Sport
25 July 2023 | 10:05
The BBC has apologized for an “inappropriate” question one of its reporters asked during a media conference with the captain of Morocco’s women’s soccer team.
Ghizlane Chebbak, 32, leads Morocco at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
She spoke to reporters ahead of her team’s opening game against Germany on Monday, which it ended up losing 6-0.
“In Morocco it is illegal to have a homosexual relationship. Do you have any gay players in your team and how is life for them in Morocco?” the BBC reporter asked her.
That prompted a post from the moderator: “Sorry, this is a very political question. So we’ll just stick to football questions.”
The reporter objected, insisting that the question was “not political”.
“It’s about people. It has nothing to do with politics. Let her answer the question,” said the journalist. But the press conference went on and ended shortly after.
Moroccan law criminalizes what it calls “sexual deviance” between members of the same sex, with same-sex relationships punishable by fines or up to three years in prison.
In a statement to CNN afterwardsthe BBC acknowledges that the issue crossed a line.
“We recognize that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention of causing any harm or distress,” the British broadcaster said.
Other journalists who attended the media conference agreed that it was inappropriate because Chebbak could have put himself or his teammates in danger by responding.
“I was at this press conference. The reporter was completely out of line,” said Shireen Ahmed of CBS Sports.
“Harm reduction matters, and it was unnecessary to ask the captain or the coach the question. The question was waved by a FIFA media officer who was moderating, but it should not have been asked.
“To ask a player about her teammates and if they are gay and how it affects them when you know it’s not allowed is bizarre and out of line. The captain can’t out players, not comment on politics because it can be dangerous for them.”
She argued the question “reeked of privilege” from someone who should have “known better” and she had told the BBC journalist “emphatically”.
“Understanding the context and struggles of marginalized communities matters,” she said.
“This is not a question of journalistic freedom. You can inquire about social laws in different places without putting people at risk.
“Journalists have an obligation to be fair, accurate and practice care. If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.”
Steph Yang, a reporter from The Athletic, offered a similar critique of the question.
“From a harm reduction perspective, this is not an appropriate question for a player, and it would have endangered the players themselves,” Yang said.
“Of course we are going to talk about the intersection of politics and sport at this World Cup, and it is important to do so. But we should be careful that our questions do not cause further harm to those affected by that very politics.”
In October 2019, Morocco’s National Human Rights Council recommended changes to the country’s laws to decriminalize same-sex relationships, celibacy and adultery, all of which carry possible prison sentences.
The government rejected these recommendations.
According to Human Rights Watchgay and bisexual people in Morocco have been hit by a campaign of online harassment in recent years, with opponents of LGBTQ rights going on dating apps and then “outing” them without their consent.
“For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, this can lead to ostracism from their family and community, eviction from housing by relatives and landlords, and dismissal from their jobs,” the group warned. There is also a risk of physical harm or prosecution.
“The consequences of ‘outing’ can be detrimental to the livelihoods, safety and mental health of LGBT people,” said Graeme Reid, the director of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights at the organisation.
“Moroccan authorities should act immediately to protect the privacy of LGBT people and repeal anti-LGBT laws that can only fuel this homophobic behavior.
“It is the responsibility of the Moroccan government to protect LGBT people from this type of homophobic harassment and from all forms of discrimination.
“Homophobia is a dangerous reality, but it thrives when the government criminalizes same-sex behavior and fails to protect their right to privacy and equal treatment.”