Dua Lipa disputes reports that she will appear at the World Cup opening ceremony
Dua Lipa, despite widespread speculation that she will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony, has said that she will not visit Qatar unless the country improves its human rights record.
The 27-year-old pop singer, after hearing that she will be performing at the opening ceremony the next week, posted a message on her Instagram stories.
“There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar,” she tweeted.
“I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform.”
“I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.”
Because of concerns about how nations would handle LGBTQ supporters and migrant workers, FIFA had previously advised countries to put those issues aside and focus on soccer during the World Cup.
Concerns concerning Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup
According to a 75-page report published this week by the London-based rights group Equidem, migrant workers who constructed Qatar’s World Cup stadiums were subjected to discrimination, long hours, unfavourable working conditions, wage theft, and other abuses while their employers avoided responsibility.
Despite claims that abuses are still common, Qatar has implemented a number of labour changes in response to international pressure. These measures have been commended by Equidem and other rights organisations.
But Qatar has consistently denied there was any real risk to the health and safety of the 30,000 construction workers who built the World Cup infrastructure.
According to Ambet E. Yuson, general secretary of the Building and Wood Workers’ International union, migrant workers employed on World Cup building projects have been afforded greater legal protections than other workers in Qatar.
Several French cities, including Paris, will not broadcast World Cup matches on gigantic screens in open fan zones in October over concerns about the handling of migrant workers’ rights and the consequences of the World Cup in Qatar on the environment.