In November 2022 the FIFA World Cup commenced in Qatar.  From the start the games were controversial.  The location seemed ideal in many ways a clean modern locale.  However, the fun and games soon had a dark shadow cast over it as reports of slave labor used to build the necessary facilities to house the games and the tourists who came from around the globe to see them. The LGBTQIA plus record of the Qatari government involved forced disappearances and torture of gay and transgender people and an abysmal record overall.  Celebrities such as Shakira refused to perform or attend due to these issues.  Latin Music sensation Maluma ended an interview abruptly due to being questioned about whether it was ok to endorse a repressive country by attending and performing.  All in all there. were sparks flying and they were not all good.  In this episode immigration attorney Kime Abduli joins Jessica as well as Otra X Favor podcast hosts Ricardo Contreras Plaza and David  Hernandez who are die hard soccer fans whose podcast focuses on soccer, life and culture. 

In this episode we discuss:  

Kime's perspective as a Muslim American about the switches the Qatari government made to policies in the name of Islam after the games were scheduled to be held there;

Richie and David's history as soccer fans and their development of their podcast Otra X Favor focused on culture, life and soccer.  

The guests perspectives on the human rights issues that hung over the games in 2022;

Looking towards the next World Cup and what the guests believe will occur when it is held in the US, Canada and Mexico in terms of human rights issues and protest;

Jessica's explanation of recent human rights reporting on the Qatari government's abuses of LGBTQIA plus, labor and servitude as well as general human rights problems;

How human rights and sports have been linked since the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City to Colin Kappernick taking ta knee to protest police brutality in more recent times;

What the future of human rights and sports most likely holds for FIFA World Cup and other sports

Finals predictions of the guests and Jessica 

BIOGRAPHIES

JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)

Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, former law professor, media commentator and host of the podcast.  She practices immigration law and has worked in various human rights and international organizations in the past prior to establishing her law practice. She can be reached at [email protected] or I Am Attorney Jessica on Instagram or Facebook.  

KIME ABDUILI (GUEST)

Kime Abduli is an immigration attorney and regular on the I Am Attorney Jessica podcast.  Kime is a soccer fan and world traveler. Her own immigration story is compelling and she assists immigrants and refugees every day in her practice in Wisconsin. You can contact her through her firm website.  http://www.abduliimmigrationlaw.com

RICARDO CONTRERAS PLAZA (GUEST)

Ricardo is a photographer and podcast host of Otra X Favor podcast focused on soccer, life and culture.  Please check out Otra X Favor on Apple and Spotify. Ricardo is a proud recipient of the benefits of the DACA program.  You can also contact Ricardo or Richie through their podcast or at [email protected].  

JORGE MARTINEZ (GUEST)

Jorge is the cohost of Otra X. Favor with Ricardo and a life long soccer fan.  Jorge's father owns a soccer store in the Austin, Texas area so soccer really was life for Jorge. Jorge can be reached at Jorge @otraxfavor.com.