For Muslims duly convicted in the sharia courts, a judicial sentence of capital punishment for homosexuality is a possibility, though it has never been imposed. Prevailing cultural mores in Qatar view homosexuality and cross-dressing negatively. In November British performer George Michael performed at a successful concert in Qatar, [ 9 ] making him the first openly gay musician to perform in Qatar. On 4 February , a dual British-Mexican citizen, was arrested in Qatar after falling victim to a police-led Grindr fake profile.
According to his brother, he had been denied the right to a lawyer and had been forced to sign documents in Arabic without a translator to assist him. He also stated that the man had also been prevented access to antiretroviral medicines he needed to be able to live with HIV.
This is less severe than the law that stipulated up to five years' imprisonment for men and women found to be homosexual punishment of sexual acts instead of punishment for sexual orientation.
The local death penalty for same-gender sex is applicable only to Muslims because extramarital sex regardless of the gender of the participants is punishable by death and because same-gender couples cannot get married. However, there is no evidence that the death penalty has been applied for consensual same-sex relations taking place between adults outside the spaces policed by authorities. In , an American citizen visiting Qatar was sentenced to six months in prison and 90 lashes for homosexual activity.
This was in response to several mass arrests and deportations of Philippine workers in Qatar for homosexuality. He spent two months in custody before he was released. The Polish embassy claim he was arrested for extortion.
