Sheikh Tamim Al Thani told the US President he was “sharing our experience” of hosting the tournament – boasting there was “not one incident” during their World Cup in 2022. Qatar has long been criticised for criminalising homosexuality, with prison sentences of up to seven years or death by stoning.
The Emir of Qatar is giving Donald Trump tips on how to run the World Cup, before the US hosts the tournament next year.
The US President landed in Doha this morning on the second day of his three-day tour of the Middle East.
He sat down with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, at the start of a state visit to the state, lavishing him with praise.
Qatar has long been criticised for criminalising homosexuality, with prison sentences of up to seven years or death by stoning.
A 2022 Human Rights Watch report found Qatari security forces continue to arrest citizens who are gay, lesbian, and transgender, sometimes forcing them to undergo conversion therapy.
Qatar says the report contains false allegations.
And the 2022 World Cup, hosted by Qatar was widely criticised over the brutal conditions suffered by migrant workers building the country’s stadiums.
FIFA was also slammed over a last-minute decision to hand out yellow cards to European captains who continued to wear rainbow arm bands.
Security officials confiscated items of rainbow clothing and flags featuring rainbows. And American journalist Grant Wahl was briefly detained for wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow on it.
“You’re going to be hosting the World Cup, football, as you guys call it soccer,” Sheikh al Thani told Trump.
“You’re also going to be hosting the Olympics as well, which is very very important. The two biggest sports events.
“We were very lucky that in 2022 we had the World Cup here in Qatar. And there wasn’t one incident during the World Cup. We had 1.5 million people during these couple of weeks and not one incident.
“We’re also sharing our experience on how to deal with the World Cup with your security forces, we have people visiting each other.”
Trump, who was offered a free luxury jet by Qatar days ahead of the visit, praised both Sheikh al Thani and his interior decorating during a sit-down chat between the pair yesterday.
He went on: “I just want to thank you for everything, and maybe in particular our friendship, it’s been a very loyal, great, beautiful friendship and the job you’ve done is second to none.”
Looking around at the interior of al Thani’s palace, he said: “You look at this and it’s so beautiful. As a construction person I’m seeing perfect marble. This is what they call ‘perfecto’.
“It’s just such a great job you’ve done, and what a beautiful place.”
He also said he appreciated “those camels”, adding that he hadn’t “seen camels like that in a long time.”