Abdullah Ibhais, former media director of the organizing committee of the World Cup in Qatar, was sentenced to three years in prison. The Jordanian had previously campaigned for workers on strike.
The reports on disregard for human rights in Qatar continue during the World Cup dress rehearsal, the Arab Cup . After human rights organizations – including Amnesty International – had repeatedly expressed themselves critical of the situation in the Arab emirate in the past , there was now another scandal in the host country of the upcoming soccer World Cup. The focus is on Abdullah Ibhais, the organizing committee’s media and communications director until the end of 2019.
Investigation of differences with the committee chief
An internal investigation was launched against the Jordanian in October 2019 for allegedly accepting bribes. Previously, in August of the same year, he faced a confrontation with committee chief Hassan Al-Thawadi, who wanted to prevent critical reporting on the World Cup.
This was about a strike and the rights of workers on the construction sites of the World Cup stadiums. After the investigation into Ibhais was concluded, he was arrested in November 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison in April of this year – in a hearing at which no evidence was presented against him, he was not allowed to be present and his lawyer was deprived of the right to a defense based on an alleged confession obtained through threats.
Imprisoned shortly before an interview with critical journalists
After he was released after an appeal, he was taken into custody again a few weeks ago. This happened just a few hours before a planned interview with two Norwegian journalists – who were also briefly detained after a critical live broadcast on Norwegian state television about the situation of guest workers in Qatar.
Now the hammer fell again in Doha before the court of appeal, which sentenced Ibhais to three years in prison. According to the Norwegian football magazine “Josimar”, which has accompanied him since the first hearing, again in a procedure in which no evidence was provided against him and he was not allowed to be present. Human Rights Watch and Fairsquare had already criticized this handling in the first trial in April and demanded a fair hearing. According to the Qatari authorities, this has now existed.
Repeatedly influencing lawyers
But that’s not all: As “Josimar” reports, Ibhais’ current lawyer – the fourth since the start of the investigation in 2019 – was asked by the World Cup organizing committee to resign. Otherwise he would “damage his career”. According to the whistleblower’s family: “We are not surprised by this development. This is not the first time the committee has contacted Abdullah’s legal advisor to ask him to resign.”
Asma ‘al Ghanem, Ibhais’ second lawyer, resigned from her mandate after seven months and is now working in the legal department of the organizing committee. The latter “categorically denied all allegations” to “Josimar”. It was just a “conflict of interest”.
FIFA remains silent
The Abdulla Ibhais family also addressed the world governing body in their statement: “We demand serious and immediate action from FIFA to stop the injustice against Abdullah by the authorities of the country that have chosen to host the World Cup.” However, it remains uncertain whether FIFA, whose highest-ranking officials around President Gianni Infantino are currently staying in Qatar due to the Arab Cup, will comment on the events.
The Ibhais family will continue to hope so. Because “there is no justification for his imprisonment”.
