French cartoon of Qatari footballers ahead of World Cup sparks outrage
ISTANBUL (AA) – A French newspaper has published a cartoon depicting Qatar’s national football team as “terrorists”, sparking outrage across the Gulf country.
The lampooning caricature comes days before Qatar is set to host FIFA World Cup 2022 this month, becoming the first Arab and Middle East country to organize the global tournament.
The offensive image published by Le Canard Enchaîné in its October issue shows seven bearded men apparently wearing football jerseys bearing the word “Qatar”. They appear to be chasing a football in the sand while carrying machetes, guns and rocket launchers.
One of the men in the cartoon wears a belt laden with explosives. Five are wearing blue robes and two are wearing black shirts and pants with balaclavas covering their faces.
It termed the Gulf state an “authoritarian emirate” that enacts laws “to dominate women”.
The French caricature has invited a storm of condemnation on social media platforms.
Qatar is set to host World Cup from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18. The country has been criticized for its alleged mistreatment of migrant workers and its human rights records.
Last month, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani slammed the “unprecedented campaign” against the Gulf country in the lead-up to the World Cup.
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