Human rights organization FairSquare today asked the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to examine the case of Abdullah Ibhais, a whistle-blower on the Qatar World Cup. A formal submission shared with the Working Group today argues that Ibhais has been arbitrarily detained, on the basis of a demonstrably unfair trial.

Abdullah Ibhais, a former Media Manager for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar’s World Cup organising committee lost his final appeal against a conviction for bribery on November 29 this year...

Abdullah Ibhais sought support from FIFA via its online whistleblowing platform. In November 2021, FIFA stated that “any person deserves a trial that is fair”, and said it would “continue to follow this matter closely” but made no commitment to supporting Abdullah beyond this. 

FairSquare is calling on FIFA to call for the immediate release of Ibhais...