Qatari authorities detained journalists from Danish Broadcasting Cooperation

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Qatari authorities have continued their crackdown on journalists and the media, especially journalists seeking to report on the abuses of migrant workers. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, on 5 May 2016 Qatari security forces detained three journalists from the state run Danish Broadcasting Cooperation who had entered Qatar to report on the situation of migrant workers ahead of the 2022 World Cup. While in detention, they were reportedly forced to sign confessions that they had filmed without permission and trespassed.

Danish tv crew arrested in #Qatar while filming the Workers Cup, a soccer tournament for migrant workers https://t.co/ru6rnWXdhv @horskjaer1

— IFEX (@IFEX) May 24, 2016

The arrests just after the UN Asia Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights hosted by Qatar on 19 – 20 April, during which human rights abuses associated with major sporting events was one of the principal areas of discussion. During this forum, the Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the Local Organising Committee in Qatar had expressed their “commitment to ensuring that the dignity, security, health and welfare of workers and communities engaged in the mega sporting events remains paramount, including throughout supply chain.”