‘You can be attacked for raising rainbow flags during World Cup’ – Qatar warns LGBT groups
Qatar’s director of the Department of International Cooperation and Chairman of the National Counterterrorism Committee at the Ministry of Interior, Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari has issued a warning to the LGBTQ groups who will be coming to the country to support their favorite teams at the FIFA World Cup.
Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari has warned LGBTQ+ groups against raising rainbow flags or demonstrating for their rights during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
This act according to him can result in attacks and their safety cannot be guaranteed considering the strict rules of the country which are highly against the movement of same sêx activities.
If he (a fan) raised the rainbow flag and I took it from him, it’s not because I really want to, really, take it, to really insult him, but to protect him.”
“Because if it’s not me, somebody else around him might attack (him)… I cannot guarantee the behaviour of the whole people. And I will tell him: ‘Please, no need to really raise that flag at this point.”
You want to demonstrate your view about the (LGBTQ) situation, demonstrate it in a society where it will be accepted,” he said.
“We realize that this man got the ticket, comes here to watch the game, not to demonstrate, a political (act) or something which is in his mind.”
He added: “Watch the game. That’s good. But don’t really come in and insult the whole society because of this.
“Reserve the room together, sleep together – this is something that’s not in our concern. We are here to manage the tournament. Let’s not go beyond, the individual personal things which might be happening between these people… this is actually the concept,” Al Ansari said, as quoted by Marca.
Qatar will not allow any support for homosexuality in the 2022 World Cup. They will hold everyone accountable who will show support for homosexuality during the World Cup.
– Brigadier General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Ansari pic.twitter.com/rbI6RndC7J
— Football & Witball (@FootballWitball) April 13, 2022
