Qatar slams ‘racist and Islamophobic’ French football team cartoon dressed as 'terrorists'

Qatar on Tuesday denounced  caricatures published by France’s Le Canard enchainé in its October issue depicting Qatari football players dressed as terrorists. cartoon, which was published as Gulf nation prepared to host FIFA World Cup 2022 this month, was derided as 'racist'. image sparked widespre outrage on social media as many Qataris and ors worldwide questioned  publishers' ethics for showcasing biased and derogatory depictions of racism, supremacy, and Islamophobia.

image shows several bearded men wearing football jerseys with word “Qatar" emblazoned, while y held an arsenal of weapons including knives, guns, and rocket launchers. offensive image depicted a footballer holding explosives, balaclavas, and or terrorist paraphernalia as it propelled an association of Qataris with terrorism. image was dropped amid mounting controversies that country has been marred with respect to accusations of abuses of migrant workers and LGBTQ communities. 

“A special issue issued by French newspaper… about Qatar,” an angry commenter wrote online on images now widely circulating and attracting flak. “You cannot imagine extent of hidden French hatred, contempt, and insult to Qatar, its people, its government and its symbols. I wonder why Qatari ambassor is still in Paris???!!!” Anor comment re, “Le Canard Enchaîné published a despicable cartoon showing its blatant racism and hatred of Islam,” one Arabic remark on Twitter re. “y describe Qatar as an authoritarian emirate and its national team as terrorists.”

Condemning Islamophobic caricature, Ham Al-Kawari, a minister of state and president of Qatar’s National Library, said that France must show a “little sportsmanship”. “Even caustic satire is welcome!!!” he tweeted. “But Canard Enchaîné decided to resort to lies, hatred, and grudges to attack Qatar and denigrate it," claimed Qatari minister.

France views satirical cartoons as expression: An inalienable fundamental right embedded in its constitution

French publications have often found mselves in a cesspool of controversy for publishing controversial caricatures that find ir roots in French culture's affirmed freedom of speech and expression as an "inalienable fundamental right." “ free communication of ideas and opinions is one of most precious of rights of man," Article 11 of  Declaration of Rights of Man and of Citizen which was incorporated during  French Revolution in 1789, says.

France recognises its values built upon term 'Liberté' that goes far back to influential 18th-century writings on freedom of expression by popular philosopher Voltaire. Satirical humour is one of prominent aspects of French culture that often mocks religion, powerful politicians, and rulers in cartoons. During French Revolution, King Louis XVI was published as "a pig" in comic strips, and even Catholic Church and Vatican have been drawn in embarrassing postures by French publications.

French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, witnessed gun attacks on its publication house after it printed religious satire depicting Prophet Muhamm. While French government justifies not imposing bans on such satirical drawings citing free press and freedom of expression, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ham Al Thani, in contrary claims, h said that re was, in fact, an “unprecedented campaign” launched against Qatar. 

“It became clear to us that campaign continues, expands and includes fabrication and double standards, until it reached a level of ferocity that me many question, unfortunately, real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” he said in a statement when country was widely criticised for curbing LGBTQ rights.