American journalist killed for exposing rights abuses in Qatar, brother alleges
Eric Wahl, the brother of American journalist Grant Wahl who passed away on Saturday morning in Qatar, has come out to claim that his brother was killed as he was healthy up till his sudden death.
Grant Wahl collapsed Friday night while covering the quarter final match between Argentina and Netherlands. He immediately received attention from paramedics, who later confirmed his death to be caused by cardiac arrest.
“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” his younger brother said in a video posted on Instagram.
“I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I beg for any help.”
Grant Wahl, a veteran football journalist, who had covered 11 World Cups, according to reports on his website, has had a running battle in Qatar. He was once banned from the World Cup stadium for wearing a rainbow colour shirt, in defiance to Qatari authorities who refuse to recognise gay rights at the mundial.
He had also exposed the death of a Filipino migrant worker who died in an accident during the group stages of the World Cup. He alleged that authorities in the Persian empire were covering the death in furtherance of their disregard for workers’ rights- a theme that has dogged the World Cup host.
“We’re still trying to find out. He collapsed at the stadium, was given CPR, was taken by Uber to hospital and died, according to Celine [Grant’s wife],” Eric explained. “We just spoke with the state department, and Celine has spoken to Ron Klain and the White House.”
Eric revealed that Grant had received threats since he was turned back from covering the USA vs Wales match on November 21 for wearing a shirt with LGBT colours.
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