Qatar's World Cup ambassador calls homosexuality "mental damage": ZDF interview stopped immediately

Created: 2022-11-08 13:49

By: Marius Epp

A World Cup ambassador actually has the task of welcoming people from all over the world.

Khalid Salman achieves the opposite with scandalous statements.

Doha - Most people should now be aware that human rights are not a priority in Qatar.

Ironically, Qatar's World Cup ambassador, who is responsible for the country's external image, made no secret of the fact that the emirate's hospitality has its limits.

The former national soccer player and current ambassador for the 2022 World Cup, Khalid Salman, described homosexuality as "mental damage" in an interview with ZDF.

The conversation with Salman was part of the ZDF documentary "Geheimsache Qatar", which will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 8 (8:15 p.m.).

World Cup 2022: Qatar ambassador describes homosexuality as "mental damage"

“A lot of things will come into the country during the World Cup.

Let's talk about gays," Salman said.

"The most important thing is that everyone will accept that they come here.

But they will have to accept our rules.” Above all, he has problems when children see gays.

Because they would then learn something that is not good.

In his eyes, being gay is "haram" and forbidden, said Salman.

"It's mental damage."

Khalid Salman talks about homosexuality - ZDF reporter Jochen Breyer is shocked.

© Screenshot ZDF media library

The spokesman for the World Cup Organizing Committee immediately stopped the interview before Salman could do any more damage.

Parts of the documentary material were broadcast in the "heute journal" on Monday evening.

World Cup 2022: Homosexuality is a punishable offense - host country Qatar still welcomes LGBTQ fans

Qatar is considered one of the most controversial hosts in World Cup history.

Among other things, the emirate is accused of human rights violations, bad treatment of foreign workers and a lack of women's rights.

In the run-up to the World Cup, which begins on November 20th, the desert state is trying to convey a different picture.

Officially, fans from the LGBTQ scene are also welcome. 

The stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

View photo gallery

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and is punishable by law.

Gay people can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.

According to media reports, Qatar buys foreign fans who receive a free World Cup package under one condition so that the external image does not suffer any further.