By staging a safe and well-organised tournament, Qatar has successfully dispelled “silly” FIFA World Cup-related propaganda, which had only exposed “racial and Islamophobic undertones,” according to Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International.
Speaking at the ‘Experiences of Long-Term Expatriates in Qatar’ seminar, which was organised by the Ministry of Culture at the Darb Al Saai main stage, Dr Althaf said there are some critics who cannot accept that a Gulf state, such as Qatar, was selected to host a major global sporting event like the World Cup.
“This upset a lot of people who thought that this is their right to host anything in the world. But despite the propaganda, Qatar gave a rightful response in a very graceful manner by continuing with its many reforms and hard work,” he explained.
Dr Althaf said despite the concerns about Qatar’s preparations to host the FIFA World Cup, the government started early on to address different issues, such as workers’ rights, among many other reforms.
“These efforts and reforms were repeatedly recognised by the International Labour Organisation, and the ILO had always congratulated Qatar for improving the living and working conditions of labourers here. Today, Qatar can rightfully claim that it is one of the leading countries in terms of labour reforms.
“These World Cup-related propaganda only exposed racial and Islamophobic undertones and intolerance towards a country coming forward to host this event,” Dr Althaf emphasised.
He also stressed that throughout the tournament, Qatar did not witness “any drunken brawling across the country or hooliganism,” making it safe for fans to even bring their children to the stadiums to watch and enjoy the games.
“Qatar has some of the highest specified stadiums today in terms of mobility and public transport, thus setting a very high standard for the next World Cups to be staged in different host countries.
“The World Cup also witnessed the intermingling of different nationalities during the games or even outside the stadiums and in the fan zones, especially among Indians. This shows the affection of Indians towards Qatar and the generosity of the Qatari people to those who made this country their second home,” he said.
Dr Althaf also lauded His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s speech in Davos where he declared that while Qatar welcomes everybody, it is also expected that visitors should respect the country’s values and culture.
“We have succeeded in making World Cup fans and visitors feel welcome and that they are all being serviced properly. When it comes to food, I can assure you that LuLu has considered all types of dietary habits and preferences, as well as the food requirements of fans and visitors during their stay in the country.
“We have fulfilled their expectations and even more. Similarly, on infrastructure and entertainment, Qatar has shown that we could do all this without compromising the core values of our culture,” Althaf said, adding that this paved the way for fans and tourists to experience the Arab and Qatari culture.
Dr Althaf said: “Qatar has showcased inclusivity and tolerance for people of all races, nationality, faith and religious beliefs, and cultures. Everyone is welcome in Qatar as long as they extend the same respect given to them by this beautiful country.
“Qatar is not only economically successful but it also managed to build solid institutions for culture, sports, welfare, and human rights. Qatar has extended generosity not only with the people here, but also for millions of people abroad, such as out-of-school youth, children in conflict zones, and disaster-hit areas.”
Dr Althaf added: “We also witnessed Qatar’s intervention at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the transportation of vaccines and other essential materials, as well as the country’s leadership during the evacuation of people during the Afghanistan crisis.”
Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, speaking during the event. PICTURE: Thajudheen.
