James Lynch
@lynchj.bsky.social
Director at @fairsq.bsky.social and trustee at AB Charitable Foundation.
Reposted by James Lynch
🧵I was thrilled to meet Abdullah Ibhais at #PTG2025. Abdullah was former media manager for Qatar’s World Cup Committee (FIFA’s local partner), who spent three years in prison after voicing concerns over the treatment of migrant workers on World Cup construction projects.
October 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
🧵I was thrilled to meet Abdullah Ibhais at #PTG2025. Abdullah was former media manager for Qatar’s World Cup Committee (FIFA’s local partner), who spent three years in prison after voicing concerns over the treatment of migrant workers on World Cup construction projects.
Reposted by James Lynch
"The volte-face increasingly looks like the last act of a piece of political theatre that allowed UEFA’s senior leadership to signal its support for the people of Gaza, while avoiding taking any action to help them."
Read the analysis from @ncgeehan.bsky.social below ⬇️
fairsq.org/uefa-virtue-...
Read the analysis from @ncgeehan.bsky.social below ⬇️
fairsq.org/uefa-virtue-...
October 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
"The volte-face increasingly looks like the last act of a piece of political theatre that allowed UEFA’s senior leadership to signal its support for the people of Gaza, while avoiding taking any action to help them."
Read the analysis from @ncgeehan.bsky.social below ⬇️
fairsq.org/uefa-virtue-...
Read the analysis from @ncgeehan.bsky.social below ⬇️
fairsq.org/uefa-virtue-...
🧵 ⬇️
Passing laws to create new, draconian restrictions on the right to protest - not for the national good but because the government can't admit its proscription of Palestine Action was a mistake and has failed - seems to me a genuine political scandal.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Police to get broader powers to crack down on repeated protests
Officers will be able to tell organisers to move demonstrations if protests have caused "repeated disorder".
www.bbc.com
October 5, 2025 at 7:48 AM
🧵 ⬇️
Reposted by James Lynch
Six of the world’s biggest sports organisations, including FIFA, the International Cricket Council & Formula 1, are being challenged to justify their sponsorship deals with state-owned Saudi Aramco. These partnerships may place them in breach of international human rights standards.
October 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Six of the world’s biggest sports organisations, including FIFA, the International Cricket Council & Formula 1, are being challenged to justify their sponsorship deals with state-owned Saudi Aramco. These partnerships may place them in breach of international human rights standards.
Reposted by James Lynch
Amnesty has written to call on FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israeli FA until clubs from illegal settlements are excluded from its leagues.
While football supports Israel’s occupation, over 800 athletes & sports officials in Gaza have been killed in its genocide.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne....
While football supports Israel’s occupation, over 800 athletes & sports officials in Gaza have been killed in its genocide.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne....
Amnesty calls on FIFA, UEFA to suspend Israeli Football Association
There should be no place in football for clubs based in illegal settlements
www.amnesty.org
October 1, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Amnesty has written to call on FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israeli FA until clubs from illegal settlements are excluded from its leagues.
While football supports Israel’s occupation, over 800 athletes & sports officials in Gaza have been killed in its genocide.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne....
While football supports Israel’s occupation, over 800 athletes & sports officials in Gaza have been killed in its genocide.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne....
Reposted by James Lynch
Many migrant workers who came to Qatar to build the 2022 WC infrastructure found themselves jobless after the tournament. @josimarfootball.bsky.social reveals how some of them have been recruited by the Russian army, are fighting and die on the Ukrainian front.
josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...
josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...
The migrant soldiers - josimarfootball.com
For months, the Russian army has secretly recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of jobless migrant workers in Qatar to fight on the frontline against Ukraine.
josimarfootball.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Many migrant workers who came to Qatar to build the 2022 WC infrastructure found themselves jobless after the tournament. @josimarfootball.bsky.social reveals how some of them have been recruited by the Russian army, are fighting and die on the Ukrainian front.
josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...
josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...
Reposted by James Lynch
A wonderful day for a remarkable man and his amazing family fairsq.org/alaa-abd-el-...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah pardoned
Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s pardon is a major step forward and a huge relief, FairSquare said today after his lawyer reported that the President had issued a pardon for the British-Egyptian national. FairSqu...
fairsq.org
September 23, 2025 at 6:38 AM
A wonderful day for a remarkable man and his amazing family fairsq.org/alaa-abd-el-...
Reposted by James Lynch
Crypto-grifting, Dubai resident and would-be Reform candidate for London Mayor proudly posts a video of him hanging out with Tommy Robinson before a far-right gathering in the city he claims to want to lead.
September 13, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Crypto-grifting, Dubai resident and would-be Reform candidate for London Mayor proudly posts a video of him hanging out with Tommy Robinson before a far-right gathering in the city he claims to want to lead.
Reposted by James Lynch
ex-IDF chief confirms Gaza casualties over 200,000
That’s 10% of the entire population of Gaza in 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
That’s 10% of the entire population of Gaza in 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
‘We took the gloves off’: ex-IDF chief confirms Gaza casualties over 200,000
Retired general Herzi Halevi says ‘not once’ had legal advice constrained Israel’s military decisions in the strip
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
ex-IDF chief confirms Gaza casualties over 200,000
That’s 10% of the entire population of Gaza in 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
That’s 10% of the entire population of Gaza in 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Reposted by James Lynch
EU divisions over Gaza hit Eurovision as Ireland pulls out
EU divisions over Gaza hit Eurovision as Ireland pulls out
Ireland’s national broadcaster joins Slovenia’s in making participation next year conditional amid Israel’s war in Gaza
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to take part in next year’s Eurovision song contest if Israel is a participant.
RTÉ is the second of 37 broadcasters who took part in the event this year to have made participation next year conditional. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
EU divisions over Gaza hit Eurovision as Ireland pulls out
Reposted by James Lynch
Hundreds of migrant workers at Saudi firm Sendan Intl., including those on Aramco projects, went unpaid for up to 8 months—many stranded, undocumented, or forced home without wages. #SaudiArabia
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Saudi Arabia: Migrant Workers Unpaid for Months
Hundreds of migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia by the manufacturing and supply company Sendan International did not receive their salaries for up to eight months.
www.hrw.org
September 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Hundreds of migrant workers at Saudi firm Sendan Intl., including those on Aramco projects, went unpaid for up to 8 months—many stranded, undocumented, or forced home without wages. #SaudiArabia
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Reposted by James Lynch
On Saturday, an estimated 1500 people sat down on Parliament Square in London in a peaceful protest, holding up placards declaring their opposition to genocide and their support for a non-violent activist group.
890 of these people were arrested.
890 of these people were arrested.
September 9, 2025 at 11:19 AM
On Saturday, an estimated 1500 people sat down on Parliament Square in London in a peaceful protest, holding up placards declaring their opposition to genocide and their support for a non-violent activist group.
890 of these people were arrested.
890 of these people were arrested.
Reposted by James Lynch
This is what today looks like: elderly people arrested just for holding signs. Shame on this government and its police.
September 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This is what today looks like: elderly people arrested just for holding signs. Shame on this government and its police.
Reposted by James Lynch
That Labour's objection to Reform's programme of aggressive white nationalism is "they don't have a fully costed plan for their network of concentration camps" tells you just how dangerously lost this government is.
Labour have now put out a response to the Farage speech, in the name of Ellie Reeves - it’s all about the practicalities of deportation and detention. Suggests they’re just fine with his tone/language/the very dark turn this whole debate is taking.
August 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
That Labour's objection to Reform's programme of aggressive white nationalism is "they don't have a fully costed plan for their network of concentration camps" tells you just how dangerously lost this government is.
Reposted by James Lynch
FFS.
He didn't "kick off".
It's not a "jibe".
He said, with dignity and restraint, what we were all thinking - that Al-Obeid didn't just "die" - he, like tens of thousand of other innocent civilians, was killed by Israel as part of its ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing.
He didn't "kick off".
It's not a "jibe".
He said, with dignity and restraint, what we were all thinking - that Al-Obeid didn't just "die" - he, like tens of thousand of other innocent civilians, was killed by Israel as part of its ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing.
August 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
FFS.
He didn't "kick off".
It's not a "jibe".
He said, with dignity and restraint, what we were all thinking - that Al-Obeid didn't just "die" - he, like tens of thousand of other innocent civilians, was killed by Israel as part of its ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing.
He didn't "kick off".
It's not a "jibe".
He said, with dignity and restraint, what we were all thinking - that Al-Obeid didn't just "die" - he, like tens of thousand of other innocent civilians, was killed by Israel as part of its ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing.
Reposted by James Lynch
This is what *athleticide* looks like, a term scholars like @nkalamb.bsky.social & others are increasingly using
"With al-Obeid’s death, the number of athletes & their family members killed in the Strip since the start of Israel’s war has risen to 662. The number of football-related deaths now stands at 321, inc. players, coaches, administrators, referees & club board members" www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...
August 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is what *athleticide* looks like, a term scholars like @nkalamb.bsky.social & others are increasingly using
Reposted by James Lynch
"Who nowadays bothers to pay heed to Starmer or the EU’s Kaja Kallas, for example, when they express outrage on behalf of Ukrainian civilians?
.... that the west seems only to pay only lip service to the suffering of Gazans, Ethiopians, South Sudanese and others comes across as distinctly racial"
.... that the west seems only to pay only lip service to the suffering of Gazans, Ethiopians, South Sudanese and others comes across as distinctly racial"
August 2, 2025 at 5:25 AM
"Who nowadays bothers to pay heed to Starmer or the EU’s Kaja Kallas, for example, when they express outrage on behalf of Ukrainian civilians?
.... that the west seems only to pay only lip service to the suffering of Gazans, Ethiopians, South Sudanese and others comes across as distinctly racial"
.... that the west seems only to pay only lip service to the suffering of Gazans, Ethiopians, South Sudanese and others comes across as distinctly racial"
Reposted by James Lynch
An aerial view of what the Gaza City area looked like this week. Taken from a Jordanian military aircraft, by our colleague Heidi Levine.
August 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM
An aerial view of what the Gaza City area looked like this week. Taken from a Jordanian military aircraft, by our colleague Heidi Levine.
Reposted by James Lynch
While the climate crisis hits football hard, Gianni Infantino still plans to promote the world’s biggest polluter - Saudi Aramco - at next year’s World Cup.
‘I was really dizzy’: Enzo Fernández reveals scare in heat of Club World Cup
The Chelsea player’s comments about the semi-final against Fluminense add to the pressure on Fifa over 2026 World Cup kick-off times
www.theguardian.com
July 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
While the climate crisis hits football hard, Gianni Infantino still plans to promote the world’s biggest polluter - Saudi Aramco - at next year’s World Cup.
Reposted by James Lynch
“This is the cruel reality confronting many in Gaza today after months of insufficient aid being allowed into the territory, and parties to the conflict failing to uphold basic responsibilities to protect civilians.” - UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
Full statement: unicef.link/40Kib1K
Full statement: unicef.link/40Kib1K
July 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
“This is the cruel reality confronting many in Gaza today after months of insufficient aid being allowed into the territory, and parties to the conflict failing to uphold basic responsibilities to protect civilians.” - UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
Full statement: unicef.link/40Kib1K
Full statement: unicef.link/40Kib1K
Reposted by James Lynch
Israel’s defence minister has laid out plans to force all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp on the ruins of Rafah
‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Israeli plan for forced transfer of Gaza’s population ‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’
Military ordered to turn ruins of Rafah into ‘humanitarian city’ but experts call the plan an internment camp for all Palestinians in Gaza
www.theguardian.com
July 8, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Israel’s defence minister has laid out plans to force all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp on the ruins of Rafah
‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by James Lynch
We're gearing up for the big Parliamentary debate on a fossil ad ban. We spot that the ad self-regulator, the ASA, has chosen this moment to "reassure" the public about advertising. 😏 But worth noting a fossil fuel ad & sponsor ban is the tobacco control for 21st century &...
July 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
We're gearing up for the big Parliamentary debate on a fossil ad ban. We spot that the ad self-regulator, the ASA, has chosen this moment to "reassure" the public about advertising. 😏 But worth noting a fossil fuel ad & sponsor ban is the tobacco control for 21st century &...
Reposted by James Lynch
The *athleticide* continues in Gaza, as Palestinian National Team player Muhannad Fadl al-Lay died yesterday after being wounded in an Israeli attack on his home earlier this week. Israel's attacks have completely destroyed 184 sports facilities in Gaza. www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-fo...
Gaza football star killed in Israeli strike, raising athlete death toll to 585
Muhannad Fadl al-Lay's death brings the total number of football players killed during Israel's war on Gaza to 265
www.middleeasteye.net
July 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The *athleticide* continues in Gaza, as Palestinian National Team player Muhannad Fadl al-Lay died yesterday after being wounded in an Israeli attack on his home earlier this week. Israel's attacks have completely destroyed 184 sports facilities in Gaza. www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-fo...
Reposted by James Lynch
So very grateful to all my guests over 100 eps. Invidious to pick out some, but I will anyway. Thanks to
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @helenebismarck.bsky.social @warmatters.bsky.social @ionacraig.com @wanderinggaia.bsky.social @samirpuri.bsky.social @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social @lynchj.bsky.social
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @helenebismarck.bsky.social @warmatters.bsky.social @ionacraig.com @wanderinggaia.bsky.social @samirpuri.bsky.social @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social @lynchj.bsky.social
🚨🚨Amazingly this is 🥳100th EPISODE🥳 of #BehindtheLines podcast. We've had hundreds of thousands of listens, in almost every country on earth; North Koreans, come on, take the plunge!
(Actually don't, you'll be executed😬.)
Many thanks to all guests and listeners.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
(Actually don't, you'll be executed😬.)
Many thanks to all guests and listeners.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
EPISODE 100: Creeping authoritarianism in the United States
Podcast Episode · Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell · 01/07/2025 · 1h 5m
podcasts.apple.com
July 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
So very grateful to all my guests over 100 eps. Invidious to pick out some, but I will anyway. Thanks to
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @helenebismarck.bsky.social @warmatters.bsky.social @ionacraig.com @wanderinggaia.bsky.social @samirpuri.bsky.social @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social @lynchj.bsky.social
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @helenebismarck.bsky.social @warmatters.bsky.social @ionacraig.com @wanderinggaia.bsky.social @samirpuri.bsky.social @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social @lynchj.bsky.social