‘Homophobic dictators’ to blame for Qatar World Cup controversies, activists say

LGBTQ+ activists in Qatar have hit out at “homophobic dictators” in the country, after comments were made about the OneLove World Cup armband being an insult to “the Islamic world”.

Earlier this week, Hassan al-Thawadi, head of Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, said teams wanting to wear the pro-LGBTQ+ OneLove armband at the tournament were sending a “very divisive message” to the Arab world.

England and Wales teams planned to wear the armband at the tournament, but pulled out when threatened with a yellow card by FIFA.

“If the teams decided to do it throughout the entire season, that is one thing,” said al-Thawadi, secretary general of the supreme World Cup committee for delivery and legacy

“But if you’re coming to make a point, or a statement in Qatar, that is something I have an issue with. And it goes back to the simple fact that this is a part of the world that has its own set of values.

“This is not Qatar I’m talking about, it’s the Arab world.”

LGBTQ+ campaigners in Qatar have hit back at these comments, calling officials “homophobic dictators” and saying their issues stem from the fact they “do not believe LGBT rights are human rights”.

It has also been claimed that the claims around “Islamic values” made by al-Thawadi are a “scapegoat”.

Wajeeh Lion, who claims to be the first openly gay man from Saudi Arabia, has accused Qatar of paying a lot of money and “bribing many officials” in order to bring the World Cup to the country. 

They told PinkNews: “They waited last minute to ban alcohol from the stadium and to bring an Islamic preacher who has permitted suicide bombing in 2016 to give a lecture for the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup. 

“If anyone is sending a message of hate and intolerance not accepting others it is the Qatari government with so many ifs and buts, Qatar wants the whole world to feel welcome in their nation and at the same time they demand they hide their identity.” 

Lion, who is a human rights activist, said Qatar uses “Islamic values” as a scapegoat when criticism of its human rights violations are raised, such as comments about the OneLove armband.

They pointed out the religion is supposed to be one of “acceptance and tolerance” but is instead used to “keep privileges for certain members of society and oppress others”. 

Lion also noted the World Cup as “historical” for people to make “so many political statements”.

Dr Nas Mohamed, the first gay man in Qatar to come out on a public platform, tells PinkNews the “issue about LGBT rights is not about Islamic values”.

“It is about a group of homophobic dictators that do not believe LGBT rights are human rights.

“This debate is literally happening everywhere and the LGBT community is always being faced with many ‘counter arguments’.

“Perhaps instead of saying ‘wear a rainbow armband’ or ‘LGBT conversations are against Islam’ It may be more helpful to say: Can ‘John and his husband Ahmad’ bring their family to this World Cup and feel safe?”

Dr Mohamed said the ways in which LGBTQ+ people suffer in Qatar are not Islamic.

He added: “They are not part of our tradition. It is abuse we are being subjected to in the name of religion and tradition.

“LGBT rights are human rights. Our abuse does not belong anywhere. We must speak up for our rights everywhere.”

Hassan al-Thawadi added it’s fine for teams to “preach or make statements” but added: “What you’re essentially saying is you’re protesting an Islamic country hosting an event.”

“Where does that end? Does that mean no Islamic country can never be able to participate in anything?

“There’s going to be different values and different views coming in.

“So, for me, if you’re going to come specifically to make a statement here in Qatar – or specifically addressed to Qatar and by extension, the Islamic world – it leaves a very divisive message.”

Since the start of the World Cup, fans attending matches have been turned away from entering Qatar stadiums for wearing rainbow colours.

Following FIFA holding “urgent talks” with Qatar, the country has stated that Pride colours “will not be prohibited”, but players have still not worn the OneLove armband.

In response to people being stopped by security staff for wearing rainbow colours, Thawadi said World Cup organisers wanted to uphold regional values.

“It’s for the Islamic world, it’s for the Arab world, it’s for the Middle East.

“There are certain things that we will not agree upon. But let us find a way of coexisting and moving forward, one way or the other. That is where mutual respect is fundamental.”

In Qatar homosexuality is illegal and being found guilty of same-sex relations can result in a lengthy prison sentence, while under Sharia law it is possible for men to face the death penalty if they are found to have engaged in same-sex intimacy.