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Gay rights campaigners call on Prince William to challenge Pakistan over its homophobic laws when he visits the country later this year
- Tour was announced yesterday after he said he would support his own children if they were gay
- Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Pakistan and punishable by jail sentences
- Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described Pakistan as a ‘rogue state’
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.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge receives a gift bag from trust chief executive officer Tim Sigsworth as he visits the Albert Kennedy Trust to learn about the issue of LGBTQ youth homelessness
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,’ he added.
The couple’s visit to Pakistan is the first one by a key member of the Royal Family in over a decade. Last week, Prince William revealed his position about his own children while opening a new centre at the Albert Kennedy Trust in London, a charity for LGBT youth.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who will carry out a high-profile visit to Pakistan this autumn, Kensington Palace has announced
Last night, Palace sources claimed that the topic of LGBT rights is ‘highly unlikely’ to be on the agenda and that the purpose of the trip is to bolster relations with Pakistan.
A palace source said: ‘The Duke of Cambridge’s views on human rights are well documented. While he is always respectful of tradition and cultural difference, he never shies away from difficult conversations.’
The Albert Kennedy Trust declined to comment.
The High Commissioner for Pakistan, Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, said: ‘The Government and the people of Pakistan warmly welcome the announcement of the Royal Visit by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan this year.
‘The people of Pakistan still cherish and fondly recall the visits of Her Majesty The Queen to Pakistan during 1961 and 1997.
‘The upcoming Royal Visit is a reflection of the importance the United Kingdom attaches to its relations with Pakistan. The two countries enjoy historical links which both sides wish to strengthen further.’
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