Quote of the Week - Guardian on Khodorkovsky

Chuck and Vlad - men of influence

"It [the legal proceedings against Mikhail Khodorkovsky] has become a persecution and Khodorkovsky has entered the ranks of politically repressed. As such, whenever he is released, he will be a magnet for all the other injustices suffered under this regime. No one will believe President Medvedev when he talks about the rule of law in Russia. With Khodorkovsky sitting in jail, the president's words remain empty rhetoric. But outside it, Khodorkovsky will be even more difficult for the Kremlin to deal with." The Guardian evaluates why the Russian government only began to have a problem with Khodorkovsky's alleged thievery after he began disagreeing with the Kremlin and funding opposition parties, and why releasing him would now be a political problem for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. 

We are convinced, however, that FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer will back up his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's assertion that "this and similar cases have a negative impact on Russia's reputation for fulfilling its international human rights obligations and improving its investment climate" by calling his very close new friend Mr. Putin to chat about the matter and persuade him to order a fair and transparent re-trial without state interference. Pick up the phone, Chuck! After all, Vlad owes you one for that 2018 vote.

Human Rights - The Gulf Version

Two out of three banned in most Gulf states

Bridging The Gulf, a European Commission- and Dutch Foreign Ministry-funded body that aims to promote “understanding about the Gulf region in Europe”, has analysed the Arab Charter on Human Rights that was adopted in 2008 by ten Arab states, including 2022 World Cup host Qatar.

“The Charter’s significance lies in the fact that it is an instrument from the region, negotiated by states of the region,” notes the article. Meaning, no interfering international organisations imposed their deviant concept of human rights on the charter. Still, the document is reportedly a huge improvement on the 1994 version, which “fell far short of international human rights law”, but now “does recognize many important rights that are consistent with international human rights law as reflected in treaties, jurisprudence, and opinions of UN expert bodies. It recognizes the right to health, education, fair trial, and freedom from torture and ill-treatment, the independence of the judiciary, the right to liberty and security of person, and many other rights.”

Connecting Football With Politics

Former UK ambassador to Moscow, Anthony Brenton, writes pragmatically here about the human rights situation in Russia, in a week where the judicial verdict on multi-billionaire oil tycoon Mikhail Khodordovsky has provoked a far greater outcry from the European Union than, say, the severe beating of journalist Oleg Sulkin last month.

“On human rights issues we should not expect to make an early difference,” says Brenton, “or even to be listened to very politely, but we should nevertheless be very clear when we see our values being violated – particularly when those violations breach Russia’s international commitments (such as the European Convention on Human Rights to which, remarkably and encouragingly, Russia remains a party). For the West to remain silent on these issues (as depressingly many Western countries do) simply strengthens those inside Russia who believe they can continue to steal and torture with impunity, and weakens those brave Russians who are trying to stop them.”

Brenton argues that the transition from a corrupt and thuggish authoritarian state to liberal democracy is necessarily a gradual one, and will be the result of both continued economic development, and further international integration. So in the latter respect, awarding the 2018 World Cup to Russia can be viewed as a catalyst for social change.

Brazil Shows Qatar The Way On Gay Rights

Rio beach boy may arouse Qatari interest

When Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup, they will surely welcome a sizeable delegation from Qatar to large it up in fancy hotels, enjoy the best free seats at the biggest games, and generally whore around to embark on a serious fact-finding mission on the best way to host an international football tournament, while ensuring that their behaviour scrupulously reflects the central tenets of the Koran. During this doubtless instructive time, they may want to venture out and take a few notes on local lifestyle choices.

Brazil, under outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, may have been criticised by both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch this year for its tacit support of dictatorships in countries like Iran and Cuba, but at least it has responded to public pressure on gay rights issues. Earlier this month, Lula and his Human Rights Secretary Paulo Vannuchi signed a decree to create the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Council.

Merry Xmas From FIFA! With Conditions Attached…

The FIFA Media Department this week sent out a Christmas e-mail to journalists, addressing us as “friends” and wishing us all “a happy festive season”. We were deeply touched, and wept enough to drown or irreparably damage several keyboards.  Even better, they are looking forward to working with us again in 2011. Provided, no doubt, we don’t ask them too many questions about corrupt members of the Executive Committee.

Ho Ho! Chuck Blazer in LOVE.

Those fretting about human rights violations in World Cup host countries can also be assured by how much attention that FIFA pays to detail in making absolutely sure that no one transgresses the rules (Qatari Ministry for Homophobia - watch out!). For there at the bottom of the festive e-mail was the following:

“DISCLAIMER
The information in this e-mail and any attachments are confidential and/or privileged and intended only for use by the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail and/or any attachments or if you have received this e-mail and/or any attachments by mistake or accidentally, please notify the sender immediately, delete this e-mail and any attachments from your system, and do not disclose, or make copies of, such information. Any unauthorised use, copying, dissemination, distribution or disclosure of the information in this e-mail and any attachments is strictly forbidden.”

Qatar Hosts Human Rights Convention. Good Job!

Those concerned about human rights in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup need not worry. The Gulf Times reports that Doha this week hosted a two-day convention of Gulf state delegates on the subject, and although there was little concrete information about what was discussed, it seems certain that all present agreed on the immediate need to de-criminalise homosexuality, promote equal rights for women, allow foreign labourers to unionise, depose the feudal monarchy, and introduce a free and critical press in the transition to a multi-party democracy with universal suffrage. It’s surely the very least that FIFA demanded when Qatar submitted its bid to host.

Erections in downtown Doha

“Death to patriarchy and the petrocracy!” cried Ibrahim Salama, director of the Office of International Conventions on Human Rights at the UN, in his closing speech. Or possibly not. In fact the Gulf Times reported in suitably long-winded fashion that the forum “focused over two days on the exchange of expertise in studies and recommendations for the implementation of mechanisms of international human rights. The forum reviewed the experience of the countries of the region and other geographical areas.” It was not reported whether videos were shown of humans being whipped or executed to illustrate these experiences.

FIFA Quote of the Day - No Soul, No Sellout

"The problem with FIFA was that it had no interest in extracting human-rights concessions from its hosts. Qatar had monstrous amounts of cash to offer, and FIFA could pretend that its choice had an ambassadorial quality, taking the great fellowship of soccer into the Middle East, where the Olympic Committee still fears to tread. It would, however, be unfair to accuse [FIFA President Sepp] Blatter and his crew of a sellout, since FIFA has never had a soul to barter." From Gwen Knapp, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle on FIFA's award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Blatter Should Apologise A Little Bit Harder

Deaf, or just plain dumb?

What are we to make of FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s apology late last week to anybody who “feels that they have been hurt” by his remarks that gay people who might want to visit the 2022 World Cup should “refrain from any sexual activities” while in Qatar?
 

The Associated Press reported that Blatter told hacks in Abu Dhabi on Friday he was sorry if anyone was offended by his comments. But being sorry for offending someone is not the same as being sorry for what you actually said. It’s like being sorry for getting caught taking bribes (to use an analogy that may have some resonance in FIFA circles).

Rio Gets Ready For Slum Clearance

Fair Play for the favelas?

German weekly Die Zeit reports from Rio de Janeiro on the likely measures the city will take to clean up its favelas – the slum areas notorious for poverty, drugs and gang warfare – ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.  

Ricardo Teixeira, FIFA Executive Committee member, head of the Brazilian Football Association, and a man accused last month by the BBC’s Panorama of taking bribes during the 1990s while awarding TV contracts for the rights to the World Cup, promises that the “necessary normality will rule” by the time of the 2013 Confederations Cup, and the competition itself the following year.

How will the government bring about this necessary normality? “Pacification measures,” reports Die Zeit, and quotes a frank local tourist guide, Sergio Castro, as outlining the coming crackdown:

Liberals To Blame For Neo-Nazi Attacks, Claims Kremlin Chief

The football fan protests in Moscow last weekend that led to random racist attacks in public by neo-Nazis and ultra-nationalists are apparently the fault of liberals wanting more freedom, according to the Kremlin’s chief ideologist, Vladislav Surkov. He told the pro-government daily Izvestia yesterday that, "Moscow and Russia need a civil peace. It’s actually our 'liberal' public that is constantly trying to make unapproved rallies trendy, and nationalists and rednecks just imitate them."

So when neo-Nazis see liberals peacefully demonstrating, they are seized by the urge to beat up non-Slavs on the streets of Moscow while chanting "Russia for the Russians". Makes perfect sense. If only these misguided, rights-loving, democracy-fixated fools would stop inciting nutjob extremists to kicking the shit out of innocent passers-by, then Russia would be a more placid place - the perfect location for a major football tournament, say.

Quote of the Month – Ban Ki-Moon Sets Sepp An Example

"Violence will end only when we confront prejudice. Stigma and discrimination will end only when we agree to speak out. That requires all of us to do our part; to speak out at home, at work, in our schools and communities." United Nations Secretary General Ban  Ki-moon calls for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons on Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter may like to read the quote and write it out 50 times as an example of Enlightenment 101, and the kind of considered, statesmanlike leadership he seems to be lacking at present. Then send a copy to each of the 70-odd FIFA nations where homosexuality is criminalised.

Press Freedom League Table - Brazil Moves Up, Qatar and Russia Lying Low

Reporters Without Borders has published its Press Freedom Index for 2010, and it's not particularly  happy reading for journalists working in FIFA's World Cup host countries. 

Best of the bunch is Brazil, up 12 places to 58th on the index, thanks to some "favourable legislative changes", says the organisation. Qatar has slipped down the charts to 121st place, from an already unimpressive 94th in 2009, but at least it's two places above Zimbabwe. "Russia," RWB points out, "which had a particularly deadly preceding year, is still poorly placed at 140th." On the plus side, it's at least ahead of former Communist allies Cuba, Vietnam and North Korea (last place but one, ahead of Eritrea). 

Perhaps if global warming ramps the Qatari summer temperatures up to 150 degrees, then one uncontested Dear Leader (President Sepp) might turn to another President For Life, Kim Jong-Il, with a view to relocating the championship in Pyongyang. No danger there of journalists asking awkward questions.

Quote Of The Day - Slapping Blatter Down

“We are talking about a very basic human right that is being violated. This is not a joke, this is a matter of life and death to people. Qatar and more than 70 other countries in the world still criminalize individuals for homosexual relationships, and some countries even punish them by death sentence.

“It’s disappointing to see that an organization [FIFA] that is promoting the game, which in its statutes condemns discrimination of any kind, is coming out with comments like this.” 

Juris Lavrikovs, communications director for the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, condemns FIFA President Sepp Blatter for his comments that gay fans visiting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should "refrain from sexual activities". Full Associated Press report here.

Blatter Can't Bluff When It Comes To Sexual Politics

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was caught short yesterday when asked to comment on how gay fans could expect to visit the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, given that homosexuality is banned in the country. As always when asked to venture beyond political platitudes, the intellectually starved Blatter had no clue how to respond, so attempted a joke by saying that "they should refrain from sexual activities". Almost as enlightened as the time he advised women football players to wear tighter shorts to attract more fans.

Belatedly realising that his every chump-headed utterance is generally reported around the world, Blatter attempted to backtrack with some token eyewash about how "in football we have no boundaries". Which is presumably why no gay professional football player has outed himself since the late Justin Fashanu over 20 years ago. Surely nothing to do with the sniggering attitude of the game's leading functionaries.

Russian journalist describes beating as "assassination attempt"

In yesterday's New York Times, Russian journalist Oleg Sulkin described how he was attacked and beaten in Moscow by two unknown assailants armed with steel rods. The attack took place a few feet from the entrance to Sulkin's house, a ten-minute walk from the Kremlin. One month later, he is still in hospital with an amputated finger, a broken leg, and a double-break to his jaw. He will not be able to work again until spring.

"A few hours after the attack, President Dmitri Medvedev went on Twitter to declare his outrage," Sulkin wrote, "and he instructed Russia’s law enforcement agencies to make every effort to investigate this crime. But no one has been apprehended, and I do not expect that the two young men will ever be identified or caught."

Sulkin wrote that he believes the attack was "an assassination attempt" from one of three possible sources aggrieved about his reporting. These are the municipal government of Khimki, the governor of the region of Pskov, and the extreme right youth movement Nashi, criticized by Sulkin after its appearance "on the public scene has accompanied a new level, and acceptance, of violence in Russian politics".