FIFA’s Shame

MUSIC MOVES

In 10 countries around the world, you can be put to death just because of who you love. Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence in Qatar and is punishable with a jail sentence of up to seven years. So, how is it hosting one of the world’s biggest sporting events in just over two weeks?

FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football) made a huge mistake when it chose Qatar to host the 2022 Men’s World Cup – a mistake that may cost people their lives. And now, as the games approach, FIFA continues to turn a blind eye to the increasingly brutal crackdown on the country’s LGBT+ community.

Just last week, reporting by Human Rights Watch indicated that Qatar’s Preventive Security Department (or “secret police”) are arbitrarily rounding up and arresting members of the LGBT+ community. Many have faced severe and repeated beatings, sexual harassment, and even forced conversion therapy.

And, Dr. Nas Mohamed – an out and proud gay Qatari – shared with All Out that trans folks are being held in underground prisons, denied resources for their transition, and even facing “corrective rape.” Nas said the 2022 FIFA World Cup being hosted in Qatar was the catalyst for publicly coming out, as it was “striking [that] nobody was speaking out” about LGBTIQ+ rights in his homeland.

The only person with the balls to put to stand up to this regimes appalling human rights record, particularly with regard to LGBT+ rights is Peter Tatchell. It’s all very well to campaign from afar, but to go to Qatar and have a one-man protest was incredibly brave.