Qatar 2022 World Cup trial: Whistleblower barred from leaving

Abdullah Ibhais, former media director of the Qatar World Cup 2022 organizing committee, has been prevented from leaving Jordan to testify in a U.S. court case involving allegations of human trafficking and forced labor during the construction of infrastructure for the tournament. The incident occurred at the airport in Amman, where Jordanian authorities blocked his departure despite his plans to fly to New York on Monday. His attorney, Aaron Halegua, confirmed this to the ARD news outlet. Ibhais had previously been detained by Jordanian intelligence services and released the following day. During that time, he was warned against speaking about the World Cup, the situation of migrant workers, and his own case. Ibhais' testimony could provide critical insights into the alleged mistreatment of migrant laborers during the preparation of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He had already spent several years in custody in Qatar before being released in 2025 after more than three years behind bars. His release followed a ruling by a United Nations working group that deemed his detention arbitrary. Now, with his freedom restored, Ibhais aims to share his knowledge in a U.S. legal proceeding. The controversy surrounding Ibhais began in 2019 when he criticized the handling of striking migrant workers within the World Cup organizing committee. He later went public with claims that the connection between these workers and the World Cup projects was downplayed. Soon after, he was convicted in Qatar on charges of bribery and misappropriation, charges he has consistently denied. Ibhais has always maintained that his conviction was a retaliatory measure by the World Cup organizing committee, which has rejected the accusation. International criticism of labor conditions around the World Cup was extensive. Over time, Qatar implemented some measures to improve the treatment of workers, though many advocates argue these changes were insufficient. Ibhais’ case became emblematic of broader concerns regarding the rights of migrant workers involved in large-scale international projects. In Washington, the issue has drawn political attention. Democratic Congressman James McGovern from Massachusetts, co-chair of the House Subcommittee on Human Rights, invited Ibhais to meet in Washington. However, this meeting has yet to take place. McGovern has called upon U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to exert pressure on Jordanian authorities to allow Ibhais to travel to the United States. For McGovern, the matter goes beyond the personal freedom of one individual. “The United States should have an interest in the truth about what happened in 2022,” he stated. “The whole world should be interested.” McGovern also suspects that Jordanian authorities might be acting under pressure from Qatar. While he does not present direct evidence of Qatari influence, he describes the actions taken against Ibhais as “unacceptable.” This suspicion reflects growing concerns over the potential interference of foreign governments in domestic legal matters, particularly when such cases involve high-profile international events.