Qatar’s poor reputation for human rights explains the many doubts surrounding the death of a famous American journalist in the middle of the soccer World Cup, underlines an expert.
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AFP photo
A photo of American journalist Grant Wahl was projected onto a giant screen in a soccer stadium in Qatar the day following his death on a press gallery during the match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
“There is a climate of suspicion, there is a rumor machine, and above all a conspiracy mentality. This is why we sometimes lose lucidity when dealing with files that lend themselves to Qatar,” argues Sami Aoun, professor of political science at the University of Sherbrooke.
Grant Wahl, 49, died suddenly in the press box at the Lusail stadium on Friday while covering the quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands.
According to the American daily The Wall Street Journal, the journalist reportedly succumbed to a heart attack.
The day before his death, the journalist had explained in his podcast that he had been affected by the flu which had turned into bronchitis.
“I’ve been to the media center infirmary twice, including today [jeudi]. I’m better, but I canceled everything for this Thursday to take naps, ”he said, on the eve of his death.
Rainbow sweater
Photo taken from the Twitter account @GrantWahl
Prior to the November 21 United States-Wales encounter, Wahl was held back by security personnel at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium because he was wearing a rainbow-coloured shirt, had he explained on Twitter.
Thus, barely 24 hours following his death, serious allegations are aimed at Qatar, where homosexual relations are criminalized.
The brother of the deceased, Eric Wahl, himself a homosexual, threw a stone into the water, Friday evening, on Instagram.
“I don’t believe my brother just died, I believe he was killed,” he claimed in a video.
It should be noted that the reputation of this country of three million souls, known for its “checkbook diplomacy” and its promotion of political Islamism, has been tarnished over the years.
Cultural gap
“There is a cultural gap with Western, liberal democracies [comme] Canada and Quebec, on this issue of homosexuality,” said political scientist Sami Aoun in an interview with The Journal.
“Generally, traditionalists and religious conservatives […] believe that homosexuality is a sin or an aberration,” he adds.
– With AFP and QMI Agency
A shower of tributes for Grant Wahl
Basketball star LeBron James pointed to the premature departure of the journalist he knew well. Wahl had written regarding James when he was a teenager.
“Every time I heard or saw his name I always thought of when I was a teenager and I had Grant Wahl in my school…it’s a huge loss,” LeBron James confessed. , in a press conference following a match.
The great Bille Jean King, former tennis star, also reacted to the death of the committed journalist.
“A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community and an important voice for women’s soccer,” she wrote on her Twitter account. He used his platform to uplift those who deserved to have their stories heard. Prayers for his family”.
– With QMI Agency
