Earlier this month I reported on Qatari outrage at the publication of a Washington Post blog item which claimed that 1,200 migrant workers had died in the country while working on World Cup construction sites.
The posting, published on 27 May, was accompanied by a misleading infographic. After initial complaints, the article was “updated” to reflect the fact that the figures “included” total migrant worker deaths in Qatar
In fact, according to a statement issued by the Qatari government’s communication office in Doha, there had not been a single death on a World Cup site.
Now it appears that the blog has been amended yet again. In effect, WashPo appears to have withdrawn the story. The misleading comparative graphic has been removed and a lengthy “clarification”, which was posted on 23 June, states:
“An earlier version of this post, and accompanying graphic, created the impression that more than 1,000 migrant workers in Qatar had died working on 2022 World Cup infrastructure.
The post should have made clearer that the figures involved all migrant deaths in Qatar. A report by Qatar’s government found 964 deaths of migrants from India, Nepal and Bangladesh in 2012 and 2013. Other groups have cited a higher number over a longer period of time.
A lengthy statement by Qatar’s government said ‘not a single worker’s life has been lost’ in connection with the World Cup construction, while an account by The Guardian (see here) linked some deaths to the construction.
Ultimately, we are unable to verify how many deaths, if any, are related to World Cup construction. This post and the graphic have been revised to provide a more accurate picture of what’s known and not known.”
“Unable to verify” is wonderful weasel wording. And the new headline, which makes no sense anyway given the “revision”, could itself do with revision. It says: The toll of human casualities (sic) in Qatar.
