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Football fans fear for the safety of LGBTQ+ people at Qatar World Cup

 


A Qatar World Cup ambassador and former player, Khalid Salman, described homosexuality as “damage in the mind”.

With the FIFA 2022 World Cup kicking off next week in Qatar, there are growing concerns over the country’s treatment and attitudes towards homosexuality.

The event, scheduled to start from 20th November to 18th December, will be the 22nd edition of the World Cup. It was postponed to winter due to the extreme heat the Arab country faces during the summertime.

Though it is an exciting and well-anticipated event for football fans around the world, many are concerned about Qatar’s hosting.

In Qatar, same-sex relations are prohibited under multiple parts of the Penal Code. Most notably, Article 285 criminalises acts of “sexual intercourse” between those of the same sex. Those caught could face up to seven years in prison.

The country’s legal system is governed by a combination of civil law and Islamic law. Therefore, under Sharia law, Muslim men could face the death penalty for acts of homosexuality.

Humans Rights Watch (HRW) has found that Qatar Preventive Security Department forces have “arbitrarily arrested lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and subjected them to ill-treatment in detention.”

Rasha Younes, an LGBT rights researcher at HRW, said, “While Qatar prepares to host the World Cup, security forces are detaining and abusing LGBT people simply for who they are.”

A recent survey conducted by Public First for More in Common from 1st to 3rd November revealed that 62% of British people think Qatar’s position on gay rights alone should have resulted in it not being allowed to host.

Moreover, many high-profile figures in the UK have condemned Qatar’s attitudes towards homosexuality, including Sir Keir Starmer.

When asked if he would be attending, the Leader of the Labour Party explained neither he nor members of his party would be there, regardless if England makes it to the final. “I’d love to but the human rights record is such I wouldn’t go. That would be the position of the Labour party,” he said.

Dua Lipa also announced she would not be attending. The English pop star stated, “I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human right pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.”

Prince William, who is President of the English Football Association, also opted to miss the event due to the criticism regarding FIFA’s decision to host the tournament in Qatar.

Some directly involved with the tournament have even challenged Qatar’s attitudes towards gays, including the England football team who made a bold statement flying out in a gay pride plane.

Southgate’s squad touched down on Tuesday 15th November, on a Virgin Atlantic plane named the ‘Rain Bow’. It has a cartoon figure in rainbow trainers on the exterior and a registration number of ‘GV-PRD’, which stands for gay pride.

However, while some fear for the safety of LGBTQ visitors at the World Cup, Qatar’s ruling Emir emphasised the warm welcome they’ll receive upon arrival.

Speaking at the United Nations in September, he said, “The Qatari people will receive with open arms, football fans from all walks of life” and “without discrimination”.

The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has encouraged fans to attend the tournament without worries and said it’s “my job to make sure those people who do visit stay safe”.

He advised LGBTQ+ World Cup fans to “respect the law” of Qatar, and tournament organisers have advised against public displays of affection to avoid problems.

David Beckham, “believes in Qatar’s commitment to progress and that the World Cup — the first to be held in the Arab world — can effect significant positive change” a source close to him has said.

Beckham, who in the past has been admired for his support of gay rights, scored a lucrative £150 million deal to become the face of the Qatar World Cup.


Fans have heavily criticised the former England captain for his decision to go ahead with the deal, with British queer comedian Joe Lycett saying Beckham’s “status as a gay icon will be shredded” if he continues in his role.


While there are mixed opinions on Qatar’s tournament hosting, FIFA issued a letter to all 32 participating national teams, urging them to “focus on the football.”

The letter sent by FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and the governing body’s secretary general, Fatma Samoura read, “Please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists”.

With the tournament fast approaching, the pressure is on the rise, and it is evident that FIFA would prefer the focus to be on the sport.


Published in the Brighton Journal

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