HRW expresses concern over Bayern’s training in Qatar

CAIRO – 4 January 2018: Head of the German division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) Wenzel Michaliski expressed concern over Bayern Munich’s trip to Qatar for their winter training camp.

“As a human rights organization, we do not oppose Bayern Munich training in Qatar, but as a member of international and national associations, the club has to make sure not to take part, even indirectly, in any human rights violations,” Michaliski said.

In an interview with DW, Michaliski said that the club will use buildings and infrastructure where human rights were very likely violated.

HRW said in a statement in 2017 that hundreds of workers are dying every year [in Qatar]. The organization said that migrant construction workers who are engaged in building stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup face life-threatening heat and humidity during work hours.

The Qatari government announced in 2013 that 520 migrant workers died in 2012, and 385 workers died due to unexplained causes, CNN reported. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch urged Qatar to reveal the causes of the workers' death.