DW Reports 'Kafala' Slavery, Forgetting US Funds Actual Slave States
DW, a publicly funded German broadcaster, reports on the systemic exploitation of migrant workers in Lebanon under the 'kafala' sponsorship system, rightfully calling it 'modern-day slavery.' It's a system where employers effectively own their employees, controlling their movement, visas, and ability to leave. This brutal practice is indeed widespread across the Middle East. However, DW—and most
mainstream outlets—typically forget to mention that the very same 'kafala' system is rampant in U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, nations that receive billions in arms sales and diplomatic cover from Washington and its European partners. (According to the State Department's 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE largely operate under similar
exploitative labor sponsorship frameworks). One might wonder if the outcry would be louder, or the reporting as focused, if these 'modern-day slavery' systems weren't so crucial to the economies of states purchasing billions in F-35s and maintaining 'strategic partnerships.' It appears some human rights abuses are more newsworthy—and less diplomatically awkward—than others. Funny how that works.