November 26 – Denmark’s Union of Journalists is urging its members not to travel to Qatar to cover next year’s World Cup, saying the country cannot be trusted in the wake of two Norwegian reporters being arrested.
“I do not trust Qatar,” said Allan Boye Thulstrup, the union’s deputy leader. “I am afraid that the sources critical of the government risk disappearing or going to prison for a long time, and that they will not be treated nicely in prison,
“It is of no use that Qatar first promises the press can work unhindered and that they then arrest journalists.”
The statement was in reaction to Qatari security forces arresting the Norwegian pair and seizing their equipment as they tried to report on migrant worker issues.
The government in Qatar accused the two of “trespassing on private property and filming without a permit” as they returned Wednesday to Norway. They contended they had verbal permission from those they filmed.
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