EDITORIAL: The World Cup’s ‘Doha debate’
The World Cup in Qatar has divided not only opinions but even the world itself. The Arab world’s culture, norms and religion have enjoyed as much attention as football itself – if not more.
Even UEFA's ‘Respect’ campaign, whose main objective is to work towards unity and respect across gender, race and religion, has been thrown into disarray.
Respect – the term itself – is multifaceted, and promoting it requires a holistic approach. For example, the Qatari people have asked the world to respect their values – including the ban on homosexuality in the fabulously wealthy peninsula state.
Yet to some, respect also implies that the Qatari state should be tolerant of the rights of sexual minorities. So then, whose definition of respect should the world adopt, some may ask?
Whataboutism and silly arguments have engulfed this tournament. While some, including pockets of Western liberals, have argued that those who come to Qatar must observe and respect that country’s laws, others have hit back by saying a country hosting a global showpiece must itself display some sort of globalism, especially on what is largely seen as global values.
For Arab hardliners, the World Cup must serve as a binocular into the uncompromising value systems of that part of the world, which must be respected. Football aside, the tournament’s biggest victory would perhaps be the raging dialogue that has emanated from Qatar’s hosting of this global event.
Even UEFA's ‘Respect’ campaign, whose main objective is to work towards unity and respect across gender, race and religion, has been thrown into disarray.
Respect – the term itself – is multifaceted, and promoting it requires a holistic approach. For example, the Qatari people have asked the world to respect their values – including the ban on homosexuality in the fabulously wealthy peninsula state.
Yet to some, respect also implies that the Qatari state should be tolerant of the rights of sexual minorities. So then, whose definition of respect should the world adopt, some may ask?
Whataboutism and silly arguments have engulfed this tournament. While some, including pockets of Western liberals, have argued that those who come to Qatar must observe and respect that country’s laws, others have hit back by saying a country hosting a global showpiece must itself display some sort of globalism, especially on what is largely seen as global values.
For Arab hardliners, the World Cup must serve as a binocular into the uncompromising value systems of that part of the world, which must be respected. Football aside, the tournament’s biggest victory would perhaps be the raging dialogue that has emanated from Qatar’s hosting of this global event.
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