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BBC Journalists Arrested in Qatar for Reporting on World Cup Labourers

May 18, 2015
Workers are seen at a construction site in Doha, Qatar, host of the 2022 football World Cup. (Photo: AFP)

For the second time in a month, journalists have been detained in Qatar while reporting on the working and housing conditions of migrant workers constructing new buildings ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Mark Lobel from the BBC revealed that he was detained alongside his team and “ended up being thrown into prison for doing our jobs.” “We were on a quiet stretch of road in the capital, Doha, on our way to film a group of workers from Nepal,” wrote Mark in an article published on BBC’s website. “The working and housing conditions of migrant workers constructing new buildings in Qatar ahead of the World Cup have been heavily criticized and we wanted to see them for ourselves. Suddenly, eight white cars surrounded our vehicle and directed us on to a side road at speed. “A dozen security officers frisked us in the street, shouting at us when we tried to talk. They took away our equipment and hard drives and drove us to their headquarters. “Later, in the city’s main police station, the cameraman, translator, driver and I were interrogated separately by intelligence officers. The questioning…


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