UPROAR came about when gay England fans said they were “respectful” when flying to the Middle East to support Gareth Southgate’s aces, the foreign secretary warned yesterday.
James Slim refused to condemn Qatar anti-gay laws after long campaigner Peter Tatchelli was arrested on the oil-rich peninsula.
mister smart was criticized for being “tone deaf” and “shameful” in his defense of the host country’s dodgy rights.
After saying that he had spoken to Qatari authorities about… gay soccer fanshe told LBC: “One of the things I would say to football fans is, you know, please be respectful of the host country.
“They’re trying to make sure that people can be themselves and enjoy football, and I think with a little flexibility and compromises on both sides, it could be a safe, secure and exciting World Cup.”
It comes after veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell said he was arrested after organizing the first LGBT protest in the country to the human rights violations in the run-up to World Cup.
The veteran, who later became a campaigner, beat the minister after his release from a… Qatari prison.
He said: “I find it absolutely shameful that the Secretary of State wants us to respect that regime and his focus is on getting the fans to respect the regime, not the regime that protects human rights violations against LGBT people, in particularly against women and migrant workers. .”
In a video released Tuesday, Tatchell, 70, said he was “subject to questioning” while being held for 49 minutes after performing the demonstration outside the national museum in Doha.
Labor’s shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the comments were “shockingly tone-deaf”.
She added: “Sport should be accessible to everyone. Many fans will feel that they cannot attend this tournament to cheer on their team because of Qatar’s track record on human, labor and LGBT+ rights.”
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