2022 World Cup: Qatari World Cup ambassador calls homosexuality "mental damage"

A Qatari World Cup ambassador calls homosexuality "mental damage", in an interview broadcast on German public broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday.

“During the World Cup, a lot of things will happen here in the country.

Let's talk about gays, ”said Khalid Salman, former Qatari international and 2022 World Cup ambassador.

“The most important thing is that everyone will accept that they come here but they will have to accept our rules,” adds Mr. Salman in this extract from an interview which will be broadcast in full on Tuesday evening on ZDF.

Homosexuality, "it's 'haram'" (which means "forbidden", editor's note), he believes.

"It's 'haram' because it's mental damage," adds Mr. Salman, before being interrupted by a press officer.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani had assured on September 21 that all supporters would be welcomed "without discrimination" during the Football World Cup organized in his country (November 20-December 18), in an apparent desire to reassure on welcoming LGBT+ visitors.

Homosexuality is illegal in this Gulf state and the organizers of the World have tried to reassure by saying that homosexual couples will not be worried during the tournament.

FIFA had reaffirmed for its part that rainbow flags, symbols of the LGBT + community, would be authorized around stadiums.

The captains of several European teams - including those of England, France and Germany - will wear rainbow colored armbands with the message 'One Love' as part of an anti-discrimination campaign.