World Cup 2022: BBC Journalists Jailed For Doing Journalism In Qatar

Paul Sorene

18th, May 2015

A typical camp for migrant workers

A typical camp for migrant workers

The Qatari government wanted to show invited journalists how well it’s treating migrant workers toiling on its 2022 World Cup Sandlantis. But four BBC journalists thought it an idea to do some actual journalism, peeling away from the group to see things not on the official tour.

At which point thery were arrested for trespassing and banged up in jail – which is ironically and very possibly much more in keeping with the authentic labour camp experience, allegedly.

Fifa, that bastion of freedom, fairness and transparency, says it is investigating the arrests:

“Any instance relating to an apparent restriction of press freedom is of concern to Fifa and will be looked into with the seriousness it deserves.”

Qatar’s head of communication Saif al-Thani then offered up:

“We gave the reporters free rein to interview whomever they chose and to roam unaccompanied in the labour villages.

“Perhaps anticipating that the government would not provide this sort of access, the BBC crew decided to do their own site visits and interviews in the days leading up to the planned tour. In doing so, they trespassed on private property, which is against the law in Qatar just as it is in most countries. Security forces were called and the BBC crew was detained….

The problems that the BBC reporter and his crew experienced could have been avoided if they had chosen to join the other journalists on the press tour. They would have been able to visit – in broad daylight – the very camps they tried to break into at night.”

Fair enough.

But next time the BBC should reprint a press release beneath photos of Shangri-La and not bring shame on the UK by trying to “break into” the, er, free villages…

Posted in Newsnow, World Cup

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