How were human rights violations exposed during World Cup 2022 in Qatar?

  

A man wearing a t-shirt reading "Save Ukraine" runs on the pitch waving a rainbow LGBT flag on the pitch during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H football match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 28, 2022 / The Times of Israel. (11/29/2023). Man who invaded World Cup pitch with rainbow flag released from custody. [Photograph].

    Same-sex action is prohibited in 69 countries and persecuted in far more countries. Same-sex actions, including relationship, sexual, and intimate activities, are prohibited under the Penal Code 2004, as it also criminalizes acts of "sodomy" and "sexual intercourse" between people of the same sex. Reaction to human rights issues takes on an international outlook when they are concerns that affect its neighbors, international community, and people of other nationalities --  this happened in World Cup 2022. In that sense, it was almost too late to react and respond to this incident since it has already passed. On December 2, 2010, FIFA announced that Qatar would host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and later in November 2022, Qatar held the opening ceremony.  What happened before the World Cup announcement, and how did the international community respond to the first calls? How does the public react to this? What discussions about the 2022 FIFA World Cup human rights are still going on? 

    In 2016, FIFA adopted the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which require it to "avoid infringing on the human rights of others and address adverse human rights impacts." it requires FIFA to take proper measures for the "prevention, mitigation, and remediation" of human rights impacts. Qatar authorities confirmed unwelcomed and unsafe actions for the LGBTQ+ population.

"If you want to change me so that I will say that I believe in LGBTQ, that my family should be LGBTQ, that I accept LGBTQ in my country, that I change my laws and the Islamic laws to satisfy the West – then this is not acceptable," added Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.

    In April, Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari, a senior Interior Ministry official overseeing security for the football tournament, said that rainbow flags may be confiscated from prospective visitors "for their protection." Al Ansari added: "Reserve the room together, sleep together — this is something that's not in our concern."

As a result, according to FIFA, Qatar World Cup is responsible for following concrete policies and defending human rights due diligence process with regular reporting. But it was clear that a country with such low standards of protecting the LGBTQ+ population can not host world tournaments. As a result, Qatar uses another external way to suppress the voice of the LGBTQ + population by repeatedly referring to the moralities of the country, rejecting the fact of human rights. Still, despite all the investigations and Qatar's well-known records of persecuting the LGBTQ+ community, FIFA has not taken away the right to host the World Cup. 

   The FIFA World Cup is not just another competition but the most extensive sports tournament on Earth, which increases the revenue of both FIFA and Qatar from ticket sales and licenses to broadcasting rights and marketing. This year's revenue from the World Cup amounted to more than 7,5 billion dollars. Even the FIFA took the majority of profit, this money did not go towards Qatar's economy because all of this was shared with FIFA, the leading football organization on Earth. Why are countries then fighting for the right to host the World Cup? It's all about the fame and prestige of this event, as many famous guests and politicians will watch the match. Everyone will remember this country as festive and cheerful, even if there are human rights violations behind the screen. The country spared no expense for the World Cup, spending ten times more on its bid than England. After all, even FIFA wrote in its reports that this is not the most suitable place for the World Cup due to too small territory, unbearably hot climate, no sports infrastructure, and, most importantly, physical and mental danger to LGBTQ+ and other vulnerable communities.

Qatar scores a measly 15% on the GBGR and 18% on the GBTR. Qatar matches the general trend for the Middle East/Northern Africa.

Photo Courtesy of fandmglobalbarometers.org.

Photo Courtesy of fandmglobalbarometers.org.

    A few years later, Joseph Blatter, the former president of FIFA, recognized the World Cup in Qatar as a mistake that undermined the reputation of the football association. Members of the FIFA executive committee also took the decision. In December 2010, they voted for Qatar in a privileged mode without official evidence that anyone's vote was bought. But out of the entire executive committee, two people were removed before voting, as they were ready to sell their votes. Even 19 remaining executives became defendants in various corruption cases and abuse of power. Even more, Michele Platini, the head of the European Football Association, publicly advocated supporting hosting World Cup in the United States instead of Qatar. Still, suddenly he changed his mind about Qatar after dinner with the President of France and Qatari sheiks. The Qatari government has not proven any accusation of corruption. Still, at the same time, in 2010, two undemocratic countries, Russia and Qatar, received the rights to host the FIFA World Cup. They also both prosecute the LGBTQ+ population, as former by an anti-LGBTQ bill criminalizing mentioning gay rights and homosexuality in media, as well as later prohibiting same-sex sexual activity, which can lead to up to seven years of jail. 

The similar trend we can see in Russia which scores a measly 19% on the GBGR and 24% on the GBTR. Russia is an outlier for Central/Eastern Europe/Eurasia.

Photo Courtesy of fandmglobalbarometers.org.

    Those events marked the beginning of several investigations of Qatari corruption against FIFA. The US General Attorney mentioned, "We are here to announce the unsealing of charges and the arrests of individuals as part of our long-running investigation into bribery and corruption in the world of organized soccer." As a result, allegations of corruption led the international community to open its eyes to the violations of LGBTQ+ rights, as restrictions to holding hands, cuddling, and being together with one's romantic partner. 

     More importantly than corruption, Qatar also used the excuse through the concept of religion and "traditional" and "heterosexual family" values, which is similar to what Russia is currently supporting by referring to the "traditional principles of family morality". Officials believe that looking at the attributes of LGBTQ+ community and encouraging welcoming atmosphere for them can change the sexuality of other people. By understanding that such propaganda works, authoritarian leaders often shift responsibility to more significant concepts, such as the family institution or religion. 

  

    Thanks to corruption and the power of words, Qatar managed to host the World Cup despite public concern. How should the international community prevent the following issues of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community? Journalists, human rights organizations, and football associations have widely criticized allowing Qatar to host the World Cup. FIFA holds host authorities accountable to an international rights-respecting standard, including LGBTQ+ rights.

  We should prioritize the realities not only for LGBTQ+ residents of Qatar, including by introducing legislation that protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. NGOs and Non-Profits should continue to advocate for decrease in human rights violations in countries that have low score on GBGR and GBTR. On a larger scale, international football community should advocate for continued change through media resources to promote diversity and inclusivity in sports.

Bibliography

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Sepp Blatter says choosing Qatar to host World Cup was 'a mistake' (2022) The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/08/sepp-blatter-qatar-hosting-world-cup-mistake (Accessed: January 28, 2023).

Michel Platini: I 'might' have pledged to back US bid before voting for Qatar (2015) The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/24/michel-platini-usa-2022-bid-voting-qatar (Accessed: January 28, 2023).

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Attorney general Loretta E. Lynch delivers remarks at press conference announcing charges against nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives (2017) The United States Department of Justice. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-loretta-e-lynch-delivers-remarks-press-conference-announcing-charges (Accessed: January 28, 2023).

Jeong, A. (2022) Qatar continues to mistreat LGBT people before World Cup, Rights Group says, The Washington Post. WP Company. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/25/qatar-world-cup-lgbt-arrest-human-rights/ (Accessed: January 28, 2023).

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A World Cup of Shame: FIFA fails LGBT rights test in Qatar (2022) Human Rights Watch. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/07/world-cup-shame-fifa-fails-lgbt-rights-test-qatar?gclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox85UX_1-QH9wTwE1atIoALhs09PXaQNu97zCKluAHLW8CZaXpZdZqhoaAsAqEALw_wcB (Accessed: January 28, 2023).