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Qatar Foundation rejects U.S. university's reason for scrapping event after anti-gay backlash
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWSFEBRUARY 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / UPDATED 28 MINUTES AGO
Qatar Foundation rejects U.S. university's reason for scrapping event after anti-gay backlash
Alexander Cornwell
2 MIN READ
DOHA (Reuters) - An American university’s partner in Qatar has rejected the university’s explanation for cancelling an event in Doha that would have featured a prominent Middle East band whose singer is openly gay.
Members of Lebanese indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila had been scheduled to take part in a discussion at Northwestern University’s Qatar campus on Tuesday, but the university moved the event to its U.S. campus after hostile online comments against Mashrou’ Leila’s appearance.
Northwestern cited “safety concerns” for the band and its community, among other, unspecified factors.
But Qatar Foundation, a state-linked non-profit body in the conservative Gulf Arab state, challenged the reasons given by Northwestern.
Asked about Northwestern’s comments, a Qatar Foundation spokesman told Reuters: “We place the utmost importance on the safety of our community and currently do not have any safety or security concerns.”
-snip-
Qatar Foundation rejects U.S. university's reason for scrapping event after anti-gay backlash
Alexander Cornwell
2 MIN READ
DOHA (Reuters) - An American university’s partner in Qatar has rejected the university’s explanation for cancelling an event in Doha that would have featured a prominent Middle East band whose singer is openly gay.
Members of Lebanese indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila had been scheduled to take part in a discussion at Northwestern University’s Qatar campus on Tuesday, but the university moved the event to its U.S. campus after hostile online comments against Mashrou’ Leila’s appearance.
Northwestern cited “safety concerns” for the band and its community, among other, unspecified factors.
But Qatar Foundation, a state-linked non-profit body in the conservative Gulf Arab state, challenged the reasons given by Northwestern.
Asked about Northwestern’s comments, a Qatar Foundation spokesman told Reuters: “We place the utmost importance on the safety of our community and currently do not have any safety or security concerns.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qatar-society/qatar-foundation-rejects-u-s-universitys-reason-for-scrapping-event-after-anti-gay-backlash-idUSKBN1ZZ1IA