A Human Rights Watch report says members of Qatar's LGBTQ+ community were detained and physically abused by the country's security services last month; Qatar hosts 2022 World Cup next month with same-sex relationships criminalised in the country; FIFA confident of 'welcoming environment'
Tuesday 25 October 2022 09:39, UK
Members of Qatar's LGBTQ+ community were being detained and physically abused by the country's security services as recently as last month, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
Qatar's treatment of the community is in the spotlight as it prepares to host the men's World Cup, which kicks off on November 20.
Same-sex relationships are criminalised in Qatar, and HRW alleges officers belonging to the Qatar Preventive Security Department have arbitrarily arrested members of the LGBTQ+ community and subjected them to ill treatment in detention.
The Qatari government rejects the content of the HRW report, stating that the allegations within it are "categorically and unequivocally false".
HRW documented six cases of severe and repeated beatings and five cases of sexual harassment in police custody between 2019 and 2022. LGBTQ+ people interviewed by HRW said these practices were occurring as recently as September.
HRW said transgender women detainees were mandated to attend conversion therapy sessions at a government-sponsored facility as a condition of their release.
Rasha Younes, an LGBTQ+ 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, apparently confident that the security force abuses will go unreported and unchecked.
"Qatari authorities need to end impunity for violence against LGBT people. The world is watching."
Six individuals - four transgender women, a bisexual woman and a gay man - were interviewed by HRW and all said they had been detained in an underground prison in Doha and subjected to physical abuse, ranging from slapping to kicking and being punched until they bled.
The detainees were also verbally abused and forced to issue confessions, HRW said, and denied access to legal counsel, family support and medical care.
All were detained without charge and one of the individuals was detained for two months in solitary confinement, HRW said.
Younes added: "The Qatari government should call an immediate halt to this abuse and FIFA should push the Qatari government to ensure long-term reform that protects LGBT people from discrimination and violence."
A Qatari government official said: "The allegations contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false. Qatar does not tolerate discrimination against anyone, and our policies and procedures are underpinned by a commitment to human rights for all.
"Despite the Qatari government's commitment to engage with Human Rights Watch and other critical groups, the claims were not brought to our attention until they were first reported in the media. If Human Rights Watch had contacted us, we would have been able to disprove the allegations.
"The Qatari government does not operate or license any 'conversion centres'. The rehabilitation clinic mentioned in the report supports individuals suffering from behavioural conditions such as substance dependence, eating disorders and mood disorders, and operates in accordance with the highest international medical standards.
"We understand the role of Human Rights Watch to apply pressure on these topics, but their decision to release demonstrably false information, without first contacting our government to verify the findings and better understand Qatar's policies and standard procedures, compromises their self-proclaimed commitment to reporting the truth."
A FIFA spokesperson told Sky Sports News:
"FIFA's position on inclusivity and the protection of human rights is unequivocal, and clearly laid out in the FIFA Statutes, FIFA's Human Rights Policy and several FIFA regulations and codes - discrimination of any kind on account of sexual orientation is strictly prohibited. FIFA strives to create a discrimination-free environment and promote diversity within its organisation and in all of its activities and events.
"As laid out in the FWC 2022 Sustainability Strategy, Qatar as a host country is fully aware of its responsibility to adhere to FIFA's expectations and requirements on human rights, equality and non-discrimination. Qatar is committed to ensuring that everyone will be able to enjoy the tournament in a safe and welcoming environment, to building bridges of cultural understanding and to creating an inclusive experience for all participants and attendees, including members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
"FIFA and its Qatari counterparts are implementing a strategic programme of concrete measures to achieve this objective. Initiatives in this respect include the enacting of legal provisions allowing for the protection of everyone including LGBTIQ+ individuals as well as human rights training sessions with public and private security forces and the training of staff and personnel involved in the delivery of the tournament, which include specific content and cases on the protection of LGBTQI+ persons. Further measures are in-stadium mechanisms such as the anti-discrimination monitoring system or the implementation of the three-step procedure to address discrimination during a match, as well as the operation of a grievance mechanism.
"The development and implementation of this programme to ensure a welcoming environment, for LGBTIQ+ fans and visitors to the tournament, involve close collaborations with relevant Qatari authorities, including with the Qatar National Human Rights Committee. FIFA and its Qatari counterparts regularly integrate the perspectives and expertise of external stakeholders, including organisations promoting LGBTIQ+ rights and fan groups, in the development of these initiatives.
"FIFA is confident that all necessary measures will be in place for LGBTIQ+ fans and allies to enjoy the tournament in a welcoming and safe environment, just as for everyone else."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Three Lions Pride told Sky Sports News about the findings of the report: "This is disheartening and appalling but unfortunately not at all surprising.
"This reiterates our consistent highlighting that the PR line of this being a 'World Cup for all' is not true for our LGBT+ family and especially those in Qatar.
"We urge people to amplify the voices of those affected and join us in supporting the No Pride Without All campaign at www.nopridewithoutall.com."
Elsewhere, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said neither he nor anyone else from his party would attend the final - or any part of the World Cup.
Asked if he would go to Qatar if England reached the final, Starmer told LBC: "No. I would like to, but I think the human rights record is such that I wouldn't go and that would be the position of the Labour Party."
