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The World Cup handover ceremony was eye-catching
The Independent Online published an article by one of its editors, Sean O’Grady, entitled “Who is the real winner of the World Cup in Qatar? Note, not Argentina.”
O’Grady says that Qatar, after spending more than $200 billion on infrastructure and projects needed to host the World Cup, had to have a quick prize, and that came through the saying “the greatest World Cup ever.”
O’Grady explains that the extravagant hotels, the high-cost air conditioning systems in the football stadiums, and even the subway system, all of these facilities were only missing some cheerful football matches, and some great players, throughout history, to do their part, such as Mbappe, Messi, Neymar, and the rest of the stars. , until the picture is complete.
He adds that Morocco made a distinguished participation and made history for it, as well as Croatia, Japan and Saudi Arabia, the only team to beat Argentina in the tournament, before the Argentines made their way to the final match in which they beat France on penalties.
O’Grady delved into the idea that “the tournament was exciting, enthusiastic, and provided us with a daily feast of wonderful football, which sometimes amounted to 3 meals throughout the day,” which prompted Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, to say that it is “the best version of World Cup” at all,” which of course helped whitewash Fifa’s image and deflected attention from some of his controversial personal statements at the start of the tournament.
O’Grady asks, “Who is the real winner in this tournament?” He replied, “It is the ruling regime in Qatar, of course. After spending $200 billion properly, no one talks about the violation of human rights there, the persecution of gays, the treatment of women as second-class citizens, and the harassment they face.” her workers.”
“We must not forget that the Qataris cooperated with the Iranian mullahs’ regime in tracking and identifying the Iranian opposition fans who came to support their country’s suppressed national team, which played bravely under coercion,” he added.
And he continues, “There is some disturbing news about Qatar bribing deputies in the European Parliament to support their cause, which makes us understand where the Qatari power lies in Europe, and we should not forget the number of migrant workers who died at work, from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand, And those who have been working in building and establishing the championship facilities for 10 years are workers from Asia and East Africa, and they are treated as slaves of the age by many employers in Qatar.
And O’Grady concludes, “For the fans, the tournament supported the love of football in some parts of the world that did not know that yet, but we should never allow it to be held in places like Qatar, again, and this is the true global goal of football.”
“Escape from Iran”
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Demonstrations erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police about 3 months ago
The Guardian published a report by Martin Shulov, and its correspondent in Erbil, Nishirwan Mandu, entitled “Escape from Iran: Demonstrators regroup in Iraq after a perilous journey.”
The report says that about two months ago, Paiman, a protester who resides in the troubled Iranian city of Mahabad, was in a hospital, guarded by police officers, who shot him while he was participating in an anti-regime demonstration.
He added that the bullets “pierced his feet and torso, and he also received blows with wooden sticks on his head, so he fell to the ground in severe pain, and he was in need of medical care, which he had not been able to obtain under a ruthless regime since the beginning of the anti-government uprising about 3 months ago. Which poses a deep threat to the ruling, hard-line regime in Iran.”
“Payman and his relatives were among the few protesters who managed to make the perilous journey to safety in Iraq, where some of the survivors are trying to regroup,” he says.
The report indicates that Kurdish officials estimate the number of people fleeing Iran recently in the dozens, while the demonstrators themselves estimate that they are in the few hundreds.
The report quotes Paiman, who was lying on the ground, covering himself with a blanket while breathing heavily, as saying that the increasing violence with which the regime confronts the demonstrators in Mahabad, which is predominantly Kurdish and located in northeastern Iran, comes because it poses the most serious threat to the mullahs’ regime, since It was established about 43 years ago.
Payman, the veterinarian, says, “Mahsa Amini was Kurdish, right, but the revolution was a popular choice, made by the entire people, across the country, including Baluchis, Azeris, Persians, and other races, because we have had enough of them and their oppression.”
The report continues to quote Paiman as saying, “Make no mistake, it is a revolution from its first day, not just an uprising, and the revolutionary current that started it will continue until it ends. They are weak, and they feel terrified of us.” Therefore, it is believed that officials confront the demonstrators, whose number is increasing daily, with violence.
The report adds that the fleeing people feel fear for themselves at the same time, despite their fleeing to Erbil, because Iranian officials can reach them, adding that Payman lives in a small house with two of his cousins, and they are all keen to contact their families in Mahabad on a daily basis, who assure them The demonstrations are expanding every day, across the various cities of the country, in the same manner as they were 3 months ago, when nearly 600 people were killed, and about 10,000 others were injured due to the repression of the security forces.
The report says that some demonstrators are calling for international support, including support with weapons, because the revolution “could become armed,” as Byman says, adding, “Every person in a family that has lost one of its children will give everything he has to get his revenge, and this may mean carrying The weapon, which has not been allowed in Iran for 40 years, is also difficult to obtain.
The report says that Hussein Yazdanbaneh, the leader of the Iranian Kurdish militia, assured them, near Erbil, that the appetite of international and regional parties to support the movement against the Iranian regime is not great.
Hussein says, “We have previously called on the free world and democratic countries to support them with modern weapons against terrorism and dictatorship so that they can fight the Iranian terrorist forces and terrorist groups, which are affiliated with the Quds Force. Despite this, we have not received any positive response, so far, nothing at all.”