Qatar World Cup 2022: Why are people demonstrating against World Cup hosts?

Qatar World Cup 2022: Why are people demonstrating against World Cup hosts?

It is estimated that 1.5 million football lovers from all over the world will arrive in Qatar to watch the decisive match of the World Cup starting on November 20.

The Gulf nation, which follows strict Muslim laws, has faced several complaints about its stance on same-sex relationships.

What is Qatar's position on gay rights?

Homosexual activities are illegal in Qatar as they are considered immoral under Islamic Sharia law.

Those involved in such activities can be punished with fines, imprisonment up to seven years or even death.

Qatar World Cup organizers have claimed that no one will be discriminated against, saying that "everyone is welcome" to visit the country and watch football.

However, Qatar World Cup chief executive Nasser Al Khatour said the government would not change its laws on homosexuality and urged everyone to respect "their own culture".

He said public exchanges of affection between any couple, whether same-sex or heterosexual, are frowned upon in Qatar.

A recent report by Human Rights Watch found that Qatari security forces are arresting lesbian, gay, and transgender people who identify differently within the sexual minority. In some cases, they were even pressured to change their sexual orientation, the report claimed.

The government of Qatar has claimed that the report contained false allegations.

How are people protesting?

Australia's football team has released a video urging Qatar to repeal its law that makes same-sex contracts illegal.

The video also criticizes the treatment by Qatari employers of around 30,000 migrant workers employed by the football team to build the stadium for the World Cup.

Due to the negligence of health and safety in the infrastructure construction sector including buildings, several workers were injured and some even died.

Denmark's soccer players have said they will only wear pale black material in protest at Qatar's lack of respect for human rights.

The captains of nine European teams, including England captain Harry Kane, will wear One Love armbands to protest Qatar's anti-gay law.

Despite France being the previous winner, some other cities in France, including Paris, will not show World Cup matches in public.

British minority rights campaigner Peter Tatchell says he was arrested and detained on the side of the road while protesting in the Qatari capital, Doha.

But the Qatari government has said claims he was arrested are "completely false".

Why was Qatar chosen to host the World Cup?

In 2010, Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in a vote among the 22-member executive members of soccer's governing body, FIFA.

Qatar was chosen among the proposals of America, South Korea, Japan and Australia to host the World Cup.

Qatar is the first Arab country to host the World Cup.

Qatar was acquitted after a two-year investigation after being accused of paying 3 million euros in bribes to support FIFA officials in favor of hosting the World Cup in their country.

Sepp Blatter, who was the president of FIFA at the time, supported Qatar. But later he said that FIFA may have taken the wrong decision.

What can football fans expect in Qatar?

With a total population of 2.9 million, Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. The main source of income for this country is the oil and gas trade.

Qatar has built seven new stadiums just for this tournament.

100 new hotels, new metro trains and new roads are still being built for the World Cup. Being a conservative Muslim country, alcohol is prohibited in Qatar even in expensive hotel bars. A beer under 500 milliliters here costs around US$13.

World Cup organizers have said certain areas of the stadium will be open for drinking three hours before the start of the match and one hour after the match.

Alcohol will be available in Doha, where 40,000 supporters will be staying. In addition, there will be a zone in the stadium where drunken supporters can go and calm down.

Why was the World Cup not held in summer like other times?

The decisive matches of the World Cup will be held from November 20 to December 18 and the temperature in Qatar during this time will be around 25 degrees Celsius.

If the World Cup had been held in Qatar in June and July as usual, the temperature would have been above 40 degrees Celsius and could have reached 50 degrees during the World Cup.

Qatar initially offered to play the match in an air-conditioned indoor stadium, but the offer was rejected.

What is the difficulty in organizing the World Cup at the end of the year?

November and December are the busiest months of all time for European football clubs.

But many of the leading players from the clubs here are called up by their countries to play in the Qatar World Cup.

Europe's famous leagues, England's Premier League, Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga, are suspending their season a week before the international tournament.

European games will resume only after the World Cup is over.