As Wales football fans finally start to believe their team is going to the World Cup this autumn, the First Minister has made a pointed remark about the host country. Concerns have long been raised about Qatar being the host, due to questions over not only its suitability for a football tournament but its human rights and LGBT record.
Some LGBT fans have vowed to boycott the tournament because they fear for their safety in the Middle Eastern country. In plenary on Tuesday, the First Minister said: "We are absolutely delighted that Wales will be represented at Qatar, but we should not look the other way from the reservations that we would have as a nation from some of those human rights issues that we see there."
Sexual acts between people of the same sex are illegal in Qatar, which also runs Sharia courts, where technically it is possible that Muslim men could be face the death penalty for same-sex sexual activity. There is censorship of LGBT material and trans people cannot change their gender, according to Stonewall's briefing. The charity warn: "Any LGBT-related activities in the region should be approached with caution".
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He also referenced a visit by the economy minister Vaughan Gething to Qatar in May: "He took the opportunity, as he set out in his written statement to the Senedd, to raise those human rights issues directly with Qatari authorities in the context of the World Cup, and we must, ourselves, make sure that those opportunities are not missed while the eyes of the world are on that country."
Today, the First Minister has hosted the Qatari ambassador to Wales and, following that, tweeted: "Following the amazing @Cymru result over the weekend, today I welcomed the Qatar Ambassador to Wales. In Wales, we pride ourselves on offering a warm welcome to all. I look forward to hearing more about Qatar’s plans to welcome all fans for @FIFAWorldCup ".
In May, Mr Gething visited Qatar to look at "economic links" between the two countries. "We believe in engaging with countries that do not always share our values on human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights and political and religious freedom. Engaging with countries is an opportunity to develop a platform for further discussion, to raise awareness and to potentially influence a change in approach," he said in a written statement.
"This visit provided an opportunity to discuss our values with Qatari organisations and I had an opportunity to raise human rights in the context of the World Cup. I expressed the need for all fans to feel welcome at this globally important event which has the potential to shine a light on critical human rights issues".
