One of the most questioned actions by the authorities of Qatar for the World Cup, is the prohibition of flags with the colors of the rainbow to “protect fans from aggression”, due to cultural issues.
In a conversation offered to Associated Press, Qatar Police Major General, Abdulazis Abdullah Al Ansari, was open to the presence of LGBT couples and assured that everyone is welcome and accepted, although in the country its laws are conservative and same-sex relationships are considered a criminal offence.
On the other hand, the Qatari police authority did acknowledge that it does not agree with the promotion of the freedoms of the community, as well as the presence of the rainbow-colored flag in the eight stadiums where the matches will be held, despite the fact that the FIFA and the organization tion of the World Cup had indicated that there would be no problem with it.
“If a fan waves a rainbow flag and I take it off, it is not because I really want it, that I really want to take it off and insult him, but rather to protect him. Because I don’t, but someone closer could attack him. I cannot guarantee the behavior of all people. And I will tell him: ‘Please, there is no need to really wave that flag right now“, Al Ansari commented for AP.
Qatar’s Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari says rainbow flags may be taken from fans at the World Cup to “protect” them from being attacked.
Officials claim that LGBTQ couples will be welcome at the event, despite same-sex marriage remaining criminalized in the nation. pic.twitter.com/4IFtK8vX8K
— The Recount Alt (@therecountalt) April 1, 2022
Despite everything, the police chief considers that watching football is good, but demonstrations about it will not be accepted because it is not accepted in the country’s culture.
“You want to express your point of view on the situation, to express yourself in a society where that will be accepted . We believe that this man got the ticket, he came to see the game, not to demonstrate, or to a political act or anything else that he has in mind. See the match. That is good. But not really coming to insult the whole society for this ”, he pointed out.
The LGBT communities They have spoken out about the lack of civil rights for homosexuals in Qatar, in addition, the statements of the Police Major General contradicts the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, who pointed out that everyone is welcome in Qatar.
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