"The COVID-19 crisis is fuelling more racist discourse towards migrant workers in the Gulf," 5 Apr 2020

Racism against migrant workers is a longstanding feature of public discourse across the Gulf countries. The COVID-19 outbreak is further inflaming xenophobic sentiments, with popular calls to deport, quarantine and segregate migrant workers.

These attitudes disregard the fact that it is not only migrant workers who are disproportionately affected by the outbreak’s economic impact, but who are also on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle as cleaners and healthcare professionals.