Qatar is reviewing its investments in London after the organisation working the capital’s transport system banned the Middle East nation’s commercials on the Tube, buses and taxis.
A supply with information of the evaluate has informed Sky News the choice by Transport for London (TfL) is “another blatant example of double standards and virtue signalling to score cheap political points” across the World Cup, which the Gulf nation is at the moment internet hosting.
Hitting out on the transfer, Qatar mentioned it had “been interpreted as a message from the mayor’s office that Qatari business is not welcome in London”.
TfL’s choice follows considerations over the state’s coverage on LGBT+ rights and the way it treats migrant staff, amid deaths of building staff within the build-up to the competitors.
Homosexuality in Qatar is against the law and having same-sex relations is punishable by as much as seven years in jail.
Criticism of the Gulf nation has intensified this week after the soccer associations of seven nations, together with England and Wales, scrapped a plan for some gamers to put on OneLove armbands.
The armbands had been meant to be worn in a gesture of solidarity with the LGBT+ communit.
However the soccer associations mentioned they weren’t prepared to threat “sporting sanctions” in defence of the precept, with stars gamers, together with England captain Harry Kane and Wales skipper Gareth Bale, dealing with an instantaneous yellow card and doubtlessly a ban from matches.
The Qatari group has already been knocked out of the match after simply two video games, following losses in each.
Qatar is among the greatest buyers in London by way of its sovereign wealth fund.
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) owns the division retailer Harrods, the Shard skyscraper and is co-owner of Canary Wharf.
The Gulf state additionally owns the Savoy and Grosvenor House inns, a 20% stake in Heathrow Airport and a 14% stake in grocery store chain Sainsbury’s.
Speaking in mild of the TfL advert ban, a supply with information of the Qatar evaluate informed Sky News: “The Qataris see this as a contradiction by London’s political leaders.
“At a time when different buyers are pulling out of London on account of financial instability, the choice has been interpreted as a message from the mayor’s workplace that Qatari enterprise just isn’t welcome in London.”
The source said this was “regardless of the mayor benefitting from Qatar’s investments in London and calls from his colleagues to encourage additional funding in London, together with as a part of Qatar’s dedication to speculate a further £10bn within the UK made in June”.
The Shard skyscraper in London. Pic: AP
‘All present and future London investments reviewed’
The supply added: “Following the decision, the Qataris have started a review of all their current and future investments in London and considering investment opportunities in other UK cities and home nations instead, the decision could be made more appealing to the Qataris due to London entering a potential recession and to ongoing economic instability in the city in recent months.
A spokesperson for TfL said that ahead of the World Cup it provided its advertising partners and brands with “additional steerage on the promoting which we’re prone to contemplate acceptable to run in the course of the match whereas additionally guaranteeing that soccer followers usually are not denied the chance to assist their groups”.
“Each promoting marketing campaign continues to be reviewed on a case-by-case foundation.”
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The London mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019 asked TfL to look at how it treats advertising and sponsorship from countries with anti-LGBT+ laws.
That led to adverts from 11 nations, including Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, being referred to TfL for review. The 11 either have a death penalty for same-sex acts or they may impose such a penalty.
TfL has admitted that some adverts referencing Qatar have been approved to run on the network since 2019.
But the organisation moved to enforce a total ban this week.
Adverts promoting travel to Qatar ‘not acceptable’
TfL said advertising which promotes travel to Qatar, tourism in Qatar, or portrays Qatar as a desirable destination would not be considered acceptable.
But TfL added that advertising including the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 logo “will likely be acceptable”, as will advertising that “encourages folks to observe the matches on TV or streaming companies”.
A spokesperson for Mr Khan’s office said: “It is correct that TfL considers every promoting marketing campaign on their community on a case-by-case foundation, towards its promoting coverage. TfL issued additional steerage to promoting companions forward of the World Cup.
“There are a number of instances where an advert may be deemed unacceptable and, as a vocal supporter of the rights of LGBTQ+ Londoners, in 2019 the mayor requested TfL to review its policy on all advertisements referencing countries that criminalise same-sex relationships. They now face stringent scrutiny by TfL before appearing on the network.”
Source: information.sky.com”
