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Tuesday 12 February 2013

UK LGBT activists want no part of Sharia

Britain’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are lashing out at the potential of applying Sharia, or Islamic law, in the United Kingdom. Muslim LGBT activists have told Bikyanews.com that any semblance of Islamic law would threaten their rights in the European country and hope that the government will understand that any implementation of Islamic law would threaten their rights.

“I think this is something that really isn’t going to happen and we shouldn’t worry about it, but as a Muslim gay man and a British citizen, the talk is worrying,” said David Hamid, a 41-year-old of Pakistani heritage who believes that until Islam becomes more tolerant, any Islamic law would be a threat.

“We are an open society and have just passed marriage equality laws, so this is hopefully a moot point at this time in Britain’s history,” he told Bikyanews.com.

Leading Muslim gay LGBT activist and rights advocate Omar Kuddus has also spoken out publicly over the matter.

Kuddus, who is also a Gay Star News contributor and director and founder of GayAsylumUK believes that the introduction of Sharia law into Britain would put LGBT people’s safety and civil rights at risk.

Appearing on the UK’s Channel 4 – 4Thought program, he argues religion should have no part in civil law.

He further explains that as he understands Islam, being gay is not a sin.

He said: ‘I do not believe being homosexual is sinful, because Islam is an interpretation of what we as Muslims need to make of our lives’.

In contrast he asks, “have religious fanatics got so obsessed with homosexuality that they have forgotten the true meaning of our religion?

“Our religion is about peace and love, it is their duty not to persecute, not to judge, have they lost the plot along the way? That is the question that needs to be asked.”

It is a question that has arisen in the UK over its large and growing Muslim population and the role the UK government will play in LGBT relationships and the rise of conservative Islamic sentiments in the UK and abroad.

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