.
Affail Monney, chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association and member of the FAJ Executive Committee, told Al Jazeera that he hopes that African journalists will be able to work freely without political interference.
“Journalists in particular should not be involved in issues that are beyond their interests, scope and responsibilities,” he said.
“We reject any manipulation attempts to use us or bring us into conflict with Qatar.”
‘Unparalleled progress’
In its resolution, FAJ also noted Qatar’s “unparalleled progress” in improving workers’ rights.
Since Qatar was granted the right to host in 2010, Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record have been under scrutiny.
A media report published in March stated that, since then, 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar.
Qatar responded that “the mortality rate in these communities is within the expected range of population size and demographic data.”
Has also been criticized by human rights organizations Protest of football players Working conditions in Qatar—especially in the summer when temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)—wages abuse and the lack of rights of migrant workers, who make up 95% of the population of the Gulf States.
The Government of Qatar stated that it has Multiple reforms Over the years it has been around working conditions and labor rights.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Secretary General Sharan Burrow expressed support for the FAJ’s resolution in a statement on Twitter.
Burrow thanks FAJ “Rejected [the] The UAE slanderers themselves are still exploiting the shameful practices of migrant workers,” and said that “the focus needs to be on Qatar’s implementation of new laws to protect workers.”
Last year, the International Trade Union Confederation stated that after a series of reforms, the rights of Qatari workers have been significantly improved.
@ituc The focus needs to be on Qatar’s implementation of the new laws protecting workers-thanks to the ethical African journalists for rejecting the shameful practices of the UAE slanderers, who themselves still exploit migrant workers with the modern slavery of Kafala! https://t.co/NEtwY3GYgS
-Sharan Burrow (@SharanBurrow) June 3, 2021
[ad_2]
Source link
