There is no argument that the World Cup this year, hosted in Qatar, has resulted in numerous articles about all of the problems that have been happening before and during the games. Since the host country has a very strict stance on LGBTQ+ rights and has received backlash on how the stadiums were built, many fans and have been boycotting attendance to make a statement.
was sent out by the United States government before the games to tell fans about some of the rules that might be enforced inside and outside the stadiums. Among the list was a warning to LGBTQ+ fans that homosexuality is illegal in Qatar. This started boycotts not only in the US, but globally. that did go to Qatar have been told to remove rainbow colored clothing because political messages are prohibited inside the stadium. that have worn “One Love” armbands in support of LGBTQ+ rights have been threatened by FIFA with a yellow card should they continue to wear them during game play.
In May of this year, a Qatari doctor living in the U.S. decided to open up about his sexual orientation in a way that created awareness of the problems queer people face within his home country. After coming out as gay publicly, Dr. Naser Mohamed was cut off from his family and had to seek asylum in the U.S. on the basis of discrimination. He told that he is not against people going to Qatar to see the games, but he is looking for accountability from FIFA, the teams, and ambassador David Beckham because they are safer than the people who are living inside the country.
Nevertheless, queer people aren’t the only ones that should be . Qatar also has a strict dress code and has told fans to always keep their chests, shoulders, knees, and stomachs covered at all times. Pregnant women will have to present a marriage certificate if they need to seek medical attention because it is illegal to have sex outside of marriage. Freedom of speech is not protected inside the country, leaving journalists and reporters without the protection from their own respective countries. People also are not allowed to promote religions other than Islam during their stay in Qatar, as that could also be considered a criminal act.
The human rights issue with the construction of the stadium is another topic people have voiced concern about. In , the titular host highlighted the living and working conditions many immigrants have faced while building whole new stadiums and cities while in unbearable heat. Many of the workers had their passports taken away and were not allowed to change jobs without the consent of their supervisor. They also are living in places without showers or baths, and have problems with bed bug infestations. FIFA has said that they have spoken with Qatari officials about these issues and have resolved them, but only time will tell as the games come to a close.
All these boycotts and bans have not stopped fans from attending the games, with more in at the group stages than the Russian games in 2018. Maybe exposure to the outside world is what local people in Qatar need to figure out how to take back control and demand for more rights, especially the local queer community. If the other countries join forces to demand accountability from FIFA and the Qatari government, real change could be possible and people like Dr. Naser Mohamed would not have to live in fear in the country they love.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.