World Cup: Qatar makes a controversial decision to ensure security

Qatar will be conscripting civilians, even diplomats, for mandatory military service to help fill vacant security positions at the upcoming World Cup. Duties include a range of tasks, according to Reuters, with conscripts being trained to,

manage stadium security queues, frisk fans and detect contraband like alcohol, drugs or weapons concealed in ponytails, jacket linings or even false bellies

Naturally with such a small population, manning positions was always going to be a challenge. Qatar has a population of 2.8 million, of which less than 380,000 are nationals.

Mandatory service

The FIFA tournament, starting on 20th November, promises to be a huge spectacle but not everyone is happy to be forced to work for the event. Sky News reports,

The civilians were told it was their ‘patriotic duty’ to help, a source said. ‘Most people are there because they have to be - they don't want to get in trouble.’

Conscription in Qatar began in 2014 and is mandatory for Qatari men aged between 18 and 35 for at least four months. It was introduced by the emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and dodging it can result in a fine of 50,000 Qatari rials (£13,000).

The Guardian reports that when asked for comment on the issue, a Qatari official said,

Recruits will provide additional support during the tournament as part of the regular programme, just as they do every year at major public events, such as the national day celebrations,

Human rights violations

That being said, Qatar has not got a squeaky clean human rights record with Amnesty International saying, according to Sky News,

exploitation and abuse of migrant workers has been "rampant", with people exposed to forced labour, unpaid wages and excessive working hours.

It’s the latest in a list of ongoing controversies facing the World Cup in Qatar with further challenges involving the heat already evident in the 80,000-capacity Lusail stadium. Reuters reports,

Fans leaving the stadium queued for hours for the metro and organisers ran out of water at half-time on a hot late-summer Gulf evening.

With less than two months to go, it seems there are still many problems that need to be ironed out before they are ready for such a big event.

Sources Used:

- Reuters: 'Exclusive: Qatar conscripts civilians for World Cup security'

- Sky News: 'Qatar 'conscripting civilians and summoning diplomats from abroad' to bolster World Cup security'

- The Guardian: 'Qatar ‘calling diplomats home’ for military service at World Cup'

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