Football World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Rainbow flags could be confiscated – for security reasons

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A symbol of acceptance

Photo: foto2press/Oliver Baumgart / imago images/foto2press

A Qatari security official has spoken out against showing rainbow flags at the World Cup in Qatar - fearing possible attacks.

If a fan "shows the rainbow flag and I take it away from him, it's not because I really want to take it to offend him, it's to protect him," Major General Abdulasis Abdullah Al Ansari told the AP.

“Because if it's not me, someone might attack him.

I cannot guarantee the behavior of everyone.

And I'll tell him, 'Please, there's no need to fly the flag here'."

Al Ansari is, among other things, the chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee in the Qatar Interior Ministry.

The rainbow flag is a worldwide symbol for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity.

discrimination more widespread

The World Cup host Qatar is not only criticized by international organizations because of the human rights situation and the conditions for foreign workers.

Amnesty International recently ruled that women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people “continue to be discriminated against both in law and in everyday life”.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino recently said: "Everyone will see that everyone is welcome here in Qatar, even if we are talking about LGBT+." Fifa had previously emphasized that rainbow flags were allowed in the stadium.

The Qatari World Cup organizers said they would respect the world governing body's guidelines in this regard.

Al Ansari said he does not recommend that LGBT+ fans stay away from Qatar.

"Book a room together, sleep together, it's none of our business," he said.

Anyone who wants to demonstrate their views on this should do so in a society “where it is accepted”.

security concerns remain

LGBT+ fan representatives criticized this in a statement published on Friday afternoon.

In the past few months, attempts have been made again and again to deal with FIFA and the organizers on security issues.

“We have not received details on how our trans+ members are treated with respect at security checks.

We have not heard details about guarantees that LGBT+ people (fans or residents) will not be arrested for their existence," reads the statement, signed by seven supporters' associations from Europe and the US: "It is clear that the voices of the fans , especially minorities, are not taken seriously by Fifa.«

The statement makes no reference to Al Ansari's statements, but finds clear words for her community's World Cup travel plans: You can't tell your own members, LGBT+ people or allies in good conscience "that this is a World Cup for everyone".

sak/dpa