Such advertisements will no longer be shown from this week, the newspaper reported on Saturday. A few years ago, the transport company, commissioned by London mayor Sadiq Khan, already banned advertising from countries where homosexuality is a criminal offense – although a tourism campaign from Qatar was initially shown on London billboards around the World Cup.
In response, Qatar wants to test existing and planned investments in London and other British cities, the Financial Times reports citing an involved source. She told the newspaper that it was perceived that Qatari investment was not welcome in the British capital and accused the British of applying double standards. There was initially no official statement from Qatar.
Investment from Qatar is currently ubiquitous in London: the luxury department store Harrods belongs to Qatari investors, as does the mega high-rise “Shard”. The Katari also own shares in the UK’s largest airport, Heathrow, and several hotel chains. In addition, the desert state is an important supplier to the United Kingdom in the energy sector.
(SDA)