A gay MP has warned it is ‘not safe’ for LGBTQ+ Brits to travel to watch the World Cup in Qatar.
Labour’s Luke Pollard also said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly should apologise for his comments which ‘force people back into the closet’.
Mr Cleverly previously advised LGBTQ+ fans to show ‘a little bit of flex and compromise’ and to ‘respect the culture of the home nation’.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Pollard said: ‘I declare an interest as a massive gay, but as an England-supporting homosexual it is not safe for someone like me to watch the World Cup in Qatar.
‘Because of the human rights abuses of migrant workers and Qatar’s LGBT population I personally don’t think Qatar should ever have been awarded a major sporting competition.’
His comments were made in response to Foreign Office minister David Rutley saying the UK Government is working with Qatari officials to ensure that everyone is treated equally.
He explained: ‘Qatar has repeatedly committed that everybody is welcome to the tournament and we will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.’
Anyone found engaging in homosexual sexual activity in Qatar faces a seven year prison sentence.
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Mr Pollard went on to ask Mr Rutley to apologise for the Foreign Secretary’s remarks ‘because it is never acceptable for a Government minister to force LGBT people back into the closet’.
Instead Mr Rutley reiterated the UK Government’s position on gay rights in Qatar.
He replied: ‘Our priority is, of course, the safety of all British nationals who will be travelling to the World Cup.
‘LGBTQ+ rights is an issue the UK prioritises internationally and we continue to engage with the Qatar authorities on the issue.
‘Many sportsmen and women use their platform to do important work across a range of issues, that’s their personal choice.
‘The UK Government stands by our values and our teams stand by the values of our home nations.’
It comes after a former Qatari footballer told German public broadcaster ZDF that being gay is ‘haram’, or ‘forbidden’ in Arabic.
Khalid Salman made the comments alongside saying he has a problem with children seeing gay people.
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