On Monday, the BBC reported a story which noted that several of their journalists spent two days in jail for the crime of reporting the truth about the poor conditions under which migrant workers are treated in Qatar. The journalists were told they were being held due to “national security,” and were also told: “This is not Disneyland – You can’t stick your camera anywhere.”
The BBC says that other reporters have been detained in a similar matter when investigating this story. Why is anyone shocked that a country which is ruled in part by Sharia law does not allow press freedom?
Qatar “has been funding and providing refuge to an increasing number of terrorist groups and allies in recent years, including most recently the Islamic State (IS).”
As Lamborn noted in a letter, “The past few years have seen Qatar grow into a major hub for terrorist operatives and terrorism finance.” He continued, “The Qatari government turns a blind eye to terrorist fundraising for al Qaeda and the Islamic State by U.S.-designated persons within its borders. Further evidence suggests that Qatar has directly armed or financed multiple Islamist groups in the region, undermining U.S. objectives in pivotal countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Syria by pushing those places toward violent extremism.”
Qatar funds Hamas, and has long been friendly to the Muslim Brotherhood.
For me, as an entrepreneur who owns a leading independent PR firm, I found it interesting that this trip on which BBC journalists were imprisoned was organized by Portland Communications, a European PR Agency on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the Beverly Hills Hotel, they boycott sharia law – elsewhere they celebrate it. At least something was right in Qatar – sharia law “is not Disneyland.”
NY-based author & entrepreneur Ronn Torossian regularly comments on social issues.
Infidel from Down Under says
And despite their religious convictions corruption appears to reign supreme In sharia ruled Qatar . A prime example was their obtaining of the World Soccer Cup ahead of much superior bids from the likes of the USA and Australia and subsequent independent investigations have put this ‘upset’ win down purely to blatant bribery and corruption .
But then perhaps its is actually their ‘religious convictions’ that causes this corrupt behaviour , especially when it comes to ripping off kafir
Don McKellar says
I bet, with a little effort, Robert could speculate quite accurately on the Islamic rationale behind the World Cup soccer debacle. No doubt it is very much justified under sharia and Islamic jurisprudence.
Agent of Liberty says
The World Cup needs to be boycotted by every Western country. Qatar is an islamic human rights abusing country!
jayell says
Absolutely! And we know that they only got to be the hosts through corruption. Qatar is a stupid place for a football venue anyway, much too hot. So if all the European and English-speaking countries pull out and do their own thing, it would be for the best.
Oliver says
In a Useless nations survey of some 150 nations, IRAN WAS THE 6TH WORSE.
SO, THE USELSS NATIONS THEN VOTED IRAN TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS -WHATEVER THE USELSS NATIONS CALLS IT. ( COMMISSION; DEPARTMENT” NOT SURE).
THE US DELEGATE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT ITR IS INAPPROPRIATE.
MEANWHILE, ISRAEL IS DEMINIZED.
Oliver says
Last word above should read DEMONIZED
gravenimage says
Qatar is corrupt *because* of islam, not despite it.
Saleem Smith says
The BBC employees should just convert to Islam then everything will be okay.
Bamaguje says
But BBC is on their side.
May be the BBC shills for Islam will now turn a new leaf.
As they must now realize the Islamist crocodiles may not wait to eat them last.
Sabri S. says
No infidel…just plain old greedy capitalism at its
Finest….gotta love those petro dollars and natural
Gas reserves….by the way, this is a fine example of
A wealthy, educated and advanced MUSLIM country…
Go Qatar..see you in 2020!
Infidel from Down Under says
” A wealthy , educated and advanced MUSLIM country”
Well why then does this ‘educated and advanced MUSLIM country’ just like every other oil rich MUSLIM country e.g Saudi Arabia and UAE need to employ western engineers and pilots to service and fly their hi tech fleets of EU and USA designed and built passenger jets , need to contract western architects and and engineers to design and build their futuristic development projects ( they could not even find suitably qualified muslims to manage the redevelopment of Mecca) or have to employ western managers to run their state enterprises and US and EU designed IT systems or explain how a country like South Korea can on average each year lodge more than ten times the number of global patent applications than of that of the entire Arab world if MUSLIM countries like Qatar are so smart , well ‘educated and advanced’ . And to avoid further embarrassment I will not mention the abysmal muslim record of non performance when it comes to collecting Nobel Prizes
And If it were not for oil, all these Arab sheiks today would not be living in their palaces and travelling by Rolls Royce and private jets but still living in huts and tents in the desert travelling by camel and their countries would be typical of every other muslim bog hole around the world today
And as for Qatar 2020, we can all but guarantee all the design, engineering and planning work required for the venues wont be done by ‘ the educated and advanced MUSLIMS ‘ who pray at the local mosques. When not praying, they are flat out trying to figure how to just turn on their US designed Dell or IBM desk tops
In the northlands says
You may need to ask Obama. I believe Qatar was at his ( pardon me while I laugh) summit last week. These people aren’t smart. Just murdurius and vicious
underbed cat says
Infidel from Down Under….I hope all the helpful infidels who assisted Quatar to modernize, upon hearing the BBC journalists have been detained in this high tech country with no freedom of speech, will as they say ” get the hell out of Dodge”. Now that Saudi Arabia is hiring more executioners (as reported by Time) they are showing the true colors of Sharia and gearing up for a coming out party. With” in your face “Twitter accounts opening up a direct line to the W. H. I really wonder and we might need your skill at home. I hope the Brits take note of some very strange happenings. I think the journalist are just the beginning. i wonder who will be the first infidel to tweet.
Bantheburka says
well said down under, educated thieves, worthless race of barbarians.
Michael Warden says
Sabri S., I will have to send you a birthday present – muslim scientific achievements written on the head of a pin – in capitals. We infidels all accept that putting oil in savage countries like Saudi etcetc was just God’s little joke. And hey Sabri old boy, if Mo the Paedo was so smart, how come he let a JEWISH WOMAN outsmart him and poison him ? After all, he had not done her any harm, just murdered her husband, her father and all her tribe.
Oliver says
I posted elsewhere, some years back, THE FINANCIAL TIMES (only newspaper that I am aware of that prints-or did back then-on PINK PAPER), an opinion piece ( for want of a better term), why in the ME–OIL IS A CURSE TO THE MUSLIMS, AND NO OIL A BLESSING TO ISRAEL.
The gist is: the Arabs with oil NEVR developed any knowledge, industry, infrastructure or (in essence) used the heads for anything, other then to put towels on.
Israel, on the other hand, with no oil, had to develop its HUMAN CAPITAL– THE BRAINS OF ITS PEOPLE. To develop industries; expand aquaculture; etc. ( besides Jews, in much if not most of Europe, for centuries denied the ability to engage in certain fields, had to develop their brains to dream up other ways to make a living.
And they also supported having the best and brightest of the males marry the best and brightest of the females and having large families. Muslims just-large families, with no morality
Angemon says
Sabri S. posted:
“this is a fine example of
A wealthy, educated and advanced MUSLIM country…”
So this is the best muslims have to offer? A corrupt theocracy built around other people’s effort? And you manage to say that with a straight face?
gravenimage says
The vile Sabri S. wrote:
No infidel…just plain old greedy capitalism at its
Finest….gotta love those petro dollars and natural
Gas reserves….by the way, this is a fine example of
A wealthy, educated and advanced MUSLIM country…
Go Qatar..see you in 2020!
………………………………….
The idea that abusing your workers and imprisoning journalists has *anything* to do with free enterprise is utter rot. Instead, this has to do with treating employees like slaves and crushing freedom of speech, which both date to the days of the “Prophet”.
And what is “advanced” about any of this? Qatar is just another Muslim hell hole with unearned oil wealth—this oil wealth is the only thing that separates places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia from pits like Yemen and Somalia.
Don McKellar says
I wouldn’t at all be surprised to someday see similar revelations about Dubai and UAE. After all that place was built in the same way, using the same slave labor, with the same corrupt oil money. The only thing different is the large population of tax cheats and undercover criminals who slink around there. With Qatar, they don’t have the population of hiding out criminal infidels to draw jizyya from, so they are naturally going to be quicker to clamp down on those who question sharia.
Everything in the entire Middle East, with the exception of Israel, is all about corruption and evil with institutionalized slavery and endless lies and deception awaiting anybody who tries to investigate. That’s what Islam is all about, so naturally its reflected in the way everything is done there.
Jack Diamond says
To further amplify your point. There is a reason Qatar rhymes with “gutter.” Doha Airport is one of the world’s biggest hubs for narcotics traffic. Narcotics and human trafficking are both funding Jihad. Qatar is deep connected to Boko Haram (it was financed by Qatar from the outset) and to the Taliban–smugglers of cocaine and heroin–and now to the Islamic State to which Boko Haram, coincidentally, has declared allegiance.
One of the most important Muslim terrorists no one has ever heard of is Dawood Ibrahim. Ibrahim is an underworld kingpin, under protection of the ISI of Pakistan, he runs one of the biggest drug pushing empires on earth and he dedicates 30% of his revenues to jihad terror. He also deals in human trafficking (something Qatar with its slave labor force also does business in). He was partnered with Bin Laden, sharing drug smuggling routes; with the Taliban heroin smugglers, Pakistan’s National Logistics Cell (which does business in Qatar); Ibrahim had everything to do with that terror attack in Mumbai (where he is from); and he is directly partnered with Boko Haram. Ibrahim’s drug and flesh network and Qatar are fingers of a hand.
ISI uses National Logistics Cell to smuggle heroin:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/09/the_war_between_the_isi_and_america.html
Qatar “first destination” for NLC:
http://nlc.com.pk/strategic-units/engineering-services/foreign-projects/projects-in-qatar
Dawood Ibrahim joins forces with Boko Haram
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/dawood-ibrahim-underworld-don-boko-haram-al-qaida–39896.html
A nice summation of Ibrahim and his connections:
http://misterchambers.com/2014/08/09/the-world-is-a-mess-hes-why/
ISI promised Dawood Ibrahim protection for donating 30% to terror:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/isi-promised-dawood-ibrahim-protection-shelter-if-he-invested-30percent-of-his-earnings-to-fund-terror-sources/1/304061.html
Human trafficking Al Qaeda’s new business model:
https://mgjack.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/human-trafficking-is-al-qaedas-new-business-model/
gravenimage says
Thanks for the information, Jack.
Westman says
Did the BBC learn anything about the reality of Islam other than it’s not Disneyland? The reporters certainly did- now they’re Islamophobic with cause.
Lia Wissing says
Westman, that was what I wanted to ask – has either ‘The Beeb’ or its reporters learned anything about the religion of peace? Don’t be surprised if Qatar got 2020 with bribery: FIFA is no paragon of purity itself.
Oliver says
asking–Is FIFA the soccer group that wants to BAN ISRAEL FOR ” HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES” when they attacked Hamas/Gaza for the rockets on civilians; killing of teens and loads of other abuses?
If so, can see why they chose Qatar. Over a civilized place.
WCM says
Back to the headline: The Qataris are, along with their muslim “brothers” in other countries, engaged in the worst slavery imaginable to facilitate their construction of “botique” skyscrapers and other architectural jewels. This is facilitated by muslim and in some cases western construction companies who entice the workers there with promises of big monetary gain to send back home. Upon their arrivals, the workers from many third-world countries have their papers/passports confiscated and then are thrust into some of the most squalid conditions on the planet. I saw this from a distance while in Qatar for a few days during my tour in Afghanistan. I saw it “up close and uncomfortable” via the courageous and slightly crazy journalists who shoot the “Vice” documentaries found on You-Tube. Check it out if you have the stomach to see how human trafficking really is. To our libs in the U.S.: This is way off the scale compared to the illegals who are brought in by the firms you hate, to mow your lawns and tend to your landscaping.
nora says
you are 100% correct. I lived there. slavery, rape, animal abuse, prostitution. you name it. If it is evil, they do it.
Lioness says
It doesn’t matter how “modern” a country it appears to be and how many gleaming highrises it has, as long as it’s muslim, there is sharia and opression and jihad. It’s as natural as a dog’s bark.
underbed cat says
This comment is way off subject, I would like to ask Spencer what is VICE news, why would Ashton Carter…do an interview with Shane Smith of VICE news….about national security…I saw a clip..it was about national security….I really don’t want to go there, but do you know what is going on….interviewer seemed sincere except I felt a ting of concern.
Bindon Blood says
The really surprising part of this story is that the BBC actually wanted to tell the truth regarding an Islamic activity.That is a real novelty.
Bindon Blood says
America has made one fundamental error in all her foreign engagements . If she wants to have an empire ,and she does,she must accept that there is nothing wrong with that. Imperialism is fine when the ruling country is founded on democracy and justice. But having an empire is a full time job,expensive in lives and treasure but also rewarding in power,wealth and world stability.
It is pointless going into a country,like Iraq for instance, disposing of the corrupt ruler then leaving hoping for the best. To be effective a country has to stay put,policing the country,making sure that the institutions of government work and gradually introducing the American culture until it is dominant.
America did something like this in Japan after ww2. All these troublesome countries in the Middle East need to be taken in hand byAmerica. She needs to stay put and run a good old style Empire,like the British did so successfully. That way proper supervision of the undeveloped States can be maintained. America and the world gets oil etc.,no more aggression towards Israel ,no more worrying about Iran.
Yes American soldiers will be killed on a daily basis,as British soldiers were, but there is a price to be paid for everything. Stop trying to be an absentee imperial power; get in there and take your inheritance and do the job properly. Look, Britain will chip in and once the West sees the benefits everyone will want to contribute ,if they don’t ,well America is powerful enough to tell them all to get stuffed. It’s the only way. You know it makes sense.
David, Thailand says
My concern is that the BBC reporters dared to investigate appalling migrant worker conditions in Qatar.
As this institutionalised depravity has nothing to do with Islam, surely the BBC should be pointing the finger of evil at the migrant workers, for something or other.
Oliver says
I live in the US and do not follow BBC. But, from what I have read, it is as much a real ?news agency? as CNN or The New York Times as a real newspaper.
They are just propaganda puff vehicles for leftist and pet project of the month garbage.
So, why were these people called ?journalists?”
epistemology says
Qatar is a disgusting country. On the one hand they wallow in wealth and have built a soulless country on the other they make the Nepalese work to death just as the Nazis did in the concentration camps.
But the West sucks up to them giving them the world cup and doing business with them.
Sharia is the most barbaric law on this planet, so why does anybody wonder when they arrest journalists? Free speech and Islam are two antagonistic conceptions