30
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s offer to buy Manchester United has put human rights activists on high alert.
The offer is one of two offers publicly announced by the club, the other being from petrochemical giant INEOS, headed by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
With Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund QSI already owning Paris Saint Germain, Sheikh Jassim’s offer claims to be completely independent of that and not an offer from Qatar itself.
If the offer is successful, UEFA will have to make a decision on whether the ownership of the two clubs is different.
Since the World Cup, Qatar has been at the center of controversy and criticism over its human rights record, including the treatment of migrant workers in the event’s construction project, the outlawing of LGBTQ+ lifestyles and the treatment of women.
Rainbow Devils, a group representing LGBTQ+ United fans, released a statement on social media saying:
“Rainbow Devils believe that any bidder looking to buy Manchester United must commit to making football a sport for all, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff.
“Therefore, we have deep concerns about some of the offers that are being made. We are watching the current process closely with this in mind.”
Rainbow Devils believe that any bidder looking to buy Manchester United must commit to making football a sport for all, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/LYaAs9GLUX
— Rainbow Devils (@RainbowDevils) February 17, 2023
While they do not specifically mention Qatar, many assume it is included in the group’s concerns. But what are those concerns?
Some of Qatar’s laws on non-heterosexual relationships include:
– Male homosexual sex punishable by a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years; – Capital punishment for Muslims who have sexual relations with people of the same sex; there is no record of state enforcement, but there may be evidence of local vigilante incidents; – Illegal cohabitation of same-sex couples; – Illegal cross-dressing; – Illegal transition and forced detransition in prison, for example, removal of the breasts. (source: Wikipedia)
Regarding the rights of women:– “Under the guardianship system, women require the permission of their male guardian, usually their husband, father, brother, grandfather or uncle, to marry, study abroad with government scholarships , work in many government jobs, travel abroad (if you are under 25), and access reproductive health care.”– “Family laws continued to discriminate against women by making it difficult for them to divorce. Divorced women were still unable to act as guardians of their children.” (source: Amnesty International)
The scandal surrounding migrant workers for the World Cup revolves around alleged inhuman working and living conditions. At least 6,500 workers died during the construction project and only four were announced as related to World Cup work according to Qatari authorities. In terms of Indian immigrants, for example, 2,711 died. 6 were reported as suicide and 10 as traffic accidents, 80% being attributed to natural causes, which makes little sense.
Similar figures were published for workers from other countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Guardian reports that the most likely cause of the deaths attributed to “natural causes” is exposure to Qatar’s extreme heat, but there are also reports of incidents of accidental electrocution.
However, the Qatari authorities state that “the number of deaths, which they do not dispute, is proportional to the size of the migrant workforce and that the figures include white-collar workers who have died naturally after living in Qatar for many years.” years”, The Guardian explains.
“It also says that only 20 percent of expatriates from the countries in question are employed in construction, and that work-related deaths in this sector accounted for less than 10 percent of deaths within this group.
“’The death rate among these communities is within the range expected for the size and demographics of the population. Yet every life lost is a tragedy, and no effort is spared to try to prevent every death in our country.’”
Whichever conclusion is drawn from all of the above, it is another question whether Sheikh Jassim, as a potential private investor in Manchester United, is guilty or responsible for any of these alleged abuses, or for the acts of his father, the former Prime Minister of Qatar:
“He is the son of the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani,” explains The Athletic.
“In June 2021, the High Court of Justice in London issued a claim that the alleged private office of Sheikh Hamad was at the center of money laundering for terrorism through overpriced construction contracts, the purchase of properties at prices inflated and overpaid Syrian migrant workers.”
Of course, if you see Sheikh Jassim’s private ownership as a cover for the Qatari state to dodge PSG’s conflict of interest issue, then all of the above questions come into play. If it doesn’t, then the question is whether a man can be held accountable for the policies and actions of his government.
United Matchday Magazine – Stay on top of everything in red! Still craving more United content? Get everything you need right here. For just £1.25 per issue / £3.75 per month, you’ll receive unique United information, delivered directly to your inbox, before every game and throughout the month. Get exclusive preparation for every game, plus team news, tactics and history. .Not only that: United Matchday is packed with features, news, transfer news, riddles, nostalgia and humor. Impress your friends and stay on top of everything in red!
