Qatar bans Jewish religious observance at World Cup

More than 10,000 religious Jews from Israel and around the world are expected to arrive in Doha to attend the World Cup after having been assured by Qatari authorities that kosher food and places of worship would be available to them; however, Qatar has now reneged on these assurances at the last minute, completely banning Jewish religious services in the country and prohibiting the sale of kosher food.

“This is a startling reversal by Qatar,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Doha, “Imposing a ban on religious observances and accommodations almost immediately after having guaranteed these rights to Jewish football fans – fans who were unlikely to have purchased tickets to the World Cup, paid airfare, and booked hotels without such guarantees; demonstrates a remarkable level of intolerance and religious prejudice, to say nothing of outright deceit.”

The first direct flight to Qatar from Israel departed from Tel Aviv on Sunday in what has been hailed as an historic agreement between the two countries, which have not had economic or diplomatic in a decade. “Religious Israelis boarded that flight believing that Qatar would welcome them and respect their right to practice their faith,” Stirling said, “Only to land in Doha and discover that Qatar has gone back on their word. It is a very hostile and bigoted move. While the Muslim religion allows its followers to eat kosher food, religiously observant Jews cannot substitute halal food for kosher food -- what exactly do Qatari officials expect Jewish visitors to eat?