Annual General Meeting of Adidas AG

On the occasion of the annual general meeting of Adidas AG on Thursday, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) demands the sporting goods manufacturer – as one of the most prominent sponsors of world football – to engage in a critical debate on Qatar.

"As one of the players that benefits from the World Cup, Adidas should not only clearly position itself with regard to the human rights situation in the desert country, but should also criticize Qatar's aggressive foreign policy, which supports Islamist movements and is a threat to minority groups," stated Tabea Giesecke, STP expert on ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities. "By financing armed Islamist groups, the emirate is involved in various conflicts in the Near and Middle East. For example, Al Qaida and the Taliban are persecuting ethnic and religious minorities in particular." 

By hosting the Football World Cup, the emirate is able to present itself as "cosmopolitan" and "modern". "However, sponsors such as Adidas must not support this kind of image washing. Adidas must use its market power to draw attention to the problems and to apply pressure. It would be a first step to provide the victims with a platform and to enter a dialogue with them," the human rights advocate demanded.

In Qatar, women's rights are severely restricted, as women are under a de facto male guardianship. LGBTQI+ persons are persecuted, religious minorities are monitored and forced to go underground to be able to actively live out their faith. Also, migrant workers are forced to work under the worst conditions.

Tabea Giesecke is available for further questions: t.giesecke@gfbv.de