It’s no secret that in Qatar, the laws are very strict and sometimes contrary to human rights. But what will happen to the thousands of supporters and all those involved in the planetary tournament (players, management, etc.) during the competition (November 21-December 18)?A major subject of concern in this deeply conservative Gulf emirate: the question of women’s rights. In Qatar, women are still the target of discrimination, “in law and in practice”, states Amnesty International, a non-government organization.”Women still need the permission of their guardian (father, brother, grandfather, husband…) to make essential life decisions, such as getting married, studying abroad on government scholarships, occupying many public service jobs, traveling abroad up to a certain age”.21.11. Mon 12:00: (5.70) Senegal (3.70) Netherlands (1.65)In Qatar, women have the right to drive and are not forced to wear the veil. In terms of clothing, they have, like men, the obligation to “dress modestly”. As the Doha Home site points out: “Western dress is tolerated as long as the shoulders and knees are covered: no skirts above the knee, no shorts, no bare shoulders, no deep necklines, and tight-fitting or suggestive clothing is considered inappropriate”.When it comes to alcohol consumption, a certain tolerance will be applied. While drinking or being intoxicated in public are punishable offenses and liquor licenses are essentially restricted to residents, tourists will have to resort to the fan zones as well as a few bars and restaurants, mainly in large hotels. While bearing in mind that the law punishes the fact of being drunk in the public square.”Many Qataris refuse to be associated with alcohol,” said in November 2021 the manager of a restaurant at The Pearl, one of the archipelagos of artificial islands near Doha supposed to attract a wealthy Western community. Last summer, they were able to serve alcohol under many conditions: no drinks on the terrace, no bottles on the tables and the obligation to have tinted glasses for wine.World Cup 2026 host cities revealedDisplays of affection are highly limited, you could even say impossible to show – public acts of such sort: holding hands, hugging or kissing, are prohibited. It is even more rigid when it comes to sex. Officials warned there would be “no exceptions” for sex out of wedlock.”There will definitely be no one-night stands at this tournament. There will be no partying at all, really. Everyone has to keep a cool head unless they want to risk getting themselves in prison. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, sex is forbidden. Fans must be prepared,” said a police source, in remarks relayed by the British press.And as probably everyone in the world knows – Qatar is intractable on the question of homosexuality. As Amnesty reminds us, the criminal code establishes that sodomy or sexual relations between men are offenses punishable by penalties of up to seven years in prison. Section 296 states that “to induce or induce a man in any way, including by seduction, to commit an act of sodomy or debauchery” and “to provoke or seduce a man or a woman, in any way, for the purpose to commit immoral or illegal acts” constitute offences. The death penalty can even be applied for Muslims if convicted on Qatari soil.You spent a fortune and came across the world to the World Cup? Great, here’s your tent!Australian footballer Josh Cavallo made his sexual orientation publicly known last October and a few weeks after ‘coming out’ he saw his country qualify for the World Cup. Needless to say that Cavallo is afraid of playing for his nation in such surroundings.”Knowing that it’s in a country that doesn’t support homosexuals and that it endangers our own lives scares me,” the 21-year-old told the Guardian.In April, the tournament’s security manager asked members of the LGBTQIA+ community for the utmost discretion: “If a supporter waves a rainbow flag in a stadium and it is taken away from him, it will not be because we want to offend him, but to protect him. If we don’t, another spectator could attack him.If you want to express your point of view concerning the LGBT cause, do so in a society where it will be accepted. If you buy a ticket, it’s to attend a football match and not to demonstrate. So don’t come and insult a whole society.”Qatar’s alcohol ban will be maintained during the 2022 World Cup 🍺❌ pic.twitter.com/vXXAi0qOB8— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 9, 2016 Even with all these restrictions, about 1.2 million tickets have been sold for this year’s World Cup, organisers said on Wednesday, putting a figure on sales for the first time.Chief organiser Hassan Al-Thawadi said there had been “record-breaking” demand for the November-December World Cup, the first held in the Middle East.”I think about 1.2 million tickets have already been purchased,” he told the Qatar Economic Forum. “So people are actually buying and people are excited to come there. There’s no doubt about that.”The figure was confirmed by organising committee officials, who said there were about 40 million requests in the two phases of sales.Qatari capital Doha, with a population of about 2.4 million, is bracing itself for the huge influx of visitors, with hotel accommodation extremely scarce.Some fans will stay in 1,000 traditional Qatari tents, while others will sleep on cruise ships docked in Doha.— Qatar will not allow rainbow / LGBTQ+ flags at the FIFA World Cup 2022They also asked gay fans not to hold hands or show affection when in Qatar, or they will face punishments.Based. pic.twitter.com/lhmAJSEzWO— Mahdi Rizvi (@MehdiRizvi123) April 13, 2022 ©RMC / Agence France-Presse
