Qatar World Cup ambassador claims homosexuality is ‘damage in the mind’

A Qatar World Cup ambassador has told German television broadcaster ZDF that homosexuality was ‘damage in the mind’, as the Gulf state prepares to host the global tournament in less than two weeks.

In an interview filmed in Doha and to be screened later on Tuesday, former Qatari international Khalid Salman addressed the issue of homosexuality, which is illegal in the conservative Muslim country.

Some soccer players have raised concerns over the rights of fans travelling to the event, especially LGBT+ individuals and women, whom rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.

The country expects more than one million visitors for the World Cup.

‘They have to accept our rules here,’ Salman said, in an excerpt of the interview. 

‘(Homosexuality) is haram. You know what haram (forbidden) means?’ he said.

Khalid Salman – a former international of the country – said people had to accept Qatar’s rules 

When asked why it was haram, Salman said: ‘I am not a strict Muslim but why is it haram? Because it is damage in the mind.

The interview was then immediately stopped by an accompanying official. Qatar’s World Cup organisers, when contacted by Reuters, declined to comment.

World soccer’s ruling body FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

FIFA have written a letter asking the footballing world to focus on the game at the World Cup rather than off-field issues which has led to criticism for president Giovanni Infantino

Organisers have repeatedly said everyone was welcome in Qatar during the World Cup.

Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup but the small nation has come under intense pressure in recent years for its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws.

The country’s human rights record has led to calls for teams and officials to boycott the November 20 – December 18 tournament. 

Last week FIFA came under scrutiny after Sky News got hold of a letter that the governing body had circulated around the federations heading to Qatar.  

‘Please, let’s now focus on the football!’ Infantino and Fatma Samoura wrote to the 32 nations due to compete in the World Cup. 

The tournament has been engulfed in controversy over human rights issues in Qatar

‘We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.

‘But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.’

England and Wales – among a host of other nations – plan to wear rainbow-coloured armbands at the tournament with the words ‘One Love’ etched across them.

England will wear armbands with the words ‘One Love’ etched across them at the tournament 

Qatar World Cup CEO Nasser Al Khater last month said that gay supporters were welcome in the country but once again warned of the nation’s differing cultural norms. 

‘Everyone will feel safe in Qatar,’ Al-Khater told Sky News.

‘We have always said that everyone is welcome here. What we ask for is respect for our culture.’