World Cup host Qatar seeks to change minds on Islam - Jamaica Observer

Fans be the World Cup radical A shot lucifer betwixt Qatar and Senegal astatine the Al Thumama Stadium successful Doha, Qatar, Friday, November 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)

DOHA, Qatar, (AFP) — Proudly Muslim Qatar has taken vantage of the World Cup to scope retired to the hundreds of thousands of visiting fans to alteration minds astir Islam oregon adjacent marque conversions.

The Gulf emirate is the archetypal Muslim federation to signifier a shot World Cup and its state riches person endowed it with an array of expansive mosques to pique the curiosity of visitors.

Canadian mates Dorinel and Clara Popa listened to the telephone to supplication astatine an Ottoman-style mosque successful Doha's Katara taste district.

It is known arsenic Doha's Blue Mosque due to the fact that of the sumptuous mosaics of bluish and purple tiles connected the walls. A usher took the mates connected a circuit of the elaborate interior dominated by a elephantine chandelier.

Dorinel Popa, a 54-year-old accountant, said the mates were taking a archetypal look astatine Islam.

"We person prejudice against the civilization and the people," due to the fact that of a deficiency of vulnerability to others, helium said.

- Coffee and religion -

"We person immoderate thoughts successful our heads and present possibly immoderate of them volition change," added his wife, a 52-year-old doctor.

The Qatar Guest Center, which supervises the Blue Mosque, has brought dozens of Muslim preachers from astir the satellite to Qatar for the tournament.

Outside the mosque determination are booklets successful antithetic languages explaining Islam and the Prophet Mohammed, on with Arabic java and dates.

Syrian unpaid Ziad Fateh said the World Cup is "an accidental to present millions of radical to Islam" and alteration "misconceptions" astir a religion that galore successful the West nexus to radicalism.

"We explicate to radical much astir ethics, the value of household bonding, and respect for neighbours and non-Muslims," helium added.

Near the mosque, volunteers managed a array aimed astatine visiting women with a motion saying: "Ask maine astir Qatar."

Those who halt are besides offered Arabic coffee.

A Palestinian volunteer, Somaya, said astir of the questions acrophobic "the veil, polygamy and whether women are oppressed successful Islam."

Qatar's grounds connected women's and LGBTQ rights has been heavy scrutinised successful transportation with the World Cup.

Nearby, visitors tin ticker a 5 infinitesimal virtual world circuit of Islam.

The run is being pursued crossed Qatar.

- 'Happiness' successful Islam -

In the Pearl district, wherever galore expatriates unrecorded and predominant its costly cafes and restaurants, murals person been painted with quotes from the Prophet Mohammed urging bully morality.

Upscale buying malls transportation advertisements promoting Islam.

In the Souq Waqif market, wherever thousands of fans stitchery each day, escaped books and pamphlets are near successful 1 alley with a motion saying: "If you're looking for happiness... you volition find (it) successful Islam".

Near the Souq, the Sheikh Abdulla bin Zaid Islamic Cultural Center is unfastened 12 hours a time for tours.

Some Muslim leaders successful Qatar person called for efforts to person visiting shot fans to Islam.