In an interview, which was immediately interrupted, it generated controversy after Khalid Salman’s statements.
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
A Ambassador of the World Cup of Qatartold German television ZDF that homosexuality is “mental damage”, as the Persian Gulf state prepares to host the soccer tournament in less than two weeks.
In an interview filmed in Doha and to be broadcast on Tuesday, former Qatari internationalKhalid Salman addressed the issue of homosexuality, which is illegal in the conservative Muslim country.
Some soccer players have raised concerns about the rights of fans traveling to the event, especially LGBT+ people and women, who are discriminated against by Qatari laws, human rights groups say.
The country expects more than a million visitors for the World Cup.
“They have to accept our rules here,” Salman said, in an excerpt from the interview. “(Homosexuality) is ‘haram’. Do you know what ‘haram’ (forbidden) means?” he said.
When asked why it was ‘haram’, Salman said: “I am not a strict Muslim, but why is it ‘haram’? Because it is mental damage.”
The interview was immediately interrupted by a leader who accompanied him. Contacted by Reuters, Qatar World Cup organizers declined to comment.
World soccer’s governing body, FIFA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tournament organizers have repeatedly said that everyone is welcome in Qatar during the World Cup.
Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, has been under intense pressure in recent years. recent years for its treatment of foreign workers and its restrictive social laws.
The country’s record on human rights has prompted calls for teams and authorities to boycott the tournament, which will take place between the next 20 November and December 20.