In recent weeks, HRW and Amnesty have again expressed concern about the treatment of guest workers and LGBT people in Qatar, less than a month before the start of the men’s soccer World Cup. Reuters.

Although homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state, the much-criticized organizers of the soccer championship say that everyone – regardless of sexual orientation – is welcome in Qatar and can feel safe.

HRW stated that they had been in contact with several strange people who described the arrests and mistreatment, as recently as September.

– All six have stated that they were forced to sign that they must refrain from immoral activities, says the report from HRW. Cases include conditions that also go back several years.

According to HRW, among those arrested were waria who were forced to undergo conversion therapy at a public health clinic.

Qatari authorities wrote in a statement to Reuters that HRW’s information was “completely false”. Authorities also deny that they run centers where people undergo conversion therapy.

NFF react

The Norwegian Football Association (NFF) wrote in another email Television 2 that the case made a deep impression.

– We are still very concerned about the way LGBTQI+ people are treated in Qatar. NFF and Lise Klaveness’ meeting with Qatar’s first gay man, Nasser Mohamed, made a strong impression. So are similar stories, such as the findings Human Rights Watch is now presenting, Gro Tvedt Anderssen, communications director, told the channel.

The NFF, along with several other confederations, have stood together in fighting human rights abuses in Qatar.

– This is one of the three points that we will pay special attention to going forward. Already tomorrow, the UEFA group, of which we are a part, will have a meeting where the only topic is the situation of the queers in Qatar, Anderssen wrote and continued:

– We cannot solve this case alone, but together with trade unions and other organizations, there is a greater chance of achieving change. Then we naturally pushed the Norwegian and other European authorities to put more pressure on FIFA and Qatar.

Strong criticism

Qatar and FIFA have long been heavily criticized for awarding the title. Norwegian football president Lise Klaveness has been at the forefront as one of the strongest critics and she is demanding improved conditions for guest and queer workers.