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Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been arrested in Qatar while protesting the country’s criminalisation of LGBTQ people ahead of the World Cup. 

Tatchell was taken into custody while staging a one-man protest in Qatar on 25 October. His current whereabouts are unknown, according to a statement released by the UK-based Peter Tatchell Foundation.

Shortly before his protest, the campaigner denounced Qatar’s “homophobic, sexist and racist dictatorship” and accused the country of trying to “sportswash its reputation” with the upcoming World Cup. 

“There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal regime like Qatar,” Tatchell said. “It is a homophobic, sexist and racist dictatorship. Qatar cannot be allowed to sportswash its reputation. It is using the World Cup to enhance its international image. We must ensure that the tyrant regime in Doha does not score a PR victory.”

Peter Tatchell, 70, wanted his protest to “shine a light on Qatar’s human rights abuses against LGBT+ people, migrant workers and liberal Qataris”. He said he was supporting others’ “brave battle against tyranny”. 

“LGBT+ Qataris face police harassment, online entrapment, ‘honour’ killing, arrest, three years jail and potentially the death penalty,” Tatchell said. "Qatar has secret gay conversion centres where LGBT+ people can be detained and subjected to abusive attempts to turn them straight.”

The decision by FIFA to hold the World Cup in Qatar has been surrounded by controversy given the country’s human rights records – particularly the treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.

Tatchell said that FIFA has “failed to secure change in Qatar” despite the international governing body of association football saying that “discrimination will not be tolerated”.

“Despite FIFA saying that discrimination will not be tolerated, if a Qatari footballer came out as gay, he would be more likely to be arrested and jailed than be selected for the national team,” Tatchell said. “That’s discrimination and against FIFA’s rules.”

Peter Tatchell accused FIFA of letting the country “evade many of its pledges when it was granted the right to hold the World Cup” as there have been no legislative reforms on LGBTQ+ or women’s rights. 

He added the improvements in conditions for migrant workers have been “patchy at best”. 

What's life like for LGBTQ people in Qatar?

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Qatar? Let’s take a look at some of the key equality indicators.

Is homosexuality legal in Qatar?

No. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can be punished with up to three years in prison.

If Sharia law was applied, the punishment would be death. However it does not appear that Sharia law is applied in Qatar in relation to homosexuality.

Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Qatar?

No. There are no protections against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Is there Marriage Equality in Qatar?

No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Qatar?

Qatar is a socially conservative country.

Homophobia is systemic.

LGBTQ people conceal their sexuality.