“FIFA’s Saudi Arabia evaluation slammed as ‘an astonishing whitewash’ by Amnesty” – Hindustan Times

FIFA’s recent evaluation of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has sparked outrage and criticism from human rights organizations, with Amnesty International calling it “an astonishing whitewash.”

The evaluation, conducted by FIFA’s human rights advisory board, gave Saudi Arabia a positive rating despite ongoing concerns about the country’s treatment of women, LGBTQ individuals, and migrant workers.

Amnesty International has condemned the evaluation, stating that it ignores the reality of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and fails to hold the country accountable for its abuses.

“This evaluation is nothing short of a whitewash,” said Amnesty International’s Middle East Research Director, Lynn Maalouf. “FIFA must take human rights seriously and hold Saudi Arabia to account for its egregious abuses, not give them a free pass.”

Saudi Arabia has faced criticism in recent years for its crackdown on dissent, its treatment of women and LGBTQ individuals, and its harsh treatment of migrant workers. Despite these concerns, FIFA has awarded the country the rights to host the 2021 Club World Cup and has praised the country for its efforts to improve its human rights record.

Amnesty International has called on FIFA to reconsider its evaluation of Saudi Arabia and to hold the country accountable for its human rights abuses. The organization has also urged FIFA to ensure that human rights are a key consideration in all future evaluations of potential host countries.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how FIFA will respond to the criticism and whether Saudi Arabia will face any consequences for its human rights record.