Deepa Rai saw her friends’ front-row seats at the Cricket World Cup as an opportunity.

And for a few minutes, her message was displayed prominently for the world to see: “United against slavery of migrant workers in Qatar.”

“My whole point was just to show that banner once on the international TV to get my message across,” Rai, an Australian citizen of Nepalese descent, told the Star.

Rai unfurled the banner last Wednesday during the quarter-final cricket match between India and Bangladesh in Melbourne.

Security guards quickly took it down, and held her for about 20 minutes, she said, before letting her go back into the stands to watch the rest of the game.

An image of her standing with friends above the banner has since spread online, and people from around the world have sent her messages of support.

“It’s raised awareness,” said Rai. “I think Nepalese people seem to be very aware of the fact that we have coffins returning back at the airport every day. I think this is the time we should really hold our government accountable, as well.”

Qatar is home to about 1.2 million migrant labourers, the majority of whom come from Nepal and India. Qatari nationals account for only 10 per cent of the country’s total population.

The Gulf state has been accused of widespread human-rights abuses, including forced labour, under its kafala sponsorship system, which ties workers to their employers.

Despite these concerns, Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In 2013, an investigation by The Guardian newspaper revealed that rapid construction of World Cup stadiums and infrastructure had resulted in the deaths of dozens of Nepalese workers at a rate of one person per day.

The report uncovered evidence of forced labour, unpaid wages, the confiscation of passports, and the denial of water to people working in scorching temperatures.

Qatar has said it will investigate allegations of abuse, and introduce reforms to ensure workers’ safety and labour rights.

But human-rights groups say local authorities have yet to implement many of these changes, and that the country’s response so far has been “woefully inadequate.”

Last week, FIFA announced the 2022 World Cup would be held over a condensed schedule in November and December to circumvent Qatar’s extreme summer heat.

The tournament final will be held on Dec. 18, Qatar National Day.

For her part, Rai encouraged sports fans around the world to question the impact of hosting the World Cup in Qatar.

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“What were the expenses (on) which these stadiums were built?” she said.

“We have a responsibility to tell our governments and these players who are going out there to play that these are the graveyards of these migrant workers.”