No Qatari ads on London transport in protest against rights violations. The Arab country responds with a cut in investments in the United Kingdom. The Financial Times reports it.
The British decision actually dates back to three years ago, when Mayor Sadiq Khan imposed a ban on advertising on means of transport for all companies that violate rights LGBTQIA+ including companies from Pakistan, Brunei and Saudi Arabia.
Now, after the controversies and censures in Qatar on the demonstrations of dissent by footballers who have been effectively prevented from wear the rainbow headband “One Love”Transport for London (TfL) has said it will no longer allow Qatari advertisements.
The host country of the World Cup reacted by leaking to the press that some investments will be reviewed at this point, even if precise details are not available and it is not known what impact the choice will have on the British economy. It must be considered that in the last two decades Qatar has become one of the largest investors in London through the $450 billion sovereign wealth fund: the Qatar Investment Authority owns the Harrods department store, the iconic Shard building, is the co-owner of Canary Wharf, owns Chelsea Barracks, the Savoy and Grosvenor House hotels and has a 20% stake in Heathrow Airport.