Zaha Hadid's new World Cup stadium looks like a vagina. Everyone's said it. But don't hate it because of the design. Hate it because it will likely be built with "modern day slavery" according to Amnesty International.
The stadium is designed by Zaha Hadid and AECOM as
vaguely anatomical. The renderings show a 45,000 seat venue for the desert outside of Doha, and they look kind of awesome actually.
But that's where the awe stops. Qatar plans to spend $140 billion to prepare for the World Cup. Al Wakrah is only one of roughly nine World Cup stadiums the government is planning to build over the next nine years to prep for the event.
Last month, a Guardian report on worker conditions startled many, showing how human rights were violated to build these stadiums. Amnesty International has also released its own report on the issue (
PDF), and they are based on interviews with more than 200 workers and dozens of employers.
The report says that Qatar is recruiting new workers from countries like Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka. 94 percent of construction in Qatar will be done by migrant workers, who are promised a steady wage and a safe place to live.
Upon their arrival, the job offers were not as advertised. Their IDs were confiscated, and their salaries were lower than promised, and they aren't allowed by law to change jobs without direct permission from their employers.
They will often not be paid for six to nine months, are denied the right to leave, and are forced to work 12 hours a day in 105-degree heat. Electricity, healthcare, and even food are often denied.
One employer, describes the workers as "cattle" and outside groups are already describing this as "modern day slavery".
Human rights groups are already calling on FIFA to revoke their right to host the World Cup.
AI concludes. "Only fundamental change—including bold reforms backed with political will from the very top of the government—will address the issues documented in this report."
Will FIFA respond positively to the situation? Or will they ignore what's happening there?