Mumtaz Moosa Saley | kzn@radioislam.org.za
1 min read | 10:45

Photo Credit: Daily Sabah
Islamophobia Qatar World Cup

The countdown to the World Cup has begun, and allegations of racism and intolerance follow.

I am left questioning if this is due to Qatar imposing rules on teams aligning with their countries’ laws or whether there is more to it.

Yesterday, I saw a caricature by a French satirical newspaper, where the image shows angry-looking players with long beards carrying various weapons. This is not the first, as many companies created adverts last week asking Qatar what to do next.

One thing that has stood out for me during this time is how Islam has been dissected and made to look bad, with people asking why a Muslim country was chosen for the event. Simultaneously, questions about laws placed on Muslim females and the criticism of the treatment of construction workers have been highlighted. The government of Qatar has replied publicly to state that they will not be changing their laws or regulations, and they stand firm on this.

Online celebrities have taken to social media to state that they will boycott the World Cup because it is being held in a Muslim country, oppressing females. Somehow, it always comes down to female liberation. If only they knew how liberated we are.

While others stated that they don’t see why and how a Muslim country could be awarded the World Cup, I’m questioning religious intolerance within South Africa.