Nas Mohamed, who fled Qatar, now lives in San Francisco. His home country Qatar will play at the FIFA World Cup there. For Mohamed, this is an opportunity to draw attention to the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in Qatar. “There is a part of me that is angry, hurt, and sad,” he explains. “The Qatari national team is playing in Pride Month, and that is very emotional for me. However, I try not to let these feelings guide me, otherwise I wouldn’t dare leave my apartment. The burden on me is enormous. Homosexuality is criminalized in Qatar, and I left everything behind to be here. In San Francisco, I am celebrated for my identity, but I am the only Qatari who is open about his sexuality. Everyone knows who I am.”
As a doctor, Nas Mohamed mustered the courage a few years ago to be the first Qatari to publicly come out as gay. He applied for asylum in the United States as early as 2015, as queer people are persecuted in his home country. In San Francisco, he actively advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and also protested against the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “I will watch the game in the stadium,” he says. He will be accompanied by Scott Weiner, a California state senator who is openly gay and Jewish. “This is a big deal for me.”
For the match, Nas has prepared a special fashion statement. He had a bisht, a traditional Qatari garment, made in gold and embroidered with the words “Love” and “Freedom.” The lining of the bisht is designed in rainbow colors. “I expect different reactions from the fans,” he says. “When a flower grows in the garden, some people are bothered because they didn’t want that plant. I say: You may not like the flower, but I will stay as I am. Because I exist and I am real. I won’t let this soccer game be taken away from me, and I will enjoy it while eating a hot dog.”
Nas Mohamed is a symbol of the fight for queer rights and the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in a country where they are often oppressed. His commitment and determination to live and fight despite adversity are inspiring. While the Qatari national team plays in San Francisco, Nas Mohamed will set a sign that goes far beyond the soccer game.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
