- World champion speaks out as Qatar prepares for first F1 GP
- Mercedes driver says of venues: ‘These places need scrutiny’
Lewis Hamilton believes sportspeople are duty bound to speak out on human rights matters in the countries they visit. With Qatar hosting its first Formula One Grand Prix this weekend and facing new allegations of worker exploitation and abuse in its preparations for next year’s football World Cup, Hamilton insisted he would hold the sport to account for the places it chooses to race.
F1 is making its debut at the Losail circuit in Doha with the championship fight between Mercedes’ Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finely poised. However focus in Qatar once more fell on human rights issues. Workers within the state have claimed that reforms to the country’s restrictive kafala labour sponsorship system have been ineffective while human rights groups continue to highlight oppressive male guardianship policies as well as discriminatory laws against women and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Written by Giles Richards
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/18/lewis-hamilton-criticises-qatar-human-rights under the title “‘One of the worst’: Lewis Hamilton criticises Qatar over human rights”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
