Danish journalists have been banned from filming a live TV movie in Qatar.
Security guards intervened and threatened to destroy the camera.
– Reporter Rasmus Tantoltdt says they don’t like us here.
The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday, and host city Doha is filling up with players, captains and journalists from around the world.
Much of the conversation was about allegations of bribery, anti-gay laws, and slavery-like conditions for migrant workers – which many media outlets also reported on.
But it is clearly difficult to report on the ground.
This was tested by Danish journalist on TV2, Rasmus Tanholdt, on Tuesday.
broadcast live
When he and a cameraman were broadcasting the news live, they were interrupted by angry security guards who threatened to destroy the camera.
– I invited the whole world to come here. Why can’t we take pictures? It’s a public place, Tanholdt told the security guards.
He then showed his accreditation badge to prove they had permission to shoot, but the guards remained adamant that the film should not be made.
“don’t love us”
After much back and forth, Tantoldt was able to convince the security guards and the feature could then be reconstructed and broadcast on 18 News.
– They are afraid that certain things will come to the surface. Having traveled to 110 different countries, my experience is that the dirtier your laundry is, the harder it is for us journalists to cover it. According to Ekstrbladet, they don’t like that many journalists now come here and highlight things that Qatar does not want to highlight.
– They’d like to show off at the big football party, but obviously it has to happen on their terms….