Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Former Emir of Qatar, Passes Away at 74

He is perhaps best remembered for football, which became one of Qatar’s most significant and contentious achievements.

Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, even though it faced corruption allegations, which it was later exonerated from.

The tournament required the employment of 30,000 foreign laborers for stadium construction. Reports from 2021 indicated approximately 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka had died since securing the bid.

The Qatari government noted that not all recorded fatalities were related to World Cup projects, with many individuals having resided in the country for extended periods.

Additionally, Qatar faced criticism regarding its human rights record and laws criminalizing same-sex relationships.

Qatar functioned as a British protectorate until 1971, with the Al Thani family ruling since 1851.

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