Qatar: Football World Cup 2022

Lord Faulkner of Worcester Excerpts

Tuesday 30th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

The noble Lord makes a very important point, and I will certainly take it back to my FCDO colleagues.

[Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome the Minister to the Front Bench for his first Question. What advice is the FCDO giving to football fans from the LGBTQ community who are contemplating visiting Qatar for the World Cup in view of Article 296 of the Qatari legal code, which stipulates imprisonment of between one and three years for

“leading, instigating or seducing a male in any way to commit sodomy”?

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. We are committed to promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people. They are not asking for special rights, merely to be accorded the same dignity, respect and rights as all other citizens. Qatari authorities have committed that everybody is welcome to the tournament, including LGBT visitors. We will continue to engage on this between now and next year’s tournament, so that anyone of any background can go and enjoy themselves. We will continue to encourage the equal treatment and respect of individual rights and identify what action Qatar is taking to match those words.