Qatar accused of fudging 'independent' inquiry into migrant World Cup workers

Questions are being raised over the law firm asked by Qatar to assess workers' conditions on World Cup building sites

Law firm asked to assess Qatar's 'dying' migrant workers claims was in Al Jazeera's pay
Qatar is battling international criticism over alleged poor conditions of World Cup construction workers Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES

A top international law firm that was ordered by the Qatari government to conduct an "independent review" into allegations of modern-day slavery at World Cup construction sites is also a paid lobbyist for an arm of Qatar's Al Jazeera television network, The Telegraph can disclose.

DLA Piper has received more than $300,000 (£186,000) in lobbying fees this year from Al Jazeera America according to official filings in the US, raising questions over whether it could conduct an unbiased assessment into allegations that have cast a pall over preparations for the 2022 World Cup.

The review was instigated in response to claims in The Guardian newspaper that Nepalese workers were dying at the rate of one per day as they toiled in extreme heat on World Cup infrastructure projects.

The story caused an international outcry and Sepp Blatter, head of the football world governing body FIFA, warned on Oct 4 that Qatar "needs to intervene" to address concern over its labour practices - forcing Qatar, which contests the allegations, to launch a public relations offensive.

That same day, Ali Ahmed Al Kholeifi, international affairs director at Qatar's labour ministry, announced that DLA Piper had been asked "to undertake an independent review of the allegations and provide a report on their veracity to the ministry".

The review was given greater urgency on Monday when an Amnesty International report alleged migrant workers were still being "treated like cattle", living in squalid conditions and often unpaid for several months by unscrupulous contractors.

This week the Qatari foreign ministry again twice cited the DLA Piper "independent review" as proof of its commitment addressing labour concerns, first in responding to the Amnesty report and then to a European Parliament debate on migrant labour in Qatar, which an official said was "premature" while "DLA Piper's investigation is on-going".

However hiring DLA Piper to review the allegations has raised eyebrows in Washington, where earlier this year the firm won a contract to lobby for the newly launched channel, Al Jazeera America (AJAM).

Al Jazeera became a semi-private entity in 2011 to facilitate its global expansion plans and is designated a "private institution of public utility" that remains close to the Qatar government. Last month, for example, Al Jazeera's chairman, Sheikh Hamad bin Thamir al Thani accompanied the Emir of Qatar on an official visit to Oman.

David Weinberg, a senior fellow specialising in Saudi Arabia and Gulf affairs at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies think-tank in Washington, said DLA Piper's appointment to the review risked creating the perception of a conflict of interest.

"Qatar could have chosen any international law firm to launch this investigation, but instead chose the same firm that has been paid handsomely to lobby for Al Jazeera America," he said.

"This choice risks sullying the Qatar brand and makes them look more interested in a World Cup cover-up than in fighting forced labour." Official lobbying declarations show Al Jazeera America made payments to DLA Piper of $120,000, $100,000 and $90,000 in the first three quarters of this year.

It is not clear if they remain retained by Al Jazeera, but filings show the relationship had not been terminated at the end of September.

Among those receiving payments from Al Jazeera America, were the law offices of George Salem, a lawyer and lobbyist who is listed as a “strategic adviser” to DLA Piper with a brief to focus “on assisting in the development of DLA Piper’s Middle East and US Department of Labor practices”.

Lobbying records show Mr Salem’s personal firm, which has offices in the same buildings as DLA Piper in Washington DC, was paid $10,000 by Al Jazeera America in the first quarter of 2013.

Asked if he was assisting with the Qatar review, he replied: “Not at this stage, but I may be pulled in,” before referring the Telegraph enquiry to DLA Piper’s international trade department in London.

The Qatar investigation by DLA Piper is understood already to be under way.

A spokesman for the company in London declined to comment on questions of any perceived conflict of interest.

However a person at the firm with first-hand knowledge of the review rejected any suggestions of impropriety - perceived or otherwise - before describing the "independent review" more as a legal assessment on behalf of the Qatari government.

"We are instructed by the Ministry of Labour, as the world's largest law firm, to act as their lawyers and give them a view on the allegations and what the situation is," the source said, adding that neither party had any interest in a "Mickey Mouse" review that would be ridiculed by outsiders.

Earlier this month Mr Blatter visited Qatar and praised its government's efforts to address concerns over labour practices. "The labour laws will be amended and special attention will be paid also to inspections of the workers' accommodation."

On Friday he called on Europe to shoulder far more responsibility for workers' conditions in Qatar. "The big companies are mostly from European countries and if you are a construction company you are responsible for your workers," he said at a press conference in Rome.