Now as anticipation builds for the football World Cup starting this weekend attention is focused intensely on qatar’s human rights record Qatari society and cultures based heavily on a strict interpretation of Islamic law and an ancient tribal system our religion editor Alim magbul and unpacks what qatar’s religious laws mean for the country’s women and gay community [Music] Qatar wants to show off its fun-loving side ahead of the World Cup its modernity and its hospitality this little country with huge oil and gas reserves was economically catapulted into the future but underneath its Bedrock remains cultural and religious traditionalism it’s difficult to speak to people freely without permission from the authorities but these students in doha’s Education City talk to their excitement it’s definitely a marking of history for the Arabs and we’re all very proud especially as a guitar I’m very proud of my country is hosting such a big event Qatar has repeatedly said that it will be welcoming of all people of all Races of all sexual orientations and I think that a lot of the people here in Qatar know that this is a great opportunity for Qatar who have seemingly been in the shadows for a really long time but there are of course qataris who remain in the shadows I would like my existence not to be illegal in this country I would like something that would say that I can be gay and not worry about being killed Aziz is gay in a country where homosexuality is against the law he couldn’t meet in person and needed his face and voice disguised on a video call the laws on your side when you’re outside of Qatar if somebody attacks you you’d go to the police station you would be protected whereas here if something happens to me I’ll get blamed zainab now lives here in the UK but even then she’s also worried about revealing her identity because of possible repercussions for family back in Qatar she like Aziz says she thought about suicide for her it was the so-called guardianship rules for women that had an impact for every single major life decision you require the explicit written permission from a male Guardian and if you don’t get that permission you cannot take that life decision whether it’s enrolling at University and studying abroad traveling getting married or even getting divorced zainab says she feels many Qataris look at women’s rights somehow being a western idea that clashes with Islamic values within decades energy reserves turned qatar’s population from among the poorest in the world to the richest for all the technological advancements Society is based on a traditional tribal system one that remains religiously very conservative some of those negatively affected by the current laws told us they worried a successful World Cup could make it even less likely that Qatari Society will change Alima wool BBC News
