Qatar bashing: the truth and the lies!

Qatar is generally considered to be a very safe country for residents and visitors alike. The crime rate is low, with figures for violence and theft well below those of many other countries, including in the West. The country has a very rigorous security system, and the authorities take strict measures to ensure public order. Tourists and expatriates often report a feeling of security in the streets, even at night.

One of the most recurrent criticisms of Qatar concerns its human rights record. The country is notorious for its treatment of foreign workers, particularly those employed in the construction sector, a key area of the Qatari economy.

Numerous reports have revealed abuses such as dangerous working conditions, unpaid wages and severe restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement. In particular, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have denounced the conditions under which the construction sites for the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been built.

However, it is important to qualify these criticisms. Since 2014, Qatar has undertaken a series of reforms to improve the situation of workers. These reforms include the abolition of the kafala system (a sponsorship system for migrant workers that gave disproportionate power to employers) and the introduction of a minimum wage. Although progress has been made, abuses remain, but it is inaccurate to say that the country is stuck in a system of exploitation, as some caricatured speeches may suggest.

Qatar is often accused of maintaining dubious links with terrorist groups or supporting controversial regimes. Support for the Muslim Brotherhood movement, for example, has fuelled criticism, particularly from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which see the group as a threat.

However, this accusation is simplistic. Qatar has historically supported political forces or groups according to its geopolitical interests, which is not unique to this state. Many countries, particularly in the West, have diplomatic relations with Qatar despite its sometimes divergent positions, and some of its investments have been in strategic areas such as education, health and infrastructure.

The designation of Qatar as host of the 2022 Football World Cup was what started the ‘Qatar bashing’. The awarding of this sporting event to a small country with little football infrastructure was widely criticised. In addition to the working conditions of the workers, many observers have expressed doubts about the climatic conditions (extreme summer temperatures), the lack of football culture and Qatar’s desire to ‘sportwash’, i.e. to use the event to improve its international image.

The country responded by building high-tech stadiums and moving the competition to the milder winter months. While the World Cup raised questions, it also showed a more modern and open side to Qatar. The country succeeded in organising an event of this scale with impressive infrastructures and impeccable logistics, which was hailed by part of the international community.

A recurring accusation is that of direct or indirect financing of terrorist groups, particularly those linked to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Once again, this idea is often based on unverified rumours and dubious associations. In reality, Qatar has been a key player in the fight against terrorism, in particular by helping to train and fund moderate rebel groups in Syria, for example.

The country has also been a mediator in several regional conflicts, which makes it even more difficult to make one-sided judgements. It is therefore simplistic to portray Qatar simply as a financial supporter of extremists, when its role is far more nuanced and complex.