Less than a month before the World Cup, Human Rights Watch released a new horror report.
Many gays in Qatar testify about how they were beaten, shaved and locked in underground cells.
– I was beaten until I passed out a few times, someone tells HWR.
Four transgender people, a bisexual woman and a gay man are interviewed by HWR in the newly published report.
They all mention how they were subjected to severe and repeated abuse between 2019 and 2022, and five of them also experienced sexual harassment.
The most recent reported case occurred in September of this year.
“Hit me every day”
It was said that the security apparatus of the Ministry of Interior arrested them in a public place and then imprisoned them in an underground prison in the capital, Doha.
There they are said to have been verbally harassed, beaten and kicked until they began to bleed.
They were also said to have been denied access to legal aid, family and medical personnel.
A trans person was held in an underground cell twice, first for two months and then for six weeks.
They beat me every day and shave my hair. They also forced me to take off my shirt and take a picture of my breasts. Someone says: I still have nightmares and am afraid to go out.
I searched the phones
One of them was dragged into a police car, where he was beaten on the lips, his nose began to bleed, and he was kicked in the stomach.
The police are said to have said, “You gays are lecherous, so we will be like you.”
Everyone also reports that they have been forced to unlock their phone and share contact information with other LGBT people.
Homosexuality and sex outside of marriage is illegal in Qatar It can lead to seven years in prison.
However, no one has been prosecuted, and according to the law, people can be detained for up to six months without trial if there is a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed.
deny events
An official in Qatar described the testimonies as conclusive and clearly false.
Qatar does not tolerate any discrimination against anyone. The official said that our policies and procedures are based on a commitment to the human rights of all.
World Cup organizers have confirmed that everyone is welcome at the tournament and that rainbow flags will be allowed in and around the stadiums.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held from November 20 to December 18.