World Cup 2022: Pro-LGBT demonstrators protest outside Qatar Embassy in London

Peter Tatchell among protesters outside the Qatar Embassy in London, Britain, November 19, 2022. REUTERS - HENRY NICHOLLS

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

On the eve of the opening of the 2022 World Cup, demonstrators wanted to show their support, this Saturday, November 19, to the LGBT + community in front of the Qatari embassy in London.

Preparations for the World Cup were dominated by concerns over respect for the rights of workers, women and the LGBT+ community in the Emirate.

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With our correspondent in London,

Marie Boëda

“

Shame on Qatar, shame on FIFA!

“, chant a hundred demonstrators in the district of Mayfair, in the heart of the English capital.

Rainbow tie, Peter Tatchell is the organizer of the event. 

"We are here to protest against the homophobia, sexism and racism of the Qatari regime. Everyone should boycott the World Cup. If you go there, you are colluding with the regime"

Its objective is to maintain pressure on the regime, for which

being homosexual is a crime

.

But for the world, the host country says allow all visitors, regardless of sexual orientation.

No one will be discriminated against, assure the organizers.

“

I don't believe it.

They have broken their promises so many times, they cannot be trusted

,” says Peter Tatchell, holding a sign that reads: “

Qatar arrests, imprisons and subjects the LGBT community to conversion

.”

He himself went to Doha and protested, alone, in front of the National Museum of Qatar, the same sign in his hand. 

“

They didn't want to imprison me and torture me, because that would have been too bad publicity for the World Cup.

But if I had been Qatari, I would have ended up in one of their dungeons

,” he concludes. 

►Also read: 2022 World Cup: Are the criticisms against Qatar all justified?

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  • World Cup 2022

  • Qatar

  • UK

  • LGBT+

  • Human rights