Eye on ‘Gay Muslims’

Close encounters May 21, 2006

Yusuf Smith got back safely on Friday night from a meeting addressed by Peter Tatchell, Ali Hilli (both OutRageous) and Houzan Mahmoud.

I haven't commented on the Sistani fatwa issue before now, mainly because – like many things coming from Iraq – it's rather hard to ascertain the exact reality unless you have contacts who can help, and I am extremely wary of any "information" coming from OutRage, especially where quoting or interpreting scholars' edicts is concerned. Remember Qaradawi?

But for what it's worth, I agree with Yusuf when he says: "…of course, as Muslims, we don't condone homosexual behaviour, but we absolutely condemn gangsterism, kidnapping, blackmail, armed thugs presuming to be moral vigilantes, and the threatening of families for one member's deeds."

This caught my weary eye:

She asked if gay organisations had tried to contact trade unions, to which Ali Hilli replied that they had not, but were trying, and that they presently numbered only thirty people who were presently involved in a media campaign against homophobic fatwas.

I wish people could respect the difference between the worlds of media, politics and religious teachings/judgement, despite whatever overlaps exist. This is a theme I will be labouring on a bit in my forthcoming (promised) response to Brian Whitaker's blog.