For 55 years, Peter Tatchell, 70, has been beaten up at protests. Just back from Qatar, he reveals how he prepares for his injuries
When I was asked by Qatari human-rights defenders to stage a protest in Doha in the run-up to the World Cup, I was apprehensive. Sure, I’ve done more than 3,000 protests over the last 55 years, been arrested 100 times and experienced 300-plus violent assaults. So I’m a risk-taker and not afraid of a few knocks. But Qatar upped the risk factor to a much higher level. It is a police state where protests are banned. Protesters get beaten and jailed. Westerners have died after being arrested. I was afraid – but my fears were overridden by the importance of shining a light on Qatar’s abuse of women, LGBTs and migrant workers. I knew protesters can end up in prison for several weeks – or months. I took a calculated gamble that the Qataris would not want bad publicity a month before the World Cup. When I said goodbye to...
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