German journalists arrested in Qatar while filming documentary
A group of journalists from Germany were arrested and had their equipments seized in March while filming a documentary in Qatar's Industrial Area before they were released after 14 hours of detention.
German reporter, Florian Bauer, disclosed the details of his arrest for the first time publicly on Monday. Bauer covers sports politics for WDR and ARD, one of the largest broadcasters in Germany.
Qatari officials said they were arrested because Bauer and his TV crew did not have permission to film in the country and not because of the content of their film.
Bauer said he was detained for 14 hours and was only allowed to leave the country after 5 days. He said the German embassy's intervention eased his release and return back home.
However, Bauer claims it him more than 3 weeks to get his equipment back from Qatar authorities and found that the memory of all his devices, including his laptop and cellphone, were wiped out.
#Qatar2022 ahead of new criticism. Arrested in #Qatar, all material erased, equipment demolished. What is #fifa saying to this?
— Florian Bauer (@FloBauerAuthor) May 4, 2015This was Bauer's fourth visit to Qatar and was filming his documentary, The selling of football: Sepp Blatter and the power of FIFA, which was aired by ARD on Monday.
Everytime a "new" country is given the Olympic task, they are deeply scrutanised, but in the end, the Olympics do happen, with a resounding success. So let the dog bark and the caravan with still go ahead. My 2cents.
May be he want job in Aljazeera english
Question is, "when will this New Labor Law reform Happen?" just some delaying tactics - while a lot of labourers are suffering in industrial. I have visited the place, a friend of mine was working as a warehouseman and saw the labor camps where they are housed. I can't see any "improvements" the gov't. keep sweet talking about, probably that is the reason why they have arrested the German Journalist - simple, they came to see if there are changes from the previous visit they did few months back - guess what , Zilch. or the more popular term should be - Khaliwali !
@habibqtr.it true and all know that they are working not for free they are paid;cause too so the monthly salary is 800-900 as working hard at sun.anyway let see there might be some rays after labour law changes finger crossed.
I totally agree wid @Rudithe, is true that qatar is doing well but as well Qatar Govt should have to take action toward the company as well I see at the industrial area it totally terrible.jst later you all guys coverse to each jst go and visits at once you might let know how the people staying there...''TERRIBLE"
Why this people are worried so much about Qatar FIFA .No Labor is working for free they are paid for their work .Labor law changes are coming now days we have to welcome that.
@wild Turkey, can you please just take your pity argument and re-invent it. It is ridiculous to argue on behalf of workers when all of their countries have an official representatives here and called Ambassador, just in case you never heard of the term.
I bet you care less about the worker, just like the German TV people. What you and they really do care about is the fact that Qatar is a wealthy country and suitable to be black-mailed.
I hope Qatar officials are learning how to play this media game. I would require a monthly report from all embassies who have worker here and include all complains that their citizens are voicing, as well as over all well-being, and be placed on the official website of the embassy. This will keep @wild Turkey in the wilderness.
Add more, most companies did not pay salary on time or didn't pay at all. The enforcement should be done to the company. Inspect to their office. What are company Human Resources department did, according to international standard or "kalivalli" standard? Any government body do the audit? I experience terrible situation because human resources in Qatar for me is at very lowest level. Make fool to employees.
Add more, most companies did not pay salary on time or didn't pay at all. The enforcement should be done to the company. Inspect to their office. What are company Human Resources department did, according to international standard or "kalivalli" standard? Any government body do the audit? I experience terrible situation because human resources in Qatar for me is at very lowest level. Make fool to employees.
Add more, most companies did not pay salary on time or didn't pay at all. The enforcement should be done to the company. Inspect to their office. What are company Human Resources department did, according to international standard or "kalivalli" standard? Any government body do the audit? I experience terrible situation because human resources in Qatar for me is at very lowest level. Make fool to employees.
Add more, most companies did not pay salary on time or didn't pay at all. The enforcement should be done to the company. Inspect to their office. What are company Human Resources department did, according to international standard or "kalivalli" standard? Any government body do the audit? I experience terrible situation because human resources in Qatar for me is at very lowest level. Make fool to employees.
Add more, most companies did not pay salary on time or didn't pay at all. The enforcement should be done to the company. Inspect to their office. What are company Human Resources department did, according to international standard or "kalivalli" standard? Any government body do the audit? I experience terrible situation because human resources in Qatar for me is at very lowest level. Make fool to employees.
I went to the labour camp in industry area for inspection. Now I quit my job. It's terrible. Qatar state probably put an effort but the company never did.I see funny post from Karoly and companyqatar.
Is he willingto revisit ? .................................................
They have already completed some part of this projects.....it is not like a cup of water that you can offer and give immediately...it needs time, fund and efforts lol...
Qatar is taking good steps to improve the living status of laborers ..!!!
That's what they "say", but that's not what they "do"!
Qatar will build seven "cities" to house more than a quarter of a million migrant labourers building major infrastructure and projects for the 2022 World Cup, Labour and Social Affairs Minister H E Dr Abdullah bin Saleh Mubarak Al Khulaifi said Tuesday.
Minister said all seven should be built by the end of 2016 and that the largest, "Labour City" for 70,000 people and complete with its own 24,000-seat cricket stadium, will begin housing workers in the next few weeks.
The move to construct more modern facilities comes amid continued criticism of the accommodation provided by Qatar for the vast number of migrant workers and with Doha admitting that sub-standard and illegal living conditions are still being used.
In total, 258,000 workers — some 25 percent of Qatar's migrant labourer population —will be housed, officials said.
Khulaifi said the new accommodation centres were the "future".
"That's the blueprint," he said of Labour City. "There are in the pipeline (several) cities around the nation. I know our people want to have better accommodation for their labourers." Khulaifi added that Qatar has effectively doubled its number of housing inspectors to 300, and that should increase to 400 soon.
"We have labour accommodation standards and we are monitoring them and penalising those who are violating (the rules)," he said. "Our business community knows we are taking it very seriously."
The cities, a mixture of government and private sector accommodation, will be built across Qatar, from the fringes of the capital Doha to one in the north. Most will house around 28,000 workers. Khulaifi said there was no final figure for how much the projects will cost.
However, Labour City, with 55 buildings including a mall, clinic and the second largest mosque in Qatar, cost QR3bn ($825m) to build.
Most workers who will end up living there will be transferred from other accommodation centres in Qatar, but officials have said the number of migrant workers in the country will more than double to 2.5 million two years before the World Cup.
its true. see for yourself the real situation of most labor camps in industrial area. even you will not think of staying there.
nizamuddin, they will not be allowed to enter the Industrial area, they might find some horrific things there.
The conditions of the laborers in Germany are controlled by the government, the police, AND the trade unions. Companies who breach the laws are closed. That's why German products are so good. Go to Mercedes in Stuttgart. I bet you can eat from the floor where the engines are assembled. Go to the Industrial Area. I bet the engines are lying in the sand. If you are intelligent enough you will understand the difference. Otherwise, khalliwalli.
people who are debating should go and see the places at least one time then there will not be any argument pls.......
@karoly
to know why these ppl r here in such sad situation you have to do ur part of research. most of them are promised better life, some can't go back bcz they have high debt which they took to come to middle east. maybe u need to be put in their place to realize the pain and unfairness.
@britexpat
Because they outstay the three day notice period by labor court i mentioned previously (Got you!)
Why do you believe that things are worse in their own countries?
Even if they were, it is no excuse for the conditions they have to suffer here
Wild turkey, even if what you tell is right, it is obvious that things are worse for these labourers in their own home countries. (Think why there are no Germans in labour camps, and there are no Nepali or Srilankan film makers roaming in Industrial area).
karoly: "such a sensitive issue" ?
"Wild Turkey, The problem is what authenticity these reporters have?" - They were the accredited reporters of the German State TV ARD. They had been filming (with permission) a year ago. They came back to document if and how much the "changes" that Qatar has promised had been implemented. Their resume was that nothing has changed.
Why would you allow them to film in 2014, and why, when they come back to document the implementation of the promised changes, would you deny them the permission? - BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED. - Qatar is only mulling but not doing anything. Laborers still live in one room with 16 (!) occupants. There are 10 toilets (some without doors) for 100 (!) people. The kitchens are worse than the car garages. Of course, Qatar doesn't want the world to see THIS.
gud....
the country is bringing in a lot of reforms in terms of labor welfare and employee benefits.
give them a chance, let them prove they can host the best ever world cup. the WEST will eventually change in due course. bet on this.
cuz u all guys can see the area of that how they are living over there, you can see the labour and their living style, and their accomdation anyway why they didn't they cought while filming on Corniche than anyway every country has a certain law and order and too qatar.
Wild Turkey, The problem is what authenticity these reporters have? Who knows there are not some mafia who want to act against the interests of Qatar? What if they film some sewage area and claim that this is the dwelling of laborers and broadcast all over the world? You will go and correct them? So permission is mandatory to authorize making any such documentary. And permission cannot be blindly given for all and sundry for such a sensitive issue either.
Why wouldn't they allow to film in the Industrial Area? Guess why.
They had been applying for permission for more than six months and had received no reply. So,why was Qatar afraid to grant permission? Because they have nothing to hide?
Two aspects.
1: yes the Germans should have got permission
2: By wiping the camera memories , the authorities seem like they want to hide something
Qatar is a safe haven for workers. The ever increasing number of job seekers in Qatar testifies to this. Any laborer who doesnt want to work for his employer can directly go to labour court any time, who will not only order his employer to send him back to his country within three days, irrespective of the cost incurred to the company, but also will make sure his salary arrears are given in full. The German guys deserves this treatment because they were acting against the law of the land. Not that there could be anything outrageous in their cameras.
FIFA is saying nothing because Blatter is a snake
Simply Couldn't understand why the hack they want to stop Qatar hosting FIFA 2022........
no fart can be hold on forever....