The image shows an icon of a woman and another of a man holding an umbrella together over the heads of two children, a boy and a girl. The object prevents six colors of the rainbow from falling on the alleged family, with the inscription in Arabic al-Sharia (Islamic law).

The words that accompany the publication of the image – replicated several times on social networks, in various languages ​​- leave no room for doubt about the intolerance towards the LGBTI + community: “Qatar begins to spread outdoor anti LGBT in the cities where the 2022 World Cup games will be held. The Muslim country says that it will not tolerate any type of gay protest or militancy during the event.

But as in so many other situations that go viral on social media, the image does not relate to the situation described. In this case, the poster exists, but the Al Hedaya Islamic Center, in the city of Riffa (Bahrain), was placed, as can be seen in the photograph published by Gulf Daily News Online and analyzed by the Aos Fatos journalistic platform. The image, which was later made into a poster, was initially posted on the Bahrain Islamic Guidance Society’s Twitter account, as a demonstration against LGBTI+ pride month (in June).

However, it is true that in Qatar the Sexual relations between people of the same sex, man or woman, are punishable by a fine and imprisonment. — or even death by stoning in the case of Muslim men, depending on the sharia (Islamic law). The country also does not allow same-sex marriage and may punish expressions of support for people from the LGBTI+ collective with a prison sentence.

Qatar is not alone in its discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other gay, lesbian, and other same-sex communities: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are just other examples. The issue with Qatar has become more visible as it prepares to host the World Cup in November and December this year. Several athletes and associations have already come to criticize the celebration of such an important event in a country that persecutes and criminalizes LGBTI+ people.

Players and fans fear they will not be safe in the country. Associations such as the Sports Coalition for LGBTIQ Human Rights still had no categorical guarantees of the safety of these supporters from the Qatari authorities. The Guardian newspaper was also unable to obtain concrete answers about the security problems of the LGBTI+ community from the organizers of the event or from FIFA (International Football Federation), which said it had received sufficient guarantees, but did not give more details.

Everyone will be welcome in Qatar in 2022, regardless of race, origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality. We are a relatively conservative society; for example, public displays of affection are not part of our culture. We believe in mutual respect, so while everyone is welcome, what we expect in return is that everyone respect our culture and traditions.”

Similar statements had already been made by Nasser Al Khater, executive director of the 2022 World Organizing Committee, at the end of last year. But already this year, in April, the head of tournament security said that the Rainbow flags can be removed from supporters to protect them from attacks.. “If a fan raises a rainbow flag and I take it from him, it is not because he really wants to lower it to insult him, but to protect him. Because if it’s not me, someone else around you might attack,” Maj. Gen. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari told the Associated Press.

“They want to show their opinion on the (LGBTQ) situation, show it in a society where it is accepted,” said the head of security at the 2022 World Cup. “Come watch the game. That’s good. But don’t insult the whole society for this.”

Abdullah Al Nasari, Head of Security at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar:

“If you want to express your views on the LGBT cause, do it in a society where it is accepted. Don’t come here to insult an entire society. We won’t change religion during the 28 days.” ????️‍???????????? pic.twitter.com/R86uI9h0iL

— Soccer Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) April 13, 2022

conclusion

IT IS fake that it was Qatar that spread the anti-LGBT posters in the cities that will host the 2022 World Cup matches. The posters were placed in Bahrain as a demonstration against LGBTI+ pride month.

However, Qatar’s position is similar: it criminalizes intimate same-sex relationships and expressions of support for the LGBTI+ community. Players and supporters are concerned about their safety and the impossibility of displaying their symbols (such as the rainbow flags) during the matches between November and December this year, as a result of the lack of guarantees and doubtful messages from the organization of the event.

Thus, according to the Observer classification, this content is:

WRONG

In the Facebook rating system, this content is:

FAKE: The main content claims are factually inaccurate. This option typically matches “false” or “mostly false” ratings on fact-checking websites.

NOTE: This content was curated by The Observer as part of a fact-checking partnership with Facebook.