MP blasts organisers of World Cup for not defending LGBTQ+ fans’ rights
A SENIOR political figure from Staffordshire has laid into FIFA over the Qatar World Cup in the House of Commons.
In his statement to the House, Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said FIFA was failing to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ supporters.
Addressing Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, Mr Fabricant asked: “My Rt Hon Friend will have seen the news today, between 400 and 500 migrant workers were killed building the stadia in Qatar?
“Does this not make FIFA’S decision to choose Qatar as a location even more unbelievable, and will she join me in condemning FIFA in the way they have kowtowed to the government of Qatar in relation to their anti-lgbt bullying?”
The minister answered: “My Hon Friend raises an excellent point; ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBTQ+ visitors with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on the issue during the World Cup. And, in fact, the Minister for Equalities, the member for Pudsey, is out there supporting LGBT people and continuing engagement to ensure that they are protected.”
This news comes as Qatar hosts the men’s football World Cup, despite controversy over human rights issues, including those against LGBTQ+ rights. Article 285 of Qatar’s Penal Code bans samesex sexual activity for both men and women, with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
The Penal Code also criminalises “leading, instigating or seducing a male in any way to commit sodomy” and “inducing or seducing a male or female in any way to commit illegal or immoral actions”.
In 2013, Qatar, along with several other Gulf States, proposed introducing tests to stop LGBTQ+ people from entering the country.
The tests would have involved invasive medical checks, but were never introduced. A number of incidents happening have been reported at the World Cup related to gay rights. One of the major controversies saw FIFA themselves ban the use of the “One Love” armband in support of gay rights.
Elsewhere, Danish journalist Jon Pagh was left shaken after being told by Qatari police to remove the armband while filming a World Cup segment in the capital Doha. He refused and the officer eventually backed down.
Belgium have also been ordered by FIFA to remove the word “Love” from inside the collar of their away shirt. The message bears no relation to the One Love campaign and was released in the summer as part of a collaboration with music festival Tomorrowland, but nevertheless has been removed at the wishes of FIFA and the Qatari government.
Nassar al-khater, chief executive of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said: “I would like to assure any fan, of any gender, (sexual) orientation, religion, race to rest assured Qatar is one of the most safe countries in the world — and they’ll all be welcome here.
“The safety and security of every single fan is of the utmost importance to us. There’s a lot of training going into security personnel to make sure things culturally different are seen in the frame.”
The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, said in a statement before the tournament: “Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled.
“Of course I am not Qatari, I’m not an Arab, I’m not African, I’m not gay and I’m not disabled. But I feel like
it, because I know what it means to be discriminated against, to be bullied, as a foreigner in a foreign country. [Qatar] have confirmed and I can confirm everyone is welcome. If you have a person here and there who says the opposite, it’s not the opinion of the country, it’s certainly not the opinion of FIFA.
“You want to stay at home and say how bad they are, these Arabs, these Muslims, because it’s not allowed to be publicly gay. I believe it should be allowed.
“But it is a process. If someone thinks hammering and criticising will achieve something, I can tell you it will be exactly the opposite.”