We can't ignore the human rights issues plaguing the World Cup and its host country, Qatar

The significance of Qatar, an Arab, Muslim country, hosting the World Cup for the first time has been overshadowed by very serious, documented human rights violations and anti-LGBTQ laws that deserve to be talked about.

Some depictions and commentary about Qatar hosting such a grand sporting event — like a French newspaper's depiction of the Qatari national team as terrorists — have been, without a doubt, disgusting and racist. But calling concerns about migrant worker deaths a "publicity stunt" and other instances of whataboutism by Qatari and FIFA officials specifically in response to valid concerns of violations of international human rights law is unfortunate and unhelpful for everyone involved.