Television crews will be banned from filming in certain areas during the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. The British newspaper The Observer claims that the Qatari government has restricted the residential neighborhoods of migrant workers in the Middle Eastern country. Instead, these crews, which include the BBC and ITV in England, are only allowed to film in three locations around the city of Doha.
The two British TV networks mentioned currently have dual rights to broadcast the 2022 World Cup in the UK.
The public places of the Corniche waterfront, the Towers area and the West Bay area will be the only parts of the city where these camera crews will be able to record.
Qatar Censors World Cup Broadcasters: What’s Next?
Along with migrant workers’ accommodation sites, the local government also prohibits filming in or near government buildings, hospitals, places of worship and universities.
Any company traveling to Qatar to film during the World Cup must agree to these terms when applying for special permission. According to The Guardian, this permit essentially allows crews to “capture photography and videography of the country’s hottest spots.”
Still photographers must also agree and obtain a permit. However, print journalists without a camera do not need to apply to the country’s supreme committee for a license.
FIFA previously stated that they were “working with the supreme committee and relevant organizations in Qatar to ensure the best possible working conditions for media attending the tournament, as well as to ensure that broadcasters continue to report freely without restriction.”
Qatar has had a history of problems with foreign journalists in previous years. In 2015, BBC reporters were arrested and spent several nights in jail while covering the migrant labor crisis in Doha.
Norwegian journalists were also arrested last November for similar reporting. The duo remained in jail for 36 hours before finally being released.
BBC and ITV will not be scared
Representatives from the BBC and ITV have stated that their reporting will not change for the Qatar World Cup. A BBC spokesman recently said the broadcaster has a “proven record of tackling current affairs as part of our coverage. This World Cup will be no different.”
Similarly, ITV has stated that its “World Cup tournament coverage will focus on football, but will not shy away from off-field controversies”.
Meanwhile, US broadcaster FOX Sports doesn’t have to worry about censorship. They are leaving stories “off the field” to other news organizations. However, that is despite the fact that FOX Sports has two news teams that travel around Qatar to capture “the flavor of the country”.
Instead of reporting on human rights abuses and lack of freedoms, FOX Sports plans to air articles on camel racing, the Doha skyline and falconry. It is not a joke.
Photo Credit: IMAGO/Joerg Boethling
