Qatar World Cup ambassador says homosexuality is 'haram'

Qatar’s human rights record is under scrutiny in the lead-up to the World Cup, particularly regarding the treatment of LGBTQ people and laborers.
Activists play football during a symbolic action by LGBT+ associations in front of the FIFA museum in Zurich on Nov. 8, 2022.
Activists play football during a symbolic action by LGBT+ associations in front of the FIFA museum in Zurich on Nov. 8, 2022, to call FIFA to defend the rights of the LGBT+ community ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament that will start on Nov. 20. - FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images
Adam Lucente headshot (new)
Adam Lucente
@Adam_Lucente

Qatar’s public relations issues ahead of the 2022 World Cup continued today when comments made by a Qatari official on homosexuality surfaced.

What happened: The German news outlet ZDF broadcast an interview with Qatar’s World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman today. Salman, a former player for Qatar’s national team, referred to homosexuality as “damage of the mind” and “haram” — an Arabic-language term that refers to prohibited acts in Islam — during the interview. 

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