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Killing gay men is OK,
says British imam
23 Oct 2006- London- The
leading imam in Manchester, England, confirms that he thinks the
execution of sexually active gay men is justified, the rights group
Outrage reported.
Arshad Misbahi of the Manchester
Central Mosque confirmed his views in a conversation to John Casson, a
local psychotherapist.
Casson said: "I asked him if the
execution of gay Muslims in Iran and Iraq was an acceptable punishment
in Sharia law, or the result of culture, not religion.
"He told me that in a true Islamic
state, such punishments were part of Islam: if the person had had a
trial, at which four witnesses testified that they had seen the actual
homosexual acts."
"I asked him what would be the
British Muslim view? He repeated that in an Islamic state these
punishments were justified. They might result in the deaths of thousands
but if this deterred millions from having sex, and spreading disease,
then it was worthwhile to protect the wider community."
"I checked again that this was not a
matter of tradition, culture or local prejudice. 'No,' he said, 'It is
part of the central tenets of Islam: that sex outside marriage is
forbidden; this is stated in the Koran and the prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) had stated that these punishments were due to
such behaviours.'"
Gay man rights campaigner Peter
Tatchell said, "It is disturbing that some British imams are endorsing
the execution of gay and lesbian Muslims.
"Imam Arshad Misbahi's homophobic
attitudes give comfort and succor to queer-bashers. They encourage
conflict and disharmony between Manchester's large gay and Muslim
communities.
"Muslim and gay people know the pain
of prejudice and discrimination. We should be working together to
challenge homophobia and Islamophobia. I hope liberal Muslims will speak
out in defense of the human rights of lesbians and gay men," said
Tatchell.
Adnan Ali, founder of the British
branch of al-Fatiha, an organization for gay and lesbian Muslims, told
Gay.com that "a person with such an obsession about execution of human
beings is not even entitled to be addressed as Imam."
"Islam is a very tolerant religion
and celebrates the human diversity in its core message," Ali said.
"The holy book Qur'an does not
mention anywhere about the execution or killing of human beings on the
basis of their sexuality. What surprises is this obsession of the
Islamic clerics to killing and execution. Why? What about dialogue?
Discussion?
"Arshad Misbahi's comparison of
same-sex relation to adultery is nothing but ignorant and utterly
irresponsible rhetoric, manifesting the wrong teachings of Islam. The
media should . . . not take it for granted as the general view of the
Muslim community all over."
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