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Article

7 Dec 2021

Author:
Håvard Melnæs & Lars Johnsen, Josimar (Norway)

Qatar: As ex-World Cup employee continues hunger strike, his lawyer is reportedly asked to resign to avoid "severe" career consequences

fifg, Shutterstock (purchased)

"A matter of life and death," 6 Dec 2021

Former media manager at the Supreme Committee of Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Abdullah Ibhais, has been on a hunger strike for three weeks, losing more than 10 kilos of weight. A married man and the father of two young boys has also been deprived of salt, which medical experts Josimar has contacted say will make him develop serious health issues soon...

In a recent conversation with family members, Abdullah Ibhais described his situation as “hell”. He shares a cell with no less than 25 inmates, and for the last few nights he has been forced to sleep on the concrete floor...

Abdullah Ibhais’ present lawyer was recently approached by SC’s legal department, according to several independent sources. In the conversation that followed, the SC’s representative asked Ibhais’ lawyer to step down and withdraw from the case. Ibhais’ lawyer refused. The SC’s representative then said that continuing as Ibhais’ lawyer could have severe consequences for his career as a lawyer, and that he in the future could forget about getting government related clients.

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