German interior minister Nancy Faeser will attend her team’s opening match at the World Cup in Qatar, she confirmed during a visit to Doha, where she was received by Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani.
Faeser, who is also Germany’s minister for sport, was visiting the Qatari capital on Tuesday in the shadow of a recent diplomatic spat between the two countries over alleged mistreatment of migrant workers.
In a television interview last week, Faeser questioned whether Qatar should stage the tournament, prompting the foreign ministry to summon the German ambassador. But in Doha, Faeser said that her recent remarks regarding Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 have been misinterpreted.
During her visit to Doha, Faeser said she appreciates Doha’s preparations to host the tournament, and the comprehensive and sustainable labour reforms it has implemented, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported. “It is important to support the country of Qatar in groundbreaking reforms,” Faeser said on Tuesday at the end of the two-day visit to the country.
“That is why I have decided to continue to be part of the process and travel to the first match of the German team.”
Faeser had made critical remarks against Qatar last week, as the Gulf state is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup on 20 November. In her earlier remarks, which developed into a diplomatic spat between Doha and Berlin, the minister said in a TV interview that "it would be better that tournaments are not awarded to such states" over their human rights record, adding that choosing Qatar to host the World Cup was "very tricky" for the German government. Her remarks drew an objection from Doha and also from former German officials. Sigmar Gabriel, the former German foreign minister, described criticism of Qatar by German officials as 'arrogance'. Gabriel added that while the UN and International Labor Organisation praise Qatar, "only we Germans insult it every day".
On Friday, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson HE Majed al-Ansari had described Faeser's comments “as unacceptable and provocative for the Qatari people”.
“All people, no matter where they come from, who they love and what they believe in, must be safe at the World Cup,” Faeser said, during her visit to Doha.
According to QNA, HE Sheikh Khalid reiterated that Qatar “welcomes all visitors during the World Cup”, as it sees the tournament as an opportunity for the world to learn about Qatar’s culture and values.”
HE Sheikh Khalid also emphasised the need to address “misinformation about the state of labour and human rights in Qatar”, highlighting the labour reforms Doha has undertaken – steps commended by various human rights groups and United Nations bodies.
The reforms have included modifying labour laws and practices, abolishing exit visas, allowing employees to change their employer without prior authorisation, setting a minimum wage for workers, as well as establishing a fund to support workers and their rights.
Germany would “continue to support reforms in Qatar after the World Cup to further improve the lives of migrant workers and the human rights situation”, Faeser said.
Germany will play Japan in their opening match of the tournament on November 23.
