Muslims reject homophobia

[xmasdale]

Outrage has sent us this:

Muslim Council u-turn on gay rights "welcomed"

MCB official confirms policy shift

DTI facilitates inter-community “dialogue”

Copy of OutRage! letter to the MCB

London – 11 April 2006

Revelations that the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has agreed to
combat homophobia in the Muslim community have been "warmly welcomed"
by OutRage!, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender human rights
group.

"This u-turn is a positive, hopeful sign that the gay and Muslim
communities can work together to challenge the twin evils of
homophobia and Islamophobia," said Aaron Saeed, OutRage!'s Muslim
Affairs spokesperson.

"The MCB’s policy shift follows discreet contact by gay rights groups
OutRage! and Stonewall. It comes three months after MCB leader, Sir
Iqbal Sacranie, was heavily criticised for anti-gay remarks on the
BBC's PM programme," said Mr Saeed

A copy of OutRage!'s most recent letter to the MCB follows below.

MCB policy advisor, Muhammed Aziz, revealed a five-year plan against
homophobia in an interview with gay news website Pink News:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1097.html

Mr Aziz told Pink News: "We have brought about a lot of change from
five years ago when the MCB were behind issues such as section 28, and
against gay adoption."

It is understood that the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) will
facilitate dialogue between the MCB and the gay community.

"This change of heart is fantastic. The MCB's past opposition to gay
human rights has been very hurtful. We were saddened to see the MCB
campaigning to retain the notorious Section 28, and distressed by its
attacks on same-sex parents and civil partnerships. We hope the MCB's
support for homophobic discrimination is now a thing of the past and
that we can move forward together," said Mr Saeed.

Peter Tatchell of OutRage! echoed Mr Saeed’s welcome:

"We salute Mr Aziz and the MCB for their commitment to tackle
homophobia and establish dialogue with the gay community. We look
forward to constructive engagement with the MCB."

The MCB’s move was also praised by Brett Lock, OutRage!'s campaign
organiser:

"In February, a gay Muslim asylum seeker from Sudan, Nahi Mudwai,
committed suicide by jumping into the Thames after his family's
homophobia drove him to despair. Thousands of young gay people from
religious families – not only Muslim, of course – experience rejection
and depression because of faith-inspired homophobia.

"We applauded the MCB for its decision to combat anti-gay attitudes,"
said Mr Lock.

Commenting on the homophobic comments of MCB leader, Sir Iqbal
Sacranie, made earlier this year on the BBC, Mr Lock added:

"Sir Iqbal’s condemnation of gay people as socially destructive
spreaders of disease was deeply offensive.

"We hope Sir Iqbal will be part of this dialogue and that he will
signal the resolve of the entire MCB leadership to join the fight
homophobia.

"OutRage! reaffirms its commitment to challenge racism and
Islamophobia. We oppose all forms of hatred and discrimination," said
Mr Lock.

Peter Tatchell of OutRage! wrote to the MCB in February and March
2006, seeking dialogue and a proposing a common agenda against
anti-Muslim and anti-gay prejudice.

OutRage! has previously written similar letters to the MCB several
times over the last four years.

A copy of OutRage!'s most recent letter to the MCB follows below.

Further information: Brett Lock, OutRage! 0770 843 5917.

--------------

Dear Iqbal Sacranie,

I am writing on behalf of the lesbian and gay human rights groups
OutRage! to request a meeting with yourself and other leaders of the
Muslim Council of Britain.

We are alarmed that while protesting against Islamophobia, the MCB
endorses extreme homophobia.

Statements on the MCB website condemn same-sex relationships as
"offensive", "immoral" and "repugnant".

While demanding human rights for Muslims, the MCB appears to want to
deny human rights to lesbian and gay people.

The MCB opposed an equal age of consent and protection for gay people
against discrimination in the workplace. It backed the retention of
Section 28 and a ban on gay couples caring for children.

While Muslim people are entitled to live their lives according to
their own beliefs and morality, they do not have the right to use the
legal system to impose their religious beliefs on everyone else.

OutRage! does not, for example, seek to compel others to be gay or
adopt a gay lifestyle. Nor do we believe the law should penalise
people of faith.

Indeed, in contrast to the MCB's support for homophobic
discrimination, OutRage! has long campaigned for comprehensive
equality laws to protect everyone, including Muslims and gays, against
discrimination.

Moreover, during the passage of the Crime & Disorder Bill in 1998 we
proposed an amendment to extend the tough new penalties for race hate
attacks to hate-motivated violence against sexual and religious
minorities, including Muslim people.

Sadly, our support for the Muslim community has not been
reciprocated.

Tolerance is a two-way street. The MCB is unlikely to secure respect
for Muslims when it shows apparent disrespect to others because of
their sexual orientation.

Instead of attacking the gay community, wouldn't it be better if the
MCB worked with us to eradicate the twin hatreds of Islamophobia and
homophobia?

To this end, I hope you will agree to meet representatives from
OutRage! to share our respective concerns and explore our common
interest in defending the human rights of both our communities.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Tatchell
OutRage!
PO Box 17816
London SW14 8WT

ENDS

[Piioottrr]

So, what are ‘moderate’ Muslims saying in Arabic about the Orlando massacre which the media will never show you?
Thanks to the good work of Twitter user @ahmedaa1k, you are able to see what was being said in Arabic by many Muslims in response to the Orlando shooting. Please keep in mind, Ahmed is the individual translating these tweets, not the individual making these abhorrent comments.

If you run into any CAIR jihadists or other Muslims talking about solidarity between Muslims and the Gay community, show them these comments:
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2016/06/13/so-what-are-moderate-muslims- saying-in-arabic-about-the-orlando-massacre-which-the-media-will-never -show-you/