LONDON – Spectators at the Qatar World Cup could be allowed to stage peaceful protests, promote LGBTQ rights and even kiss in public.
A presentation created by organisers detailed policing procedures that guide security officials to exercise “less intervention, more mediation” and practise “leniency towards behaviours that do not threaten physical integrity or property”.
Specifically, police officers are not to approach, detain or prosecute people displaying rainbow flags – a globally recognised symbol of LGBTQ pride – or disrupt fans marching and chanting in the streets.
The presentation, seen by Bloomberg, also instructs security forces to leave protesters alone unless they create a “security issue”.
The guidelines could still change before the World Cup begins on Nov 20. But if implemented, they would mark a shift in policy for Qatar, which has faced criticism about its record on policies that limit rights of women and LGBTQ people.
The presentation describes the guidelines as being aligned with the Safety and Security Operations Committee, an entity made up of officials from Fifa and the Qatar Ministry of Interior created to manage security at the tournament.
“It’s important that the Qatari authorities issue a moratorium to charges that discriminate or criminalise peaceful exercise of human rights,” said Rothna Begum, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“But this should apply to all, not just to visiting fans, and be a first step towards repealing such crimes altogether.”
The presentation lays out a four-tier category of offences, with penalties spanning no action, a warning, a fine and prosecution.
Drunken fans, even those intoxicated enough to warrant time in “sobering tents”, will not face legal action unless they have been driving or committing other offences while under the influence.
“Spectators taking clothes off to reveal intimate body parts may be asked to put the clothing back on,” the document says.
Separately, Qatar has rejected calls for a compensation fund for migrant workers killed or injured during World Cup preparations, with the country’s labour minister calling it a “publicity stunt”.
Labour Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri said Qatar is already handing out hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid wages, and it already has an existing fund to deal with worker deaths and injuries.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have led demands for Fifa and Qatar to create a fund for workers matching the US$440 million (S$621 million) World Cup prize money.
Fifa has said there is “ongoing dialogue” about the fund, but in Qatar’s first public comment, Marri said the proposal was unworkable.
“Every death is a tragedy,” he said, adding: “There is no criteria to establish these funds.” BLOOMBERG, AFP
