FIFA World Cup: ‘Dress conservatively, behave discreetly,’ Canada warns fans in Qatar
Global News
Canada’s men’s national team, playing in their second World Cup and first in 36 years, will play their first game against Belgium on Nov. 23.
Ottawa is warning Canadians visiting Qatar to support the men’s national soccer team during the FIFA World Cup to “dress conservatively” and “behave discreetly.”
Those are just two pieces of advice in a series of messages the federal government has put out ahead of the tournament, which begins on Sunday. Qatar is the first nation in the Arab world to host the prestigious event, but it has been the subject of controversy ever since FIFA named it host 12 years ago.
Allegations of mistreatment of migrant workers building World Cup infrastructure have been made for years, and recently, Qatar’s record on LGBTQ2 rights has been in question.
In a special travel advisory webpage for World Cup fans, Ottawa has outlined some advisories for Canadians heading to Qatar, including information on local laws. The federal government has detailed what entry requirements are needed during the tournament, and what the best methods of transportation are.
It has also warned Canadians that the conservative Muslim country has many laws that differ from those in Canada. The penalties for doing something legal in Canada may be severe in Qatar, where it may not be legal, Ottawa said.
“Revealing clothing is considered inappropriate. To avoid offending local sensitivities, dress conservatively, behave discreetly and respect religious and social traditions,” the government said.
“Public display of affection including holding hands and kissing is not socially accepted. Qatari law criminalizes sexual acts and relationships between persons of the same sex or unmarried people. However, no restrictions exist on staying in the same room for friends of different genders or couples (including 2SLGBTQI+).”
Photography of Qatari nationals without consent is also prohibited, Ottawa added. Journalists, including independent social media creators, need specific visas and permissions to use photography and videography equipment or conduct interviews within Qatar.
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