The country will tolerate homosexual visitors, but “they have to accept our rules,” Salman said in an interview with ZDF channel. In the interview, which was abruptly interrupted after the comments, Salman added that homosexuality is “haram”, a sin prohibited in Islam.
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The country has been criticized for its discriminatory policy, which has been widely denounced by human rights organizations. And reactions come from all sides, from fans to players.
The captains of European teams such as England, France or Germany will wear rainbow-colored armbands with the message “One Love” in an anti-discrimination campaign. Fans in German stadiums called on Saturday for a boycott of the World Cup.
Qatar received criticism before the World Cup for its record of human rights abuses, including its treatment of migrant workers and its stance on women's and LGBTQIA+ rights. Homosexuality is illegal in the emirate.
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German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said last week during a visit to Qatar that she will watch the World Cup after receiving “safety guarantees” from the emirate's prime minister for LGBTQIA+ fans.
(With AFP)
