DAVOS, Switzerland —
Qatar’s emir on Monday hit out at what he called unprecedented attacks
on Qatar becoming the first Arab country to host the World Cup.
اضافة اعلان
With the Gulf
state facing questions about the treatment of foreign workers and the rights of
women and the
LGBTQ community, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani acknowledged that
Qatar was “not perfect”.
But he insisted
that it had carried out reforms at “lightning speed” since being awarded the
World Cup in 2010.
“For decades now,
the Middle East has suffered from discrimination,” the ruler of the energy-rich
state told the
World Economic Forum in Davos, less than six months from the
November 21 start of the tournament.
“And I have found,
that such discrimination, is largely based on people not knowing us, and in
some cases, refusing to get to know us. Even today, there are still people who
cannot accept the idea, that an Arab-Muslim country would host a tournament
like the World Cup.”
“These
individuals, including many in positions of influence, have launched attacks,
at a pace never seen before,” the emir said.
“Qatar is just like your own country... not perfect, constantly trying to improve, and full of hope, for a brighter future.”
Rights groups have
led criticism of Qatar’s record while some football stars, including England
captain
Harry Kane, have also raised questions.
Amnesty International
last week demanded that FIFA set up a $440 million fund for “abused” workers in
Qatar.
Qatar’s leader
said that other countries and regions had already staged major events, “despite
the fact that each of those countries, has its own particular problems and
challenges.”
“Qatar is just
like your own country... not perfect, constantly trying to improve, and full of
hope, for a brighter future.”
“We are so proud
of the development, reform, and progress we have made, and we are grateful for
the spotlight that the
World Cup provided, which inspired us, to make these
changes at lightening-speed,” he said.
Qatar has spent billions
of dollars on stadiums and infrastructure for the 32-nation tournament and the
emir vowed that it will be a “special one”.
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