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FIFA: The Beautiful Game Cannot Support Genocide and Repression, Move the Games!
The Black Alliance for Peace North South Project for People(s)-Centered Human Rights delivered a message to FIFA's President and Head of Human Rights regarding the ongoing and rapidly deteriorating human rights conditions in Palestine, as well as current conditions in the United States that BAP believes makes the United States a dangerous nation for citizens and residents of foreign nations to visit.
In that communication we made the argument that because of the ongoing genocide and the role of the U.S. as a facilitator of that genocide, as well as the unsafe and hostile conditions in the U.S. that has compelled a number of nations to issue advisories against travel to the U.S., we called on FIFA to ban the United States and Israel from hosting and participating in international competition, and to relocate the 2026 World Cup from the United States. We also notified FIFA that BAP has initiated an international petition drive making that same argument.
FIFA responded to our communication with points of clarification and statements of policy. The salient points made by FIFA are as follows:
According to FIFA, it “strives to create a discrimination-free, inclusive and safe environment in all of its activities and events in accordance with the FIFA Statutes, FIFA's Human Rights Policy, and further relevant regulations.” We agree that providing a space free of discrimination and where individuals are secured in their person and possession is a laudatory objective of FIFA. However, we provided concrete evidence citing various incidents of individuals being harassed by U.S. border officials and travel advisories issued by a number of states, including states in the West, which suggest that the protection of individual rights and security has now become a grave issue in the U.S.
Yet, FIFA claims that “its goal is to deliver the safest tournament experience for all involved, and we have planned collaboratively with public safety partners to achieve that goal.” We asked what "public safety partners" they mean. Has FIFA collaborated with U.S.-based and international human rights and immigration justice groups? Why would various nations in Europe, including Canada, issue travel warnings to the U.S. if they did not believe that travel to the U.S. presents a clear threat to their respective citizens/residents?
And with a recent order by the U.S. Executive banning travel to the U.S. from a number of countries and the growing and intensifying xenophobia, one would assume that any organization responsible for the safety of its fans and participants must view any guarantees issued by U.S. authorities to FIFA regarding the protection of fundamental rights be viewed with some degree of skepticism.
What protections do people have in a nation where masked and unidentified individuals can readily detain anyone who appears to be in said nation "illegally," without due process or reason—especially nonwhite individuals.
FIFA says it “implements a robust human rights due diligence programme, which includes collaboration with national authorities and other relevant stakeholders.” However, what sense does this make when the evidence being argued is that the national authorities FIFA is collaborating with are engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide? Due diligence would seem to compel FIFA to pull the World Cup from the U.S. and to ban the participation of Israel as it has done to other nations. We challenged FIFA to provide the specific “FIFA Statutes, and Human Rights Policy” that informs its decision-making regarding the hosting of the World Cup and criteria for the banning of certain teams based on human rights infractions to no avail.
The FIFA response to BAP is clearly not a serious response. Instead, it is another example of the double standard employed by Western-based institutions that reflects the devaluation of the lives, concerns and fundamental rights of non-European, non-White peoples and nations.
FIFA’s specious response reconfirms the arbitrary and capricious nature of human rights standards when in the hands of Western-based institutions. To this, BAP asks, has there ever been two nations like the U.S. and Israel that have committed the level of atrocities and human rights violations and then been allowed to host and participate in international sport as if nothing significant had happened?
The answer is obvious. But what is also obvious is that there will be no human rights enforcement if it does not emanate from the people and the few people-centered states that exist in the world.
That is why we will continue to go to the people, make our demands, and build the power to execute our demands. Keep circulating the petition, organize teach-ins on this issue and keep building independent power. We have them on the run!
All Power to the People!
No Compromise, No Retreat!
The North-South Program for People(s)-Centered Human Rights
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Must Demonstrate a Commitment to Universal Human Rights by Banning the United States and Israel from Hosting or Participating in International Sporting Events
The United States has become dangerous for members of the global community, and specifically for non-white/non-European people. The world is witnessing massive violations of human rights and the Constitution of the United States as masked agents using unmarked vehicles raid work places, homes, and places of public assembly to incarcerate and disappear Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and, in too many cases, denying them legal representation and basic information as to their whereabouts and wellbeing to their families and attorneys.
Under the current U.S administration, anyone suspected of residing in and/or visiting the United States with or without “proper” documentation, including U.S. citizens, is harassed, questioned about their political beliefs, and even detained without due process. This repressive environment has created a sense of insecurity and anxiety for travelers to the U.S., including students, and even some diplomats of “foreign nations.” Even individuals while in transit to other countries have been subjected to harassment and intimidation.
But this is just part of the story.
The State of Israel, with direct assistance from the United States, is committing gross and profound violations of human rights and international law through military adventures, and carrying out an ongoing genocide in addition to other war crimes, including, but not limited to, collective punishment and starvation. This is on top of Israel’s eight-decade pogrom of apartheid against the Palestinian people, as well as a perpetual disregard for the sovereignty and self-determination of the Lebanese, Yemeni, Syrian, and Iranian people and their respective governments and bodies of leadership. The global community, every day, witnesses Israel’s wanton slaughter of people and pillage of lives with the full endorsement of the United States, which continues to fund, arm, and promote Israel’s tactics of terror and barbarity.
Both FIFA and the IOC have previously denied the hosting of, and participation in, international events for nations and governments that have acted in ways they deem antithetical to their stated core values of human rights, anti-discrimination, and global sustainability. For instance, both the IOC and FIFA banned Germany and Japan from international competition following the second world war. Additionally, the IOC banned the Republic of South Africa from participating in the Olympic Games from 1964 to 1992 due to the nation’s racist system of apartheid, and FIFA banned the nation from participating in its matches between 1961 and 1992 for the same reason. And, more recently, the IOC has instituted a standing ban on the Russian Federation from participating in its summer and winter games due to what is deemed an illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine.
This raises the question as to why FIFA and IOC are affording the United States and the State of Israel with preferential treatment over other nations that have been and are currently sanctioned and banned from competition and the hosting of international sporting events for violations of the core values of both bodies.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, as members of the global community and people/institutions of conscience demand that FIFA and IOC withdraw the United States and the State of Israel from hosting or participating in international competition events until such time that both nations demonstrate a willingness to adhere to each agency’s core values and further operate in ways that adhere to international law and human rights.
As of 12/8/21
Friends, comrades and allies,
Two Afro-Colombian leaders of the Black Communities Process (PCN) a sister organization with BAP with a representative on our international advisory board and member of BAP's Haiti/Americas team committee, have been disappeared since November 28 and the communities are demanding their return.
Please circulate the information below from WOLA to your networks and support.
Take action on the disappearance of two prominent Afro-Colombian leaders in the Yurumanguí River area (rural Buenaventura municipality, Valle del Cauca Department). Abencio Caicedo Caicedo forms part of the Board of the Community Council of the Yurumanguí River. Édinson Valencia García, coordinator for control and vigilance for the territorial ethnic organization Aponury. Both of these organizations form part of the Black Communities Process (PCN) and the Afro-Colombian Peace Council (CONPA). CONPA in turn forms part of the Ethnic Commission for Peace and Defense of Territorial Rights.
You can help raise awareness of this situation by tweeting about it using the hashtags #EnYurumanguíNosFaltanDos #LosQueremosVivos
Sign the petition to demand the Biden administration abolish the 1033 program
BAP member organizations PACA and Friends of the Congo are fundraising to support the recently flooded GOVA Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sign BAP petitions calling for an end to the 1033 program and peace in Afghanistan.
Dedan Waciuri, who represents Black Workers for Justice on BAP’s Coordinating Committee, is being charged for inciting a riot and damaging government property. Sign this petition to demand charges be dropped.
The Black Latina Girls and Women Fund was created by BAP member organization AfroResistance, a Black Latina women-led organization in the service of Black Latinx women in the Americas. This fund offers financial support by giving money directly to Black Latin womxn, girls and femmes who are experiencing severe financial need across the region, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether in Brazil, Colombia, United States or Panama, Black Latina girls, women, and femmes are organizing in their local communities in the fight against several forms of state violence. You can donate here and people are encouraged to use the hashtag #BlackLatinaGWFund.
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