August 26 – Almost two years after releasing Zahir Belounis, the French footballer who was trapped in the country for 19 months because of its antiquated kafala employment system, Qatar is stepping up is its efforts to set up a judicial body to resolve legal disputes.
Belounis became something of a symbol when he in a dispute over unpaid wages from 2010 and was unable to leave the country.
He was finally granted an exit visa after a concerted international campaign but admitted he considered suicide and had turned to alcohol to help him cope with his situation.
The case drew attention to employment laws in the country that is staging the 2022 World Cup and the Qatar authorities have since been at pains to improve the rights of all workers.
Qatari FA vice-president Saud al-Mohannadi, who earlier this month was named head of competitions’ committee by the Asian Football Confederation, cited the recent founding of a fully independent footballers union as a vital step in realising the goal of establishing an internationally recognised sports judicial body in Qatar.
“In addition to various entities in and outside of Qatar, the Qatar National Olympic Committee has lent its support since the early stages of this project, this was demonstrated back in March when QFA and QNOC confirmed the partnership between the two bodies,” the Gulf Times quoted him as saying.
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