With the announcement by FIFA granting Saudi Arabia the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup, and in light of its efforts to bolster its international presence in major sporting events, there is a glaring disregard for human rights violations expected to intensify during preparations for this global event.
Saudi Arabia is leveraging the World Cup hosting opportunity to enhance its international image, attempting to portray itself as a progressive and open nation. FIFA’s acceptance of the bid comes despite Saudi Arabia’s proposal neglecting essential human rights standards.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights highlights the grave concerns regarding the rights of migrant workers, a critical issue that remains overlooked. Fears are mounting over additional violations during the infrastructure preparations for hosting the World Cup. Estimates indicate that migrant workers comprise more than 30% of Saudi Arabia’s population, contributing significantly to key sectors such as construction and services.
Despite changes to labor laws, Saudi Arabia continues to enforce the kafala system in many professions, granting employers extensive control over the lives of migrant workers. This includes confiscating passports and restricting their freedom to leave the country. Such practices constitute a violation of fundamental workers’ rights and are inconsistent with international agreements on combating forced labor.
Moreover, preparations for the World Cup require massive infrastructure projects, such as building stadiums, hotels, and improving transportation. Under the current system, there are significant concerns about migrant workers being exploited during the execution of these projects. The lack of a civil society, human rights organizations, or labor unions prevents any form of oversight or accountability.
Adding to this, migrant workers in Saudi prisons face severe violations, including torture, ill-treatment, and deprivation of adequate legal defense. Since the beginning of 2024, Saudi Arabia has executed over 100 foreigners, most of whom were workers, despite the likelihood of flaws in their trials.
The Story of Ahmed Abdul Majeed
Ahmed Abdul Majeed, an Indian worker, spent four decades in Saudi Arabia, working for the travel company “Sira.” Following administrative changes in the company after the “anti-corruption campaign” led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his subsequent control over it, Majeed faced a series of violations. These included the confiscation of his passport, preventing him from returning to his home country, and forcing him to work without pay to settle debts unrelated to him.
Later, Majeed was extorted into paying a large sum of money in exchange for the right to leave Saudi Arabia. This pushed him to sell his family’s belongings to cover these debts under the threat of imprisonment.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights emphasizes that such practices violate the International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Convention No. 29 and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention No. 105, to which Saudi Arabia is a party. They also breach the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms individuals’ rights to freedom of movement and to work under fair and decent conditions.
ESOHR believes that FIFA ignored the issue of human rights in Saudi Arabia, particularly workers’ rights, by granting it the right to host the World Cup. The organization asserts that no reliance can be placed on official promises or internal oversight, given the absence of a civil society and the hostility toward human rights organizations.
ESOHR also highlights that the lack of response to Ahmed Abdul Majeed’s and his family’s requests for an investigation into his case and compensation for his losses underscores the impossibility of holding perpetrators accountable, especially with the continued enforcement of the kafala system.
ESOHR stresses that Abdul Majeed’s story, along with those of thousands of other foreign workers, should serve as a reminder to the world of the real challenges facing human rights in Saudi Arabia, beyond attempts to obscure this reality from its global image.