A World Cup ambassador in Qatar has described homosexuality as "mental damage." In an interview with the German public channel ZDF, the former player of the Qatari national team, Khalid Salman, ambassador of the Qatar World Cup, explained that this sexual orientation "is haram [forbidden] because it damages the mind" and acknowledged having a problem with the children who see homosexual people.
“During the World Cup, a lot of things will happen here in the country. They will have to accept our rules," Salman said before being interrupted by a World Cup organizing committee press officer. The interview is part of a documentary to be broadcast tonight by ZDF in Germany.
With just two weeks to go before the World Cup kicks off, the country is set to welcome some 1.2 million international visitors during the month-long tournament amid growing criticism of repeated human rights violations in the emirate.
Homosexuality is illegal in this Gulf state, despite World Cup organizers trying to reassure that gay couples should not be worried during the tournament. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, assured on September 21 that all fans would be welcome "without discrimination" during the World Cup to be held in his country (November 20-December 18). ), in an apparent desire to reassure by welcoming LGBTI visitors.
FIFA had for its part reaffirmed that rainbow flags, symbols of the LGBT community, would be authorized around stadiums.
The captains of several European teams, including England, France and Germany, will wear rainbow armbands with the message 'One Love' as part of a campaign against discrimination.
