Qatar rejects and condemns German minister's remarks on World Cup

*The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons German ambassador, hands him an objection memoThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned German ambassador Dr Claudius Fischbach and handed him an objection memo, expressing the State of Qatar's disappointment and complete rejection and condemnation of remarks made by the German Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser on Qatar's hosting if the World Cup 2022.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also demanded a clarification for these remarks.The memo expressed Qatar's complete rejection of those remarks made towards a country whose hosting of the World Cup was justice done to a region suffering from an unjust stereotype for decades.The memo also stressed that Qatar is determined to organise one of the best editions to showcase the regions civilisation and heritage to the whole world.The memo highlighted that the remarks made by the minister ahead of her official visit to Doha next week was against diplomatic norms and conventions, especially in light of the distinguished ties between Qatar and Germany in all fields.The memo noted that the most prominent human rights groups and UN agencies praised the reforms implemented by the State of Qatar in the labour field, given they were effective and long-term, as well as being a result of years of planning and studies.It also highlighted that the reforms included many labour laws and practices related to them.Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed bin Mohamed al-Ansari described the remarks made by the German interior minister as unacceptable and provocative for the Qatari people, stressing that it was unacceptable for politicians to try and score political points locally at the expense of their relations with other countries.Dr al-Ansari pointed out that Qatar, since winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup, has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no other host country has ever seen before.He added that the campaign continued and expanded to include slander and double standards, noting that Qatar continues in its process of development and strengthening its international stance, not paying attention to such campaigns.Qatar is currently preparing to be a hub for civilised communication and the promotion of understanding among world nations in a frame of mutual respect during the World Cup.His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said: "Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced. We initially dealt with the matter in good faith, and even considered some of the criticism as positive and useful in helping us to develop aspects of ours that need to be developed. But it soon became clear to us that the campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign." Qatari political analysts expressed their denunciation of the slander statements of the German minister of interior against the State of Qatar concerning the human rights situation in the country, stressing that the statements are based on fabricated information mad by provocative media.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the analysts stressed that the reforms made by Qatar regarding labour rights were praised by several international human rights organisations.They pointed out to Qatar's decisions of cancelling the residents' exit permit, allowing employees to freely change their employer, setting a minimum wage, announcing the establishment of 14 visa centres for Qatar abroad, and establishing a fund to support and secure workers.Qatari journalist Jaber al-Harami said that labour rights is the peg where the criticism directed to Qatar is hanged on.He pointed out to the clear double standards in dealing with this case, as in the time where International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) praises the big reforms made by Qatar in the labours file, we find these statements which are based on fabricated information.In October 2022, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) praised the big strides made by Qatar regarding implementing legal reforms related to the protection of expat workers, which support accelerating the development process in the country.Al-Harami was shocked by the fabrication of problems, actions, and statements regarding human rights in Qatar, at a time when the German minister overlooks the real violations that occur in various European countries regarding refugees, for example, or confiscating children from their families.He listed the steps taken by Qatar regarding labour rights issues, in addition to providing them with a safe and secured work environment.He referred to the law limiting working hours during the summer, which has no equivalent in the European Union, as with climate change, no law limits stress in Europe, while Qatar applies a law prohibiting work in the heat hours during the day.He indicated that there has been an exaggeration and creation of crises against Qatar since winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup.He stressed that the German minister relied on fabricated information in her statements against Qatar at a time when she cannot speak of any of the clear daily violations against the Palestinian people by the Israeli occupation, which affirms dealing with double standards.The Qatari journalist expressed his full support for the step taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by summoning the German ambassador and handing him an objection memo against such statements.He said that he supports and even demands that legitimate diplomatic steps be taken against whoever tries to create crises against Qatar.He added that Western officials do not recognise the reality of workers and their rights in Qatar except through fabricated news from provocative media that work according to driven agendas.He pointed out that Qatar welcomes criticism if it is based on facts, however, if this criticism is based on merely fabricated information published in provocative media, it will never be accepted.As for the real reason behind such statements, al-Harami believes that western culture is trying to prove that others — especially Arabs — are not capable or qualified to host such mega events as the FIFA World Cup, as well as the arrogance tendency for some Western parties.In addition, some parts are trying to put Qatar under pressure for unreal reasons by obtaining information from fabricated, inciting, politicised media sources.Regarding the German minister's talk about sustainability, al-Harami challenged her that her country had met all the requirements of sustainability when it hosted the World Cup, as Qatar is going to do during the current edition of the World Cup, or that her country had put capabilities in its stadiums as Qatar is doing, pointing out that Qatar's World Cup will be the first in the world in the field of sustainability, environmentally friendly buildings, and energy saving.For his part, Editor-in-|Chief of Gulf Times English newspaper Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka said the German interior minister should focus on the energy policy of her country rather than diverting attention from their internal problems. "The FIFA World Cup will take place in the State of Qatar as one of the best tournaments in the world despite the provocative and fabricated statement made by the German interior minister against Qatar," al-Mudahka said.For his part, Sadiq al-Ammari, Editor-in-Chief of the Qatari Arabic-language Al-Sharq newspaper, expressed his welcome for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the German ambassador because of the provocative statements against Qatar made by the German minister, stressing that these provocative statements based on media fabrications cannot be tolerated.Al-Ammari said that the campaign raging against the country since it won the honour of hosting the World Cup is based on hatred and lies.He stressed the need to deter such false statements that do not see the extent of the Qatari achievement, whether at the level of workers and their rights or at the level of World Cup preparations and the capabilities provided by the State in this regard.He pointed out that Qatar will present an impressive tournament for all thanks to the work of Qataris and residents during 12 years of achievement, in which the State has taken pioneering steps in the field of securing full rights of workers in the country and the issuance of many laws that achieve for workers a fair wage, an adequate healthy life and full rights at all levels.He pointed out that these repeated statements stem from hatred against Qatar's hosting of this important sporting event, adding that workers in Qatar enjoy dignified and upscale treatment derived from the teachings of the Islamic religion and authentic Arab customs, which value the worker, give him his wages, and provide him with what he needs in return for the work he does.For his part, Abdullah Ghanem al-Binali al-Mohannadi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Raya newspaper, denounced the statements of the German Minister of the Interior, which insulted Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup.Al-Mohannadi said that such irresponsible and provocative statements against the Qatari people violate diplomatic norms and traditions, and come within the framework of a systematic and misleading campaign, full of slander and double standards to distort the FIFA World Cup.He stressed that the statements of the German minister represent a position for local consumption at the expense of Qatari-German relations, pointing to the Foreign Ministry's assertion that Qatar does not pay attention to such irresponsible statements.He added that Qatar will organise one of the best tournaments in order to show the region's civilisation and heritage to the whole world, and to promote the values of tolerance among all peoples.Al-Mohannadi noted the testimonies and reports issued by human rights groups and UN organisations, which came after field visits, praised the pioneering reforms undertaken by Qatar in the field of protecting and promoting workers' rights, in addition to the international acclaim for what Qatar has achieved in environmental sustainability, organising the first environmentally-friendly championship, and obtaining international accreditation for all Qatar's cities as environmentally-friendly green cities with the highest international standards.