The Pink Times
Aa
  • Home
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Activism
  • Media
  • Law
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Drag
    • Books
    • Entertainment
    • Drag
    • Fashion
    • History
    • Love
    • People
    • Photography
    • Religion
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Sports
  • People
Reading: HRW says Qatar has detained and mistreated LGBT people ahead of World Cup
Share
Aa
The Pink Times
Search
  • Home
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Activism
  • Media
  • Law
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Drag
    • Books
    • Entertainment
    • Drag
    • Fashion
    • History
    • Love
    • People
    • Photography
    • Religion
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Sports
  • People
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
The Pink Times > World News > Middle East > HRW says Qatar has detained and mistreated LGBT people ahead of World Cup
Middle EastSports

HRW says Qatar has detained and mistreated LGBT people ahead of World Cup

The Pink Times
The Pink Times October 24, 2022
Updated 2022/10/24 at 12:40 PM
Share
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview - Doha, Qatar - October 20, 2022 General view of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 countdown clock REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

DOHA, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday, in the run-up to hosting soccer’s World Cup which has put a spotlight on human rights issues in the Gulf Arab state.

Homosexuality is illegal in the conservative Muslim country, and some soccer stars have raised concerns over the rights of fans travelling for the event, especially LGBT+ individuals and women, whom rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

A Qatari official said in a statement that HRW’s allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false,” without specifying.

Organisers of the World Cup, which starts on Nov. 20 and is the first held in a Middle Eastern nation, say that everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or background, is welcome, while also warning against public displays of affection.

“Freedom of expression and nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be guaranteed, permanently, for all residents of Qatar, not just spectators going to Qatar for the World Cup,” HRW said in a statement.

The organisation said it had interviewed six LGBT Qataris, including four transgender women, one bisexual woman and one gay man, who reported being detained between 2019 and 2022 and subjected to verbal and physical abuse, including kicking and punching.

They were detained without charge in an underground prison in Doha, HRW said, and one individual was held for two months in solitary confinement.

“All six said that police forced them to sign pledges indicating that they would ‘cease immoral activity’,” it said, adding that transgender women detainees were mandated to attend conversion therapy sessions at a government-sponsored clinic.

Qatar does not “license or operate ‘conversion centres’,” the Qatari official said.

One of the transgender Qatari women interviewed by HRW told Reuters on condition of anonymity that she was arrested several times, most recently this summer when she was held for several weeks.

Authorities had stopped her due to her appearance or for possessing make-up, the woman said, adding that she had been beaten to the point of bleeding and had her head shaved.

The behaviour centre she was mandated to attend told the woman she had a gender identity disorder and accused her of being transgender in search of “sympathy from others”.

“The last thing I want is sympathy, I just want to be myself,” she said.

TAGGED: HRW, Human Rights Watch, Qatar, Qatar World Cup

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts and more!
Please wait...

Thank you for sign up!

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
The Pink Times October 24, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit VKontakte Telegram Email
Share

Latest Articles

NSFW: Joan Crisol’s Mesmerizing Portraits of Eric Romaguera for Code 22
Photography
Iceland Supermarket CEO Retracts HIV Needle Attack Claims, Faces Criticism
Money United Kingdom
Australia to Host ‘Swiftposium,’ World’s First Conference on Taylor Swift’s Global Impact
Asia Pacific Music
Country Singer Adam Mac Drops Out of Kentucky Festival Amid LGBTQ+ Controversy
Music
Baldur’s Gate 3: The Queerest RPG Delighting Gamers Worldwide
Gaming

Most Viewed Posts

  • Hot Photos from Paul’s Book “Larrikin Prince” Unleashed
  • A Shift in Perspective: The Art of Male Nude Photography
  • Vintage Nude Mormon Bodybuilders: Unveiling the Forbidden Past of Utah’s Physique Models
  • Hot and Sexy: A Visual Exploration of Masculine Bravado and Regal Splendor
  • The Ginger Sensation of RuPaul’s Drag Race: A Tribute to Bryce Eilenberg
  • About
  • Partner with Us: Reach Our LGBTQ Community
  • Subscribe to LGBTQ+ news and updates
The Pink Times
Follow US

All rights reserved

News. Culture. Tea.

Must-read stories we're talking about across our community. Sign up for The Pink Times newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for sign up!

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?