on. this is d. w. news a life from birth land the german football association hits back at an accusation of racism star midfielder measured as old says that he quit the national team after facing a barrage of criticism for meeting the turkish president in may he also had lots to say about the boss of the german football association. also coming up tensions between the united states and iran on the rise again president rouhani warns the us don't play with the lion's tail president trump tweets back don't threaten or you

will suffer historic consequences. and as india supreme court decides whether to decriminalize homosexuality we will look at the secretive lives of gay men suffering under a colonial era law routinely used to persecute them. i'm sorry kelly welcome to the program the german football association has hit back at an accusation of racism made by football star mesut ozil on the contrary it said it had been heavily engaged in integration work in germany for many years made the accusation as he explained why he had quit the german national team the midfielder who has turkish roots said that he faced racism and disrespect from the german media after he was pictured with turkey's president recha type one back in may then he faced criticism from the german football association after the team's

disappointing world cup performance. didn't mince his words his three part statement released in english on social media not only announced his retirement as a member of the germany team but also heavily criticized the german football association known as the d.f.t. and its president. he called out for negative comments on islam and multi-culturalism words have sparked a wave of reactions in germany. the d.f.t. have said they regret it decision and can see their failure to adequately support him but aim to continue their integration effort and fight against racism. chancellor angela merkel spokeswoman said the german leader had kind words for. the german chancellor has the greatest respect for. he is a talented football player who has done a lot for the german national team and he has now made a decision we must respect. but the german government appears divided over the

controversy because. i don't think the case of a multi-millionaire living and working in england tells you much about germany's capacity for integration. and. says of racism on a daily basis need to be taken seriously it's not just israel but also people involved in sports who suffer this we should really do something about it in turkey has received overwhelming support the turkish justice minister said the footballer's departure is a goal against the virus of fascism an advisor to turkey's president of the one said israel had taken a brave stand there is no excuse for racism measured israel's comments are likely to add to an already raging debate in germany over integration multiculturalism and the country's relationship with its immigrant population. and we have team coverage

of this debate i'm joined now in the studio by chris harrington from the sports and to far of bill kareem is also joining us here in the studio welcome to both of you and chris i'd like to begin with you first because we began by mentioning that the german football association the d.s. b. they have been trying to sidestep accusations essentially saying no racism here yes they did touch on that they released a statement of course addressing the issue they first thing miss it was all for is him actually is service you know he's suited up ninety two times for the german national team but in regard to the racism quote for the d.m.v. to have been associated with racism is something we emphatically reject that was kind of expected and they went on to say with regard to our ambassador staff members our clubs and the work of millions of volunteers at the grassroots level clearly were too diverse to be races and they even cited the work they do in terms of integrating football players of different backgrounds to form one so they ended with we stand for diversity from the representatives at the very top to the

countless people working at the grassroots level so they're just covering their tracks era trying to save face at the big question is does the german public buy it and far you've been out on the streets today because there has not only been criticism of the d.f.t. we've also had criticism for example of mesut ozil sponsors he's he calls them he said there's a double standard he also criticized the media you know what do people say about it all according to what i saw today and what i heard is there's a gap between what the team is saying and the team responsible sourcing and what's happening on the street and people who straight are say to him as it is it is very brave to talk about that there is a very citizen is very brave to say and to speak out and they hope that this is going to be taken very serious and it's an opportunity to talk about racism and every day racism in germany which some people who are living here are facing and he has a very big support from the people i talked to and people said. even some commented on the way the response was from the team are dealing with it and they say why

don't they see it as the opportunity to talk but rather living in denial and saying we're doing compatriots and we have very big diversity and you even see like the big forces with hashtag no racism but also they are no one from the team member which is the munch often always say it's the munch of the team the german team no one of the the other players said anything supporting only one thing and these are all questions people industry that are really asking and really would like to know how it's going to get further what are we to make of that cross i mean you have the view from the sports world the fact that that we have not had those comments from the team and also if we just look into that see if the president himself it's really worth noting that he has made his feelings about integration and multiculturalism quite clear in his former career as a politician right in two thousand and four he addressed the parliament right here in germany say in his mind multiculturalism in reality is a myth it's

a lie it doesn't work it should be everyone living together but the reality on the street is german state would germans and other cultures remain with their cultures and then in two thousand you know fast forward he also went on to vote against the right for germans to claim dual citizenship so he he takes his dog with his political view and that says fast forward around two thousand and thirteen a turkish german green party politician. recalled a conversation riddle was having about his viewpoint on the idea that germans could have dual citizenship and you know according to. my thinking about this conversation makes them sick and it's cringe worthy you know so you have these factored in and it kind of follows suit to how this is played out because grendel has had if you know kind of two different responses and some just what does this say about the state of integration i think the fact i think this is coming on we have this play. who says he's not comfortable wearing

a german jersey he is determined and disses like a very big question for me it's a scandal because you know is the person you look up to in germany is the person who took all possible prizes concerning integration he was a very important team and team member in the in the munch of he is an idol for up to few young people with who has a migrant background and now he the one you look up to is saying this so what about the others who is the whole we do you look to and always when you talk in german about integration you always mention the munch of them saying look at the munch of our our team is functioning and they are all from different backgrounds and look at the look at the euro look at miller they all played together no one has ever asked about the background would truly rigid which country are from what ever we are here all german and no really saying does so i think it's very serious they really should take it an opportunity to talk and take it an opportunity to talk about what's happening if you denial and you say no everything is good and then this is going to happen again at the end you lost

a very important player beside the integration thing you lost an important football player certainly a conversation that is happening right now in the german media is happening right here and we thank you so much to both of you for joining us this evening to share those perspectives across harrington from our sports desk and corinne from. iraq well meantime tensions between the u.s. and iran are rising again with donald trump tweeting iranian president hassan rouhani that he will face dire consequences for threatening america iran's state owned news agency has dismissed the u.s. president's tweet describing it as a passive reaction to remarks president rouhani made. everyone has a history of using heated rhetoric against the united states but recent comments by president rouhani appear to have crossed a line for donald trump to michoud was you know. don't play with the lion's tail that would only lead to regret you will forever regretted. the u.s.

president took to twitter to send a warning to tehran using capital letters for emphasis never ever threaten the united states again or you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before. on sunday u.s. secretary of state mike pump aoe also had harsh words for terror on. these so-called moderates within the regime are still violent islamic revolutionary with an anti america and the west agenda you only have to take their own words for it the verbal standoff comes months after washington's decision to abandon an international deal with iran that was aimed at curbing its nuclear program relations between the two countries have to to rewrite his sense president rouhani has suggested peace is still possible and comments made to iranian diplomats he said americans had a choice between quote the mother of all peace and the mother of war with iran.

well now we had to india where activists are challenging a colonial era law that criminalizes gay sex the country's top court has been hearing arguments against the law and is expected to hand down its decision over the coming weeks our correspondent sonia funny car went to the northern town of luck now to meet one man who has been fighting back at great personal cost. a nineteenth century muslim. a refuge for gay men like and spot of over ten years. it's a place they can be free from society's gaze in a country where a lot criminalizing homosexuality are known the section three seventy seven is routinely used as a couple to hound people it is making their lives hell they are their fears everyday face blackmails extortion rape harris men beating

forty percent of them just for thigh just because of the fear that they would be outed by the police or the by the community because it is still seen as a criminal thing artist knows that only too well he wants to be awareness programs among the working class gay population and activity fraught with risk in india several years ago he and his colleagues were thrown into prison they were charged with conspiracy to commit sodomy and possessed so-called obscene materials. for the schalke because what we're trying was trying to save lives and we're being imprisoned and that was a horrific because in jail for the mitchell can deny drinking water the the being beaten up regularly. that left so many scars. others lost most of the state because of the beatings and the poor hygiene in prison he was shunned by his

friends it took years before he dared to enter the station again but he hasn't given up the fight he's now one of the petitioners pushing india's stop court to decriminalize homosexuality among the gay community the poor are the most vulnerable. in guevara without go along with the gong no one at this workshop concedes six wants to show their. husbands and fathers some of them are sex workers only. in recent months are pressure on me to get married as a man you're. to do that and run the family more liberal have a diagnosis no one in my family or my neighborhood knows i'm gay if they did they'd call me a faggot. my family wouldn't accept me anymore as a serious i didn't have the. odd spends long at the office he draws strength from the state and to spam at me especially his mother who is the joy support. in the

evening out of this world. he goes to public talks with homosexual men can find sexual partners and yet remain anonymous in the shadows the risk of contracting each i.v. is high and that's not the only danger of men when they're approaching their custom was bullied school instead will trade them off putting them in the game on the under the pretext of section three seven seven. and and using duct projects to blackmail them extort money rape them and dr lie me feel that the law should go because if it while it's obvious that fundamental rights big. risk india's supreme court is expected to deliver on whether the deal is constitutional. this is so just hope in the gay community. that they may finally be able to step out of the shadow . and with that you're up to date now on news i'm sarah

kelly in berlin don't forget for more news you can go to the dot com that's our website or you can follow us we're on facebook twitter and instagram thanks so much for watching have a great day. to. enter the conflict zone with tim sebastian. i'll be challenging those in power asking tough questions demanding. as conflicts intensify i'll be meeting with keep players on the ground in the centers of. cutting through the rhetoric hold.