LGBT

THE SWITZERLAND FA have shown a gay couple in the World Cup squad announcement video.It comes after World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman called homosexuality “damage in the mind”, though a spokesman said there was no connection between the two statements.
The squad announcement video shows two Switzerland fans holding handsCredit: Twitter @nati_sfv_asf
Switzerland are proud of the diversity in their squadCredit: Twitter @nati_sfv_asf
Granit Xhaka will wear the OneLove armband as Switzerland captainCredit: Getty
The video shows a number of Switzerland shirts bearing the names of players like Breel Embolo and Granit Xhaka, with the Swiss keen to highlight the importance of diversity in their team.
A gay couple are then shown walking hand in hand – an act which is frowned upon in Qatar.
The video also shows an interview with Swiss FA spokesman Adrian Arnold, who spoke about Salman’s comments and revealed Switzerland will take part in the OneLove campaign.
Arnold said: “They are hurtful, unworthy, and totally inconsistent with the code of values ​​that we have at the Switzerland FA. We always have at the Switzerland FA.
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“We have always tried to make our statements and also to campaign for them, also with the working group on human rights, which our President founded.
“With the clear demand to all those involved that the same rights should apply to everyone – around the world, including in Qatar, regardless of a person’s political, religious or sexual orientation.
“We have decided together with the players that we will wear the one-love captain’s armband, Granit Xhaka will do so for the games at the World Cup.
“As a signal that the same rights should apply to all people in the world – regardless of their political, religious or sexual orientation.”
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Germany star Leon Goretzka has also condemned Salman’s comments, decrying his view as “oppressive”.
He told German media: “It’s very oppressive. This is an image of a man that comes from another millennium.
“It leaves you speechless that something like this can be said by a World Cup ambassador shortly before a World Cup.”
Salman sparked outrage with his comments, saying: “During the World Cup, many things will come here to the country. Let’s talk about gays.
“The most important thing is, everybody will accept that they come here. But they will have to accept our rules.”
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“(Homosexuality) is haram. You know what haram (forbidden) means?
“Why is it haram? Because it is damage in the mind.” More

A QATAR World Cup ambassador has been slammed after describing homosexuality as “damage in the mind” less than two weeks before the contest kicks off.Former Qatari footballer Khalid Salman has said fans coming into the Gulf state for the tournament “will have to accept our rules”.
Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman has been slammed for his remarksCredit: 2DF
The ambassador’s comments come less than two weeks before the global tournament kicks offCredit: Getty
In Qatar, being gay is illegal and is punishable under the country’s penal code with up to seven years in prison or even the death penalty for Muslims under sharia law.
Some football players have raised concerns over the rights of fans travelling to the event, especially LGBT+ individuals and women, who rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.
The country expects more than one million visitors for the World Cup.
In an interview filmed in Doha, Salman told German television broadcaster ZDF said he believes being gay to be “haram”.
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The 60-year-old said: “During the World Cup, many things will come here to the country. Let’s talk about gays.
“The most important thing is, everybody will accept that they come here. But they will have to accept our rules.”
“(Homosexuality) is haram. You know what haram (forbidden) means?”
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.”
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The interview was then immediately stopped by an accompanying official.
Human Rights Watch senior researcher Rasha Younes has branded Salman’s remarks as “harmful and unacceptable”.
She told The Sun: “The failure of the Qatari government to counter this false information has a significant impact on the lives of LGBT residents of Qatar, ranging from fueling discrimination and violence against them to justifying subjecting them to state-sponsored conversion practices.
“These comments are yet another dismissal of LGBT residents’ basic rights by the Qatari authorities, and only serve to further exclude them from the public sphere.”
Charity Stonewall has also hit out at Salman, calling his comments “appalling”.
Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at Stonewall, told The Sun: “LGBTQ+ people in Qatar are criminalised for simply existing and are forced to hide who they are.
“In 2022, it is deeply concerning that countries with appalling human rights records are rewarded with the rights to host one of the world largest sporting tournaments.
“These appalling comments highlight why it is vital that the international community make clear that they expect Qatari authorities to respect and uphold freedom of expression, and the rights of all including LGBTQ+ people.
“When we pledge our support for LGBTQ+ Qataris by signing up to Stonewall’s ‘Proud Stadium’ it sends an important message that football fans stand in solidarity with marginalised groups in Qatar and in 70 countries across the world who continue to face horrific persecution for simply being themselves.”
Qatar’s World Cup organisers, when contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on Salman’s remarks.
World soccer’s ruling body FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The full interview, which is part of a documentary, will be shown Tuesday night on ZDF.
It comes as former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said giving Qatar the World Cup was a “mistake”.
‘BAD CHOICE’
The country was awarded hosting rights in 2010 when Blatter was in charge.
He said today told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger “Qatar is a mistake,” adding that “the choice was bad.”
Blatter said: “It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it.”
He said FIFA in 2012 amended the criteria it used to select host countries in light of concerns over the working conditions at tournament-related construction sites in Qatar.
Blatter added: “Since then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account.”
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 tournament, which runs from November 20 to December 18.
It comes after an expat claimed he was lured to a hotel on a dating app before being gang-raped by police in Qatar because he is gay.
The victim, from the Philippines, was working as an office assistant in the World Cup host country when he says he was confronted by six men.
Meanwhile, it is reported Qatar is paying England fans to “spy” on their friends and be positive about the country during this month’s World Cup, in return for free flights and tickets.
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The group of Three Lions supporters have reportedly been handed instructions to sing certain songs when required and report any critical social media posts.
All 40 will receive free flights and accommodation in the desert country, £60 a day in spending money loaded onto a Visa card, and complimentary tickets to World Cup matches. More

PETER Tatchell said he has been arrested after staging a one-man protest against Qatar’s treatment of gay people.The activist was pictured holding a placard supporting Qatari people, just 26 days before the start of the football World Cup.
Peter Tatchell protesting in Qatar against the country’s treatment of LGBT+ peopleCredit: Twitter
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to three years in prison.
Qatar denied that Tatchell had been arrested and hit back at the what it claimed were “baseless accusations”.
Tatchell stood for more than hour wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “#Qatarantigay” and holding a placard that read Qatar arrests and subjects LGBTs to conversion.
Two uniformed police officers and three plain clothes officials arrived at the scene.
They folded up his placard and took photos of Tatchell’s passport and other papers, and those of a man accompanying him.
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Police left after shaking hands with Tatchell, who remained on the pavement.
The activist said he was arrested for the demonstration but later freed.
“There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal regime like Qatar,” he said speaking from Qatar shortly before his protest.
“It is a homophobic, sexist and racist dictatorship.
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“Qatar cannot be allowed to sportswash its reputation. It is using the World Cup to enhance its international image.
“I did this protest to shine a light on Qatar’s human rights abuses against LGBT+ people, women, migrant workers and liberal Qataris. I am supporting their brave battle against tyranny.”
Prior to the 2018 World Cup, Tatchell was detained in Moscow whiile staging a protest against the treatment of gay people in the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Human Rights Watch on on Monday said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month.
A Qatari official said in a statement that HRW’s allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false”.
In response to Tatchell’s protest, Qatar’s Government Communications Office said reports of his arrest are “completely false and without merit”.
“An individual standing in a traffic roundabout was cordially and professionally asked to move to the sidewalk, no arrests were made. 
“We are extremely disappointed to see baseless accusations being freely reported by media outlets, without facts.
“Many organisations will use increased media attention on Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to promote their own profiles.
“We are always open to dialogue with entities that wish to discuss important topics, but spreading false information with the deliberate intention of provoking negative responses is irresponsible and unacceptable.”
England manager Gareth Southgate said earlier this year that it’s “horrible” that female and gay England fans fear travelling to the World Cup.
Australian footballer Josh Cavallo has said he’s “very scared” to play at the World Cup after coming out as the first openly gay male footballer.
Over the summer World Cup chiefs said they have been given assurances that gay fans will not be persecuted when they visit the country in November.
A Uefa working party, including FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, travelled to Doha for a third scoping visit.
There have been suggestions that hotels might prevent gay couples from sharing rooms but Uefa said: “LGBTQI+ rights were discussed at length.
“Assurances were provided regarding fans being safely welcomed with rainbow flags, in line with previous statements welcoming everyone to Qatar and ensuring local culture and customs are respected. 
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Uefa added that meetings had been held with a number of agencies including Qatar’s ruling Supreme Committee and the country’s FA as well as human rights organisations.
Migrant workers told the Uefa group that they still needed additional legal support, shelters for abused workers and translation services to fill in official forms and access to information on rights. More