Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri
DOHA: Qatar’s Attorney-General sees the hand of some unsuccessful FIFA 2022 bidders behind The Guardian reports of alleged abuse of migrant workers in the country.
The reports carried in a series by the British newspaper might have been motivated and behind them could be “some” 2022 bid losers, Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri said.
“So tell me how do we simply believe those reports?” Al Marri told Qatar News Agency (QNA) replying to a question about the labour issues raised by The Guardian.
That’s the reason why the Public Prosecution has been asked (by the government) to look into these reports and investigate if they are based on truth. The reports claim that workers used to visit police stations but their complaints were refused to be lodged.
“Well, the workers are still here in Qatar and that fact can be helpful in our investigation. They should be asked if what has been reported is true.”
If the Guardian reports are based on truth, the investigations would tell that. “But if they are found to be fabricated, we will take legal action against those responsible,” said Al Marri.
“I don’t see a problem. The workers are here, so we will investigate and get at the truth.” “And if we find that there was a conspiracy to malign Qatar and its image, legal action would be initiated.”
Responding to a question about the Prosecution’s role in cases in which workers were found to be victims, the Attorney-General said some 3,000 cases were filed by Bangladeshi and Nepali workers against big companies and the rulings were in their favour.
“What does this show? This reflects that there is total justice in Qatar. Our systems are based on justice. Remember that the owners of some of these companies are influential people.”
However, if investigations reveal that there are faults in “our” system, corrective action would be taken, Al Marri said.
Asked about when he thought the investigation would be completed, he said that would take months.
“We have just begun the investigation,” said Al Marri, reiterating that they would reveal if there are faults on Qatar’s side.
The Attorney-General had earlier opened a workshop at the Centre for Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption in Doha, of whose Board of Trustees he is the Chairman.
The Peninsula
