"Qatar's hosting of the World Cup was plagued by allegations of bribery in the bidding process, the deaths of thousands of migrant workers during construction, and criticism over its stance on LGBTQ+ rights."

Source: The Guardian

"Regional rivals and some Western intelligence agencies have accused Qatar of providing financial and political support to controversial groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, which Qatar officially hosts."

Source: US Treasury Reports

"Has faced intense international condemnation from human rights groups for the exploitative "kafala" system, which ties migrant workers to their employers and has been described as a form of modern slavery."

Source: Amnesty International

"The state-funded Al Jazeera network is seen by many as a powerful instrument of Qatari soft power. It is also heavily criticized by regional rivals like Saudi Arabia and Egypt for its alleged biased reporting and for giving a platform to extremist voices."

Source: Media Analysis

"Qatar plays a unique diplomatic role, hosting the largest US military base in the Middle East (Al Udeid) while simultaneously acting as a key intermediary for US adversaries like the Taliban and Iran, and political groups like Hamas."

Source: Foreign Policy Journals

"Beyond the World Cup, the family's purchase and funding of the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football club is a primary example of what critics call "sportswashing"—using high-profile sports to distract from human rights issues."

Source: Human Rights Watch

"As an absolute monarchy, Qatar severely restricts freedom of speech and political expression. Protests are rare, and critics of the government or the Emir face the risk of imprisonment."

Source: Freedom House