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Muslims are
accused of gay U-turn
23 April 2006- Britain's most powerful Muslim organisation was
accused last night of a making a stunning U-turn on a commitment to
tackle homophobia. Just days after the Muslim Council of Britain
signalled it was planning to sign up to a five-year plan to reach out to
Britain's gay community, senior members of the organisation have ripped
up the strategy.
Mohammed Aziz, its policy adviser, had been quoted as saying he believed
the organisation would take great steps in the coming months to shed its
homophobic image. The plan was discussed at the government's Equality
and Diversity Forum in January and debated by the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on Equalities.
'We have brought about a lot of change from five years ago when the MCB
was behind issues such as section 28, and against gay adoption,' Aziz is
reported to have said. 'The first part of the strategy was to tell the
MCB "if you have nothing positive to say, keep your mouth shut". Most of
the negative statements now date back to 1999.'
The plan was hailed as a breakthrough by gay rights campaigners and a
sign the organisation was looking to distance itself from comments made
earlier this year by its secretary general, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, who
described homosexuals as 'harmful, immoral, unacceptable and diseased'.
But it has emerged that the council has rejected Aziz's claims. Inayat
Bunglawala, its spokesman, insisted Aziz's views did not represent those
of the MCB. He told the Islam TV Channel: 'There is no truth in these
quotes. Our position is very clear, our Secretary General was nearly
prosecuted for this because we maintain that homosexual relationships
are sinful in Islam.'
Aziz declined to comment, telling The Observer that the MCB's attempts
to distance itself from his comments was a 'matter for the MCB'.
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