The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday justified the dismissal of the Portuguese ambassador to Qatar, António Alves de Carvalho, after controversial statements by the head of mission in the country, as a “usual procedure in the diplomatic career.”
In office only since 2020 (after being stationed in Guinea-Bissau), António José Alves de Carvalho was dismissed by the President of the RepublicMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the proposal of the Government, information already published in the Diário da República, an official MNE source told Lusa.
The dismissal of the Portuguese ambassador in Doha came about a week after the head of the Portuguese diplomatic mission, Manuel Gomes Samuel, said in an article broadcast by the SIC television channel on August 8 that denounced human rights violations of the workers involved in the construction of the stadiums that will host the next 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (between November 21 and December 18), who were able to work longer hours in temperatures often above 40ºC due to her skin darker.
It is natural that a person who has more melanin in the skin, therefore more accustomed to climates where the sun shines more, is obviously more capable of persisting at these temperatures than an inhabitant, for example, of northern Europe”, he said. the head of the Portuguese diplomatic mission in Doha.
In the 23-minute duration of the SIC article, which denounces human rights violations, forced labor, overcrowding in workers’ homes and cases of racism, the head of the Portuguese diplomatic mission in Doha intervenes on three occasions, stating, in one of them: “ Naturally, these workers have more resilience, not for the sake of the skin, [mas] because this country is a true ‘melting pot’”.
Having lived in “12 countries”, Manuel Gomes Samuel assures that he has not yet seen “issues of racism that are more evident than in other countries” in Qatar.
I myself am a witness that the Qataris, the locals, treat foreigners with dignity, because they know that they too depend on foreigners,” he observed.
The day after the publication of this report, the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, quoted by the weekly Expresso, reacted to the statements made by the head of the Portuguese mission in Doha, distancing himself from them.
The statements made, in question, do not represent the official position of this Ministry”, adding: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns, with the greatest possible vehemence, any form of racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and the fight against it. it is a priority for Portugal, both internally and in the external action that accompanies this area of government”.
“National policies and measures on integration and migration are recognized as good practices at the international level,” he concluded.
Asked by the newspaper if the head of the Portuguese diplomatic mission in Doha would continue in the post, the MNE did not issue any response.
To Lusa, his office indicated that “the agreement of the Qatari authorities is awaited, in accordance with established diplomatic practice, so that the appointment, in the usual terms, of the next Portuguese ambassador in Doha can be carried out”, reiterating that ” this rotation has nothing to do with some cases reported by the press recently.”
Source: Observadora
