Calls Homosexuality Will Ruin Mind, Qatar World Cup Ambassador: They Must Accept Our Rules

Illustration of Qatar's 2022 World Cup. (Twitter/@FIFAWorld22Live)

JAKARTA - A Qatar World Cup ambassador told German television broadcaster ZDF homosexuality is "damage to the mind" as the Gulf nation prepares to host a global tournament in less than two weeks.

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

It is known that several football players have raised concerns over the rights of fans traveling to the event, particularly LGBT+ individuals and women, who human rights groups say are discriminated against by Qatari law.

Meanwhile, Qatar expects more than one million visitors during the upcoming 2022 World Cup.

"They have to accept our rules here," Salman said, in excerpts of the interview.

"(Homosexuality) is haram. Do you know what is forbidden (forbidden)?," he said.

When asked why it is haram, Salman replied: "I am not a strict Muslim, but why is it haram? Because it corrupts the mind."

The interview was then immediately stopped by the assistant officer. World Cup organizers in Qatar, when contacted by Reuters, declined to comment.

Separately, world football's governing body FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Obviously these comments are appalling," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who visited Qatar a week ago, on Tuesday.

Faeser said she had received security assurances from the interior minister and local prime minister, that this applies to the protection of homosexual fans as well as against possible racist or anti-Semitic attacks.

"I don't have any new indications from him (Qatar Interior Minister) now that something has to change in this regard," Faeser told reporters.

Previously, organizers had repeatedly said everyone was welcome in Qatar during the World Cup.

Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, has come under intense pressure in recent years because of 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 tournament, which will take place from November 20 to December 18.