LGBTQ+ protester detained in Qatar as human rights controversies continue

The Qatar World Cup has once again come under fire for its human rights stances...

Paige Rutter
10th November 2022
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The World Cup is less than a month away and there are increasing waves of criticism over the host nation of the tournament. 

There is no escaping human rights concerns when it comes to talking about the 2022 World Cup, with the host nation Qatar coming under firefor their specific regulations. One reoccurring theme is their treatment of LGBTQ+ people, in a country where homosexuality is punishable by up to seven years in prison. 

LGBTQ+ protester Peter Tatchell attempted to challenge these laws by staging a protest outside the national museum of Qatar. The campaigner gripped a sign reading “Qatar arrests, jails & subjects LGBTs to ‘conversion’”, followed by ‘#QatarAntiGay’. 

Their sign was confiscated by two police officers and the passports of both men were photographed

This was then followed by reports that Tatchell and the other man alongside him were arrested due to these actions. The sign being held was confiscated by two police officers and the passports of both men were photographed. Conflicting reports regarding whether an arrest had taken place were quickly suppressed by the Qatari government, however, Tatchell claimed that he was arrested and was held by authorities for over 40 minutes. 

Speaking in a video via his Twitter account after the protest he declared “This protest was to shine a light on the abusive human rights in Qatar. This is the first ever LGBT+ protest in Qatar”. Also adding that he hopes to draw attention to the treatment of women and migrant workers within the country. 

Tatchell has since not stopped his campaign in raising awareness of the human rights issues, praising the Australian football team who have become the first team to criticise Qatar. The team released a statement covering the treatment of migrant workers and LGBT people, including stating that “As players we fully support the rights of LGBTI+ people, but in Qatar people are not free to love the person that they choose”. 

There was also controversy over the comments from the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Cleverly, who stated that LGBT fans travelling to the World Cup should be “respectful of the host nation”. This comment once again received an influx of clashing opinions, one being from former striker Gary Lineker who stated on Twitter “Whatever you do, don’t do anything gay. Is that the message?”.

It was also recently announced that Labour leader Kier Starmer would not be attending the tournament, likewise the new Prince of Wales also confirmed he has ‘no plans’ to attend. In contrast, multiple Welsh ministers have been confirmed to attend the event. This comes as the Economy Minister declared “We will use our platform as an opportunity to express our values and to demonstrate that Wales is a nation of values on the world stage.”

Wales head coach Rob Page also recently confirmed that the captain of the team will be taking part in the ‘One Love’ campaign by donning the rainbow armband in Qatar, joining the likes of England and Germany.

It is common to hear that politics should not be involved in football, but in a sport which promotes equality and diversity the backlash of this tournament is not surprising. 

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