RT.com
24 Nov 2021, 23:42 GMT+10
A diplomatic row has broken out between Norway and World Cup hosts Qatar after two journalists were arrested in the Middle Eastern country.
NRK sports reporter Halvor Ekeland and NRK cameraman Lokman Ghorbani were apprehended on Sunday while preparing to head to Doha Airport.
Just hours earlier, they had completed a live piece for the Sportsrevyen show back home.
Reporting on the conditions for migrant workers constructing stadiums for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Ekeland spoke of "stark contrasts", and how some laborers were "doing awfully".
"The encounters we had with workers, those who did not wish to speak with journalists on camera. When I asked them for an interview, you see the fear in their eyes," he answered, when asked what had shocked him the most during his time in Qatar from November 14.
A spokesperson for the Qatari government said that the men were taken into custody in the early hours of November 22 "for trespassing on private property and filming without a permit".
"The authorities arrested the crew in their hotel after responding to a complaint made by the owner of the private property on which the crew had illegally accessed.
"The crew were released without charge early on 23 November after completing the necessary legal procedures. The Norwegian embassy and NRK executives were updated on the situation as it progressed," it finished.
Recalling how they were arrested at their accommodation and taken to a nearby police station, Ekeland said that he and his colleague were questioned but "first and foremost" happy "to be back in Europe" when landing in Oslo.
"We've had a hard time. We will have a number of meetings with NRK and find out a number of things, then comment more," he added.
According to its managing director Thor Gjermund, NRK wasn't informed of the reasons for their employees' detention which he has taken as an attack on free speech and freedom of the press.
"It is unacceptable for the media to be prevented from practicing free and independent journalism at one of the world's largest sport events," he said via a statement.
"We will be discussing how this should be handled with FIFA," Eriksen vowed.
Ekeland and Ghorbani were reportedly due to interview Abdullah Ibhais, who was until recently the World Cup's communications director.
After being publicly critical of the Qatari leadership, however, Ibhais was arrested and is now appealing against a five-year corruption prison term.
The arrest of the NRK staff members has been tipped as threatening to become a diplomatic incident, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store wading into the row.
On Twitter, the leader said that it was "unacceptable".
"A free press is crucial in a functioning democracy," he continued.
"This also shows the importance of this year's awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. I am very happy that Halvor Ekeland and Lokman Ghorbani have now been released," Store concluded.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Scandinavia Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Scandinavia Times.
More InformationABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE, Philippines: France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its warships arrived in the Philippines over...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin has been ranked as the second most expensive city for apartment construction among ten major European locations,...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland is positioning itself to host a high-profile gathering of European leaders next year, with Tanaiste Simon...
BRUSSELS/LONDON: The European Commission is preparing to ease sustainability reporting requirements for businesses as part of a broader...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's rental market continued to tighten in 2024, with average rents rising by 5.7 percent over the year, according...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union is ramping up efforts to secure alternative gas supplies and accelerate its shift to renewable...
BANGKOK, Thailand: Chinese authorities said they started live-fire military exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin this week, just days after...
ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE, Philippines: France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its warships arrived in the Philippines over...
FRESNO, California: Fresno State suspended two of its top men's basketball players last weekend and removed a third player from the...
WARSAW, Poland: Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski confirmed over the weekend that Poland has been covering the cost of Ukraine's...
Israel sustained the West's support for its slaughter in Gaza for 15 months only through an intensive campaign of lies. It invented...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Pentagon announced this week that it will cut 5,400 jobs as part of President Donald Trump's plan to shrink the...