world cup 2022 qatar protests for human rights what’s going on

The World Cup in Qatar kicked off on Sunday, November 20. However, it’s not just football. The rights of workers, women, immigrants, the Lgbtq+ world are among the current controversial subjects.

Besides dissent and minority rights, the fight against injustice and for democracy. All the talking points that have made headlines in the sports headlines to date. From Sunday 20 November, football will have to live with these facts. Charges often very serious. Like that of human rights associations which attribute 6,500 deaths to work in these 12 years of flouted rights in Qatar.

A scene from the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar, November 20, 2022. Photo Ansa / Epa Friedemann Vogel

In other editions of the World Cup, the battles of opponents, minorities, have dissolved at the first whistle of the tournament. This time the civil struggles, for justice, for rights, will not dissolve. Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer has confirmed that he will wear the One Love armband to promote diversity and inclusion in Qatar. And he will settle between the posts “without fear”, because his Federation supports him. Despite the fact that Fifa has not done so, saying instead that they are against t-shirts and posters of belonging to the civilian fights on the ground.

Protests for the World Cup in Iran

But it won’t just be the #boycottQatar hashtag that will stand out among the protests, the dramas of the participating countries will also attract the attention of the sports world. From Monday 21 November, when the teams of England and Iran will enter the field for the second day. Iran’s reserve goalkeeper and striker Hossein Hosseini and Vahid Amiri today expressed their ‘solidarity with the victims of the protests’ in their country. In Iran, demonstrations to cries of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom, editor’s note)” and the repression of the ayatollahs’ regime continued for more than 2 months. That is to say since the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died after her arrest for not having correctly worn the Islamic veil on her head.

Greetings from Emir Al Thani

On the party side, the World Cup started on November 20 with the Qatar-Ecuador match and, even earlier, with the inaugural ceremonies. American actor Morgan Freeman in the center of Al Bayt stadium, for the ceremony created by Italian Marco Balich. “We are hosting the World Cup. We have worked hard and many to put together a successful tournament, we have put all our efforts for the good of humanity. The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived.” Thus the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the speech which officially opened the 2022 World Cup.

Sheikh Al Thani with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Photo Ansa/Epa Friedemann Vogel

World Cup favorites

It will be the chase for the French title, with Argentina and Brazil battling the Blues for the role of favourites, and Cristiano Ronaldo in the farewell stage as well as Leo Messi. while Italy remains to be watched. For us, this is the second World Cup in a row – after that of 4 years ago in Russia – with Italy not qualifying, third overall also taking into account that of 1958 in Sweden. This is the fourth absence of the blue of the highest world competition if we consider the first edition of 1930 in Uruguay, in which Italy chose not to participate in protest for not having been chosen as host country.

An exchange during the opening match of the World Cup in Qatar between the local national team and Ecuador (0-2). Photo Ansa/Epa Friedemann Vogel