Against expectations, tourists report a more tolerant Qatar

In just two days of the World Cup, fans around the world have already changed the scenery in Qatar. The fear of a clash of cultures, with tourists from all over the world having to submit to the rigidity of local laws, gave way to a somewhat lighter atmosphere. To the relief of those who crossed the world to see the World Cup.

The encounter between the different realities is still visible in the central regions of the capital Doha. Loud chants of different nationalities fill the streets, causing strangeness on the part of the locals, while others have fun.

Clothes of different sizes appear everywhere, although most still follow the recommendations.

Clothing was one of the points of tension reported by visitors, as women should avoid showing shoulders and opt for clothes that cover the knees. On the streets, however, those challenged by the desert heat give in to tank tops, shorts and short dresses.

Argentine sisters Flor Santucho, 27, and Augustina Santucho, 29, brought clothes for all types of restrictions so they could test to see what would work against restrictions.

On the first day, they strictly adhered to the guidelines, covering their shoulders and knees. Gradually, they began to reduce the length of the garments, until they reached minishorts and a tank top, something uncommon until a few days ago for anyone living in or visiting the country.

They don’t feel judged. They say that everyone was respectful and cordial, and that they were surprised by how permissive Qatar is.

“They respect us, we feel very safe. It’s very peaceful”, says Augustina.

For other tourists, the World Cup started with a scare. The decision by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to ban drinking inside and around stadiums took fans by surprise and further increased expectations of finding a closed Qatar.

Businessman Felipe Bandeira, 34, a Brazilian who lives in Minnesota, in the United States, says he was aware of the main conditions imposed by the regime, but, after first impressions on Qatari soil, he considers that there was an apparent easing.

“I expected it to be worse. I’m even finding it too relaxed,” says Bandeira. “I think that, afterwards, that whole restriction will return to normal”, he adds.

Along with friends, the businessman visited Souq Waqif, an open-air market that is around one hundred years old and brings together restaurants, antique houses and souvenir shops. The group drew attention with the yellow-green clothes.

For Reginaldo Nasser, professor of international relations at PUC-SP and specialist in the Middle East, this cooling off is calculated. The country, although small, is economically powerful and has a globally influential regime.

Because it is a characteristic of the regime, which is autocratic, the professor claims that the changes should not last.

In addition to being intolerant of the LGBTQIA+ population and restrictive of women, the country is accused of having committed human rights violations during the construction of the World Cup structures with migrant workers.

It is illegal to be homosexual and is a crime punishable by death. Women live under the guardianship of men in their families and even foreigners in transit can have problems if they don’t follow local guidelines.

A report by the organization Human Rights Watch, for example, points out that the regime leaves important life choices for women under the tutelage of men, preventing them from deciding on their own marriages, school scholarships abroad, jobs in the government, reproductive treatments, among others. other aspects.

The institution also pointed out that the local security force arbitrarily arrested gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in September. The international LGBTQIA+ community is not significantly present at the World Cup.

For Marcos Vinicius, 24, an electrical engineer from Pará, local laws have not been an obstacle to enjoying the Cup. When he decided to travel to the event, he thought he would have more difficulties with the regime.

“There was a lot of a dress issue, but he’s being cool about it.”