Moroccan Hicham Karmoussi a victim of PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaïfi's manoeuvring What is Qatar up to

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How could the boss of PSG and beIN sport, who holds the rank of Minister of the Qatari Authorities in France, attack an innocent Moroccan with impunity? 

A former confidant of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Hicham Karmoussi has witnessed some disturbing abuses, only to find himself trapped in a spiral of intimidation, threats and, today, a death sentence that is as unjust as it is barbaric.

 

It all began in 2015 when Hicham Karmoussi found himself in an untenable situation. Tasked with mediating in Nasser Al-Khelaïfi's tumultuous relationship with his mistress, Lucie Veyret, Hicham Karmoussi witnessed the collapse of an already unhealthy situation. When Mrs Veyret attempted suicide, Hicham Karmoussi was forced to play the role of "companion" to avoid a scandal. This event marked the beginning of a series of abuses and intolerable demands on the part of Al-Khelaïfi, laying the foundations for an untenable working relationship.

 

Faced with incessant demands and inhumane working conditions, Hicham Karmoussi tried to resign on several occasions. But Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, aware of the secrets to which Hicham Karmoussi had access, used his power and influence to force him to stay. The threats became increasingly explicit: "I can wipe you off the face of the earth with a snap of my fingers", warned Al-Khelaïfi, revealing the extent of his power and his contempt for human life. Hicham Karmoussi then found himself caught in a spiral of fear and forced submission.

 

Dissemination of evidence and secret conviction

In 2017, during the investigation into corruption surrounding the awarding of TV rights for the World Cup, Hicham Karmoussi found himself at the heart of a cover-up orchestrated by Al-Khelaïfi. While he was in Morocco, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi asked him to return to Paris to "clean house" and hide the incriminating evidence. Karmoussi obeyed, gathering computers, phones, USB sticks and other sensitive documents. Some of the items were destroyed in bizarre circumstances, while others were handed over to intermediaries to evade the authorities.

In 2018, the pressure intensified, with Hicham Karmoussi being constantly harassed to travel to Qatar. Every time he tried to break free, he was called to order by threats disguised as tempting offers. He watched helplessly as Al-Khelaïfi tightened his grip, using surveillance and manipulation to maintain his hold on him. The system of power put in place by Al-Khelaïfi and supported by Qatar is revealed in all its brutality: a machine for crushing individuals who dare to question his authority.

Faced with Hicham Karmoussi's determination not to submit, the Qatari judiciary, obviously in the hands of the government, sentenced him to death in absentia under totally absurd conditions, based on the so-called confession of French businessman Tayeb Benabderrahmane, who was also tortured and sentenced to death and who has been fighting for his rehabilitation since his release. This sentence, handed down without any possibility of defence or fair trial, demonstrates the brutal and arbitrary methods used.

Hicham Karmoussi was sentenced without the charges against him being publicly exposed or verified, and without the Moroccan authorities even being informed. This iniquitous conviction highlights the way in which Qatar has used its judicial system to protect its interests and those of its allies, notably Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, while deliberately violating international human rights standards and imposing barbaric and inhumane treatment on an innocent man.

 

The conspiratorial silence surrounding Nasser Al-Khelaïfi

 

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who enjoys an aura of respectability as chairman of PSG and head of beIN Media Group, is indirectly complicit in this campaign of repression. The accusations made by Hicham Karmoussi reveal a network of influence and manipulation aimed at covering up dubious practices and stifling any attempt to reveal the truth in order to protect one of Qatar's strongmen... Even if it means killing one man, Hicham Karmoussi.

Karmoussi's secret death sentence is a flagrant injustice that calls for international mobilisation. Silence in the face of such violations is unacceptable, and it is time for the international community to stand up against these barbaric practices.

The Moroccan authorities, in the case of Hicham Karmoussi, and the French authorities, in the case of businessman Tayeb Benabderrahmane, must mobilise all their diplomatic resources and influence to obtain full rehabilitation from the Qatari authorities and the most severe sanctions against Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.