Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, November 16 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers underlined in their editorials on Wednesday that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, due to kickstart in few days, will allow everyone to see facts on the ground, most importantly the atmosphere of freedom, moderation, tolerance, and Qatar's openness as a modern civil state, in addition to know a generous and hospitable people that has a glorious and solid legacy of customs and traditions. The Qatari dailies denounced hatred and racism campaigns targeting Qatar and its hosting of the World Cup, some of which were caused by ignorance, or the stereotype propagated by most Western media about the Arab region and the Islamic world. In this context, the papers praised the participation of HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri in the European Parliament hearing on labor reforms in Qatar, stressing its significant importance in exposing the parties behind the campaign of lies and fabrications, and in refuting these lies. The Qatari newspapers also highlighted Qatar's message to global fans, assuring them of presenting the safest, healthiest and most secured tournament in the history of World Cup. Under the headline "Qatar... Seeing the Facts", Al-Sharq said that with the imminent launch of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, visitors are getting closer to experience an exceptional and different atmosphere full of festivals and amazing activities accompanying the tournament, the result of tremendous preparations and efforts exerted by the State of Qatar over 12 years, since it won the right to the host the 2022 World Cup. Al-Sharq noted that Qatar did not pay attention to the hatred and racism campaigns and other attempts aimed at its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, some of which were due to ignorance or stereotypes propagated by most Western media about the Arab region and the Islamic world; rather the State has spared no effort to make this World Cup an unforgettable experience. The paper underlined that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will demonstrate the facts about the region and the Arab and Islamic culture, and its values that promote and consolidate coexistence. The tournament will build new bridges between the West and the Arab and Islamic world through highlighting the true image of the region and its people, refuting the lies, fabrications and the negative image being promoted about the region. In conclusion, Al-Sharq pointed to the statements of HE the UK Ambassador to Qatar John Wilkes to journalists when he said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes a golden opportunity for everyone to see things in Qatar as they are, and to alter impressions about the Middle East, bridge the cultural gap with the West, and build new bridges to introduce the world to Arab and Islamic culture. For its part, Al-Watan highlighted the praise and appreciation expressed by workers and officials of communities in Qatar, as well as the International Labor Organization, International Trade Union Confederation, and many other human rights bodies for labor reforms in Qatar. All these parties have closely witnessed the labor reforms in Qatar, however the campaign targeting Qatar continues, and is still based on fabricated reports and unfounded statistics, with the sole aim of disrupting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by weaving lies and fabrications, Al-Watan said. The paper stressed the importance of HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri's participation in the European Parliament hearing on labor reforms in Qatar in exposing the parties behind the campaign of lies and fabrications, and in refuting these lies. Al-Watan considered what is happening amounting to intellectual and media terrorism and psychological warfare motivated by racism by some parties who do not like the idea of Qatar organizing a mega event like the World Cup. This requires the European Parliament and all European human rights and legal bodies to think carefully about what is happening in order to build a position based on facts rather than lies. What Qatar has been exposed to cannot be tolerated, nor should it be tolerated, because what happened is a systematic campaign targeting not only Qatar, but all Arabs and Muslims by targeting their culture, values, and rich heritage. The Europeans must confront this campaign and those behind it through clear positions based on facts only, Al-Watan concluded. For its part, Al-Raya newspaper affirmed in its editorial that the country's health sector is ready for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressing that this tournament will be the safest and healthiest in World Cup history. Qatar, which does not leave any event to chance, has prepared perfectly for this prominent international sporting event and the accompanying large World Cup crowds that extend for nearly a month. All sectors are ready, Qatar confirmed, foremost of which is the health sector, which is essential to the national efforts to confront emergency cases. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani praised the level of readiness of the National Health Incident Command Center (NHICC), its services, as well as the extent of its staff to meet any emergency around the clock, the paper noted. Qatar has the right to be proud of the presence of the NHICC located at the Hamad Medical Corporation's Ambulance Service headquarters, as it reflects the high-level coordination between all representatives of the health sector in the country, which work daily, around the clock and provide support services during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the paper said. With Qatar's hosting of many high-level sporting events in recent years, it won the bet in ensuring the safety and health of the masses. The healthcare system played an important role in supporting the successful management of these tournaments, indicating that the health sector is ready for any circumstances due to its expertise, experiences, commitment, and solidarity to achieve the desired goals, Al-Raya indicated. Al-Raya concluded by saying that Qatar's healthcare system works to confront any pandemic or large health situation proactively and is preparatory for any exceptional circumstances through a court system, in which all parties in the country participate. Qatar seeks to organize an exceptional edition of the World Cup and has prepared a comprehensive national plan to deal professionally with the requirements for holding this tournament. For its part, the English-language newspaper The Peninsula indicated in its editorial that as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 nears kick-off, Qatar has been subjected to a systematic negative campaign from some parties, who are not happy with the biggest sporting event being held in Qatar or the region. This vilification campaign reached a tipping point in recent times adopting racist rhetoric and painting the country and the national team in a bad light to achieve their hidden political agenda. Many officials, Qatari and international, have condemned this rhetoric, asking them to check real facts first and focus on what has been achieved by Qatar in every sector including the labor sector. While taking part in the European Parliament hearing in Brussels, on labor reforms in Qatar, HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri made it clear that the campaign run by some against Qatar has escalated in pace over the past weeks without real justifications, pointing out that this amounts to intellectual and media terrorism and gaslighting on racist pretexts, the paper said. Those who make these allegations against Qatar are ignoring the landmark reforms Qatar introduced including the Workers' Support Fund, which is one of the only seven such funds in the world, as it will not suit their negative narrative, the paper stressed. In conclusion, The Peninsula said that this World Cup will help clear many misconceptions about the region and will surely be an eye-opener for the doubters. This tournament is dream come true for every Arab football fan. (QNA)