The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is already facing much backlash over the alleged mistreatment of foreign workers. The country made headlines around the world once again with less than a month remaining for the tournament when reports emerged of the eviction of thousands of workers in Doha for the World Cup.

As per Reuters, the Qatari government has evicted thousands of workers from the capital Doha ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in November. The report also said that more than 12 buildings were emptied and closed down by authorities, which has primarily affected workers from Asian and African countries.

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In one of the evictions, Qatari authorities forced residents of a building in Al Mansoura, Doha, to leave their homes within two hours, around 8 pm local time on Wednesday, October 26. The building housed more than 1,000 people, the majority of whom were foreign workers.

“We don’t have anywhere to go,” one of the evicted tenants told Reuters before he went on to sleep outside for the second night with others. The identities of these men were not revealed by Reuters as the workers feared reprisals.

A government official revealed that the evictions are not related to the forthcoming FIFA World Cup and were part of prior long-term plans to develop the areas.

“All have since been rehoused in safe and appropriate accommodation,” the official quipped. Meanwhile, FIFA and the World Cup organisers did not comment on the incident.

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The majority of Qatar’s population consists of workers from foreign countries. One of the evicted workers revealed that unmarried men were targeted specifically while others with families living with them remained at their homes.

Vani Saraswathi, the director of Projects at Migrant-Rights.org alleged that the evictions help Qatar to maintain its “wealthy facade” without admitting the cheap labour.

“This is deliberate ghetto-isation at the best of times. But evictions with barely any notice are inhumane beyond comprehension,” the director said.