The public operator managing London transport (TfL) announced on Saturday, November 26, that it considered unacceptable the presence in its buses, trains and metros of advertisements praising Qatar as a tourist destination or promoting certain events in the country. In question, the legislation of the country towards LGBT + people.
Since 2019, the public company has already been studying, on a case-by-case basis, advertisements from countries listed by the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People (Ilga) as likely to condemn sexual relations between people of the same sex. to the death penalty. Qatar is one of the 11 countries concerned, alongside Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan.
Avalanche of criticism against Qatar
According to FinancialTimes (article in English), Qatar has launched a review of its large investments in the British capital, in reaction to this policy of TfL. This boycott of TfL “is interpreted as a message from the Mayor of London that investment from Qatar is no longer welcome in London”, according to an anonymous source involved in this review and quoted by the FT. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is the Chairman of the Board of TfL.
Since the start of the World Cup, Qatar has suffered an avalanche of criticism about human rights, in particular those of LGBT+ people. The first country in the Middle East to host the competition, the ultra-conservative country has assured that all supporters will be welcome without discrimination, although its laws criminalize homosexuality.