British PM while in Qatar: "There is no place for homophobia"

By Dan Littauer, Editor and GME Qatar Correspondent 23.02.11 The British Prime Minister, David Cameron was asked during his visit to Qatar whether it was right for the World Cup to be awarded to a country which outlaws homosexuality. The prime minister expressed hope that football could help encourage social change. "To me it is clear – football is for everybody. No one should be excluded on the basis of their race or religion or sex or sexuality. It is absolutely vital that is the case. I am sure that will be the case when the football World Cup comes here to Qatar. "Football can be a great engine of social change and of change of attitudes. We saw in our own country how successfully football drove racism out of the stands. Just as that has happened, so, too, we need to make sure there is no place for homophobia in football either." The Qatari Prime Minister, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al Thani, said that he was glad the question had been directed at his British counterpart as that was "less embarrassing to me". Article 201 of the 1971 Qatari Penal Code punishes sodomy between consenting adults (irrespective of sex) with up to five years imprisonment and lashes. The Qatari Constitution of 2003 establishes Islam as the official religion. Shari'a law shall be the main source of all legislation which potentially has even further complications for LGBT people in Qatar. In addition, Qatar does not allow individuals with HIV/AIDS to enter the country. Medical exams are required for all long-term visitors and residents. Individuals who have HIV/AIDS may be subject to deportation.