Fact Check: No alcohol, homosexuality? Conservative guidelines for FIFA World Cup NOT issued by Qatar govt

A listing of guidelines has been shared on-line relating to the anticipated conduct of vacationers visiting Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. AFWA discovered that this listing was not shared by the federal government. Moderately, it was issued by a neighborhood conservative group.

AFWA discovered that this poster was issued by a neighborhood conservative group primarily based in Qatar — not the federal government.

By Dheeshma Puzhakkal:

With the FIFA World Cup 2022 proper across the nook, a listing of guidelines supposedly issued by the host nation, Qatar has been shared broadly on social media. These supposedly official guidelines for soccer followers visiting Qatar to look at the Phrase Cup have been largely criticised on-line for being conservative and even bigoted.

The poster itemizing the principles mentioned in English and Arabic, “Qatar welcomes you,” adopted by “Replicate your respect to the faith and tradition of Qatari individuals by avoiding these behaviours.” These so-called “behaviours” included “ingesting alcohol”, “homosexuality”, “immodesty”, “not respecting locations of worship”, “loud music and sounds”, “profanity”, “relationship”, and “taking individuals’s photos with out their permission”.

AFWA discovered that this poster was issued by a neighborhood conservative group primarily based in Qatar — not the federal government.

AFWA Probe

We observed the hashtag “#Reflect_Your_Respect” on the backside left nook of the poster. Once we looked for this hashtag on Twitter, it led us to the account “Present Your Respect (@RYRQatar)”. Its profile image was the identical emblem seen on the poster. The account’s bio learn, “We contribute to the consolidation of Islamic values and ideas that assist the Qatari id”. This account share the viral poster on October 1.

#Reflect_Your_Respect pic.twitter.com/3bFwda2fgH
— (@RYRQatar) October 1, 2022

As per media studies, “Replicate Your Respect” is a grass-roots marketing campaign began by a gaggle of Qatari ladies in 2014. The marketing campaign goals to advertise “modest attire” amongst expatriate residents and guests, amongst different issues. The marketing campaign group additionally has an Instagram profile.

Pointers issued by Qatar authorities

To unravel it, we checked official pointers issued by the Qatari authorities for visiting soccer followers. Whereas a few of these guidelines had been much like those talked about within the viral poster, they made no point out of “homosexuality”.

These pointers, accessible on the official web site of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022, talked about restrictions on clothes. Whereas soccer followers can put on garments of their alternative, they’re anticipated to cowl their shoulders and knees when visiting public locations like museums and authorities buildings. Followers are additionally not permitted to take away their shirts contained in the stadium.

The rules additionally mentioned that since “public shows of affection” are usually not a part of native tradition, these travelling to Qatar are anticipated to respect the identical. The rules additionally talked about that whereas “alcohol shouldn’t be a part of native tradition,” hospitality is and that “alcohol can be accessible to buy for followers who want to take pleasure in it.”

Whereas the information says “all people can be welcome in Qatar in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2022”, the Qatar authorities has to date not issued any readability on the protection of LGBTQIA+ vacationers visiting the nation. The nation’s legal guidelines, which criminalise same-sex relationships, have raised concern amongst queer soccer followers.

FIFA instructed the Guardian it had obtained adequate assurances from Qatari authorities relating to fan security. In a letter to the Human Rights Sports activities Coalition, FIFA’s Joyce Cook dinner, then the chief social accountability and schooling officer and now a senior adviser, mentioned it had “completely assessed the named authorized clauses and their implementation in apply, together with particularly as they pertain to LGBTIQ+ individuals.”

Official physique calls out viral poster

The Twitter account of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 tweeted clarifying the viral poster was not official and “accommodates factually incorrect data.” The clarification observe posted on October 6 additionally mentioned an in depth fan information can be issued shortly.

pic.twitter.com/yx2SJ9pnbt
— Street to 2022 (@roadto2022en) October 6, 2022

It’s therefore clear {that a} poster shared by a conservative native group in Qatar is being falsely circulated as pointers issued by the federal government for vacationers attending the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.