Protestors stage demo outside Qatar embassy on eve of World Cup
LGBTQ+ rights, equality for women and treatment of migrant workers were highlighted in the demo organised by Peter Tatchell
Last updated 19th Nov 2022
Protesters demonstrated in front of the Qatar Embassy in London this afternoon.
A crowd gathered outside the embassy in Mayfair, London, the day before the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets underway.
There, protesters gathered in opposition to how the nation treats the LGBTQ+ community.
British human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, best known for his work with LGBT social movements, organised and attended the protest.
Peter said: " FIFA promised there will be no discrimination permitted at this World Cup, yet we know that 7 of the competing nations including Qatar have a total criminalisation of homosexuality.
"We also know that if a star footballer from any of these seven countries, came out or was exposed, he would be more likely to be jailed than selected to play in his international team.
"Thats discrimination, It's against FIFA's rules but FIFA is allowing it to happen"
The video below shows Peter Tatchell giving a speech whilst protesters wave LGBTQ+ flags and cards reading "Qatar imprisons, arrests, and converts LGBT people. #QatarAntiGay".
Many protesters declared they would not be watching the game this year. Some protestors said they would only watch England games to support their team.
One protestor said: "I'm an England fan, I had tickets for the World Cup but I rejected them. Me and my boyfriend took that decision together, that it's not safe, we can't go."
Another protestor said: "People of LGBT+ don't have the same human rights in Qatar as they have here. There's oppression, Imprisonment, potentially the death sentence for being queer in Qatar.
We feel the World Cup should never have been awarded to a country that has such appalling human rights."