Prince ‘must speak up for gay rights’ on Pakistan trip
GAY rights campaigners have called on Prince William to challenge the government of Pakistan over its homophobic laws when he and his wife make an official visit there later this year.
The tour was announced by the Palace yesterday just days after the Prince said he would support his own children if they were gay.
Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Pakistan and punishable by long jail sentences. Raising the contentious issue in official meetings would be a breach of Royal protocol.
Veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described Pakistan as a ‘rogue state’ and told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Prince William’s support for the LGBT+ community does not square with his visit to Pakistan, where same-sex relations are punishable by life imprisonment and there is state indifference to mob violence and so-called honour killing.
‘At the very least, he should speak out in support of the LGBT community during his visit.
‘The Foreign Office is very wrong to organise this Royal visit, given the widespread human rights abuses by Pakistan’s security forces.’
Earlier this year, a gay Pakistani man was given refuge in the UK after his own family threatened to kill him if he returned.
He had been pressured into a heterosexual marriage before admitting his sexuality to his wife.
Speaking to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he said: ‘My family in Pakistan made it clear that if ever I was to return, they would hunt me down like an animal and kill me because I was dirty, sinful and brought “dishonour” to them.’
Lesbian and feminist author Julie Bindel urged the Royals to speak out, saying: ‘I would hope that if William and Kate go to Pakistan as opposed to boycotting it, that they might speak to the relevant people in government and put pressure on for their human rights record to be addressed.
‘It’s all well and good for parents to say they would support their own children if they came out. But it really doesn’t help the bigger picture if they are willing to ignore that so many countries around the world criminalise same-sex activity and heavily penalise those that are outed.’
The couple’s visit to Pakistan is the first one by a key member of the Royal Family in more than a decade.
Last week, Prince William revealed his position about his children while opening a new centre at the Albert Kennedy Trust in London, a charity for LGBT youth.
Palace sources said the topic of LGBT rights was ‘highly unlikely’ to be on the agenda and the purpose of the trip is to bolster relations with Pakistan. The Albert Kennedy Trust declined to comment.