<p>Former Qatari international and World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman has called homosexuality a "damage in the mind" in an interview to be aired on<em> German TV</em> on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The country will accept gay visitors but "they have to accept our rules", Salman said in the interview with the <em>ZDF </em>broadcaster, filmed in Qatar ahead of the tournament.</p>.<p>Salman also insisted homosexuality was "haram" -- something forbidden in Islam -- during the interview, which was abruptly cut off after his comments.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/huge-step-forward-tokyo-recognises-same-sex-relationships-1158503.html" target="_blank">'Huge step forward': Tokyo recognises same-sex relationships</a></strong></p>.<p>Qatar has come under sustained fire over its human rights record ahead of the World Cup, including its treatment of foreign workers and its stance on women's and LGBTQ rights.</p>.<p>Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state and captains from a number of leading European countries, including England, France and Germany, will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message "One Love" in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p>.<p>Fans in stadiums across Germany on Saturday called for boycotts of the tournament.</p>.<p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said last week on a visit to Qatar that she will attend the World Cup after being given a "guarantee of safety" for LGBTQ fans by Qatar's prime minister.</p>.<p>German lawmakers joined Faeser on the visit, but the German government's human rights commissioner Luise Amtsberg pulled out.</p>.<p>Faeser had previously said Qatar's hosting of the World Cup was "very tricky" from Berlin's perspective, prompting Doha to summon the German ambassador.</p>
<p>Former Qatari international and World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman has called homosexuality a "damage in the mind" in an interview to be aired on<em> German TV</em> on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The country will accept gay visitors but "they have to accept our rules", Salman said in the interview with the <em>ZDF </em>broadcaster, filmed in Qatar ahead of the tournament.</p>.<p>Salman also insisted homosexuality was "haram" -- something forbidden in Islam -- during the interview, which was abruptly cut off after his comments.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/huge-step-forward-tokyo-recognises-same-sex-relationships-1158503.html" target="_blank">'Huge step forward': Tokyo recognises same-sex relationships</a></strong></p>.<p>Qatar has come under sustained fire over its human rights record ahead of the World Cup, including its treatment of foreign workers and its stance on women's and LGBTQ rights.</p>.<p>Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state and captains from a number of leading European countries, including England, France and Germany, will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message "One Love" in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p>.<p>Fans in stadiums across Germany on Saturday called for boycotts of the tournament.</p>.<p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said last week on a visit to Qatar that she will attend the World Cup after being given a "guarantee of safety" for LGBTQ fans by Qatar's prime minister.</p>.<p>German lawmakers joined Faeser on the visit, but the German government's human rights commissioner Luise Amtsberg pulled out.</p>.<p>Faeser had previously said Qatar's hosting of the World Cup was "very tricky" from Berlin's perspective, prompting Doha to summon the German ambassador.</p>