"The 'Inappropriate' Question at a Press Conference Draws Social Media Backlash"
The BBC has issued an apology after one of its reporters asked the Morocco captain whether there were any lesbians in the squad participating in the ongoing Women's World Cup.
Morocco, being a Muslim-majority nation and the first Arab country to qualify for the World Cup, faced criticism due to concerns that the question posed to Ghizlane Chebbak during a pre-match press conference could potentially jeopardize the safety of the team.
In Morocco, same-sex sexual activity between men or women is considered illegal, with a maximum punishment of three years' imprisonment and a fine.
The controversial question was raised by a reporter from the BBC World Service ahead of Morocco's opening match against Germany. The question asked was, "In Morocco, it is illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what's life like for them in Morocco?"
A Fifa official who was moderating the press conference intervened, stating, "Sorry, this is a very political question, so we will just stick to questions relating to football."
However, the journalist persisted, arguing, "It is not political, it is about people. Please allow her to answer." In response to the situation, Chebbak smiled and shook her head.
The BBC has issued an apology for the incident, and a BBC spokesperson informed CNN, saying: "We acknowledge that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress."
Media representatives present at the event were visibly taken aback by the exchange, and some expressed their disapproval of the line of questioning on social media.
Steph Yang, a reporter for The Athletic, shared her thoughts on Twitter, stating: "From a harm-reduction perspective, this is not an appropriate question for a player and could have endangered the players themselves. While discussing the intersection of politics and sports at this World Cup is important, we must be mindful that our questions do not inflict further harm on those affected by these political issues."
In the midst of the controversy, Shireen Ahmed, a journalist representing the Canadian outlet CBC, expressed her opinion on Twitter. She stated, "The reporter's conduct was completely inappropriate. Prioritizing harm reduction is essential, and posing such a question to the captain or coach was uncalled for. Although a Fifa media officer intervened and dismissed the question, it should never have been asked in the first place."
Ahmed emphasized that this issue does not pertain to journalistic freedom. Journalists can inquire about social laws in various regions without putting people at risk. She stressed that reporters have an obligation to be fair, accurate, and exercise caution in their practices. If reporting causes harm to someone, it is not only unethical but also dangerous.
In response to another question, Chebbak said, "We are honored to be the first Arab country participating in the Women's World Cup. We feel a great responsibility to portray a positive image and showcase the achievements that the Moroccan football team has made in terms of progress by qualifying for the World Cup."
Despite their determination, the Atlas Lionesses fought bravely in their opening match but were defeated 6-0 by Germany, one of the strong contenders in the tournament.
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