"World Cup hosts Qatar raise the rainbow flag even as LGBT+ community is forced to live a double life," 12 Aug 2021

Qatar’s discriminatory policies towards its LGBT+ population have become relatively well-known in the run-up to next year’s World Cup...

Hosting the World Cup... has pushed a discreet and guarded society into a largely unflattering global spotlight and prompted fierce criticism of Doha’s human rights record. Mostly, this has centred on workers’ rights, but is slowly turning to other areas...

The Independent has spoken to several local LGBT+ people about their day-to-day lives, about existing in a society where their sexuality is not only a crime, but also clashes against widely-held societal and religious beliefs...

Qatar has consistently said “everyone is welcome” and rainbow flags can be displayed in the eight stadiums. Qatar is a safe country and, no doubt, people will be made to feel welcome in 2022. But this approach has only caused more offence and dismay among gay people within Qatar...

“During the World Cup, they said they would welcome the gays,” says Hamad. “It really makes me angry. Why make it safe during the World Cup and we are here? They should make it safe for everyone all the time here. It’s shameful.”