This is truly amazing. Not only does the WH want to trash the Bible with its 25 negative references to homosexuality, it wants to trash the Koran, the Hadith, and Shariah Law on the issue as well. There is a contradiction here which the Left seems completely unable to recognize exists. Islam is, if anything, more anti-homosexual that Orthodox Judaism or traditional Christianity. A plurality of Muslim states require the death penalty for homosexuality, others demand prison time, or in a few cases severe fines. In no case are there anything like lenient laws concerning homosexuality. That is, opposition to homosexuality is intrinsic to all forms of Muslim orthodoxy. In the West, where Shariah law has no standing --minus exceptions like various local communities in Britain-- and the force of popular culture has created a class of Muslims who disregard traditions that they never may have heard of in the first place due to high rates of Koran illiteracy, a "homosexual rights" lifestyle may well be regarded as an acceptable alternative for a Muslim subgroup. But this hardly applies to the general population within Muslim majority nations. For the US government to actively promote homosexuality in Pakistan, especially against a backdrop of increased tensions, is irrational, if not a form of madness. At a minimum it is to ask for trouble that no-one wants or needs. Yet it is happening anyway. Billy ===================================================== from the site : Islam Online 2011-07-07 08:35:20
Pakistan: US-sponsored Gay Party attracts countrywide criticism By: Aamir Latif A US-sponsored gays and lesbians party within the premises of US embassy in Islamabad with a pledge that Washington will continue to support their “ just struggle and cause” in Pakistan, has invited a countrywide criticism, particularly from the right-wing parties. “This is tantamount to targeting the essence of the constitution of Pakistan, which depicts that no law repugnant to Islam can be introduced or enforced in this country,” said Fareed Ahmed Piracha, the deputy secretary general of Jammat-e-Islami, the country’s largest and annexed religious party to told “Islam Online”. Homosexuality in society…working in secrecy The party, first ever of its kind in this South Asian Muslim country, was hosted on June 26 2011 by the Charged Affaires Ambassador, Richard Hoagland, and members of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agency (GLIFAA). Over 75 participants, including foreign diplomats, local NGO workers, human rights activists, and a couple of TV anchors attended the party. According to Penal Code of Pakistan, homosexuality is a cognizable crime, and the perpetrators will be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of not less than two years, and not more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. There are some private gays and lesbians clubs in posh localities of Karachi, Islamabad , and Lahore, however, their members do not admit that publicly due to a general dislike against homosexuality. A Lahore-based gay club is running a website www.gaylahore.com, whereby its members are informed about gays related activities in other parts of the world, however there are no open announcements regarding such events in Pakistan. But it is believed that the “unidentified” operators of the website use some code words to acquaint their members about gays related activities in Lahore and elsewhere in the country. Our rulers’ fault “This (promotion of homosexuality) is totally unacceptable in Pakistani society. It’s not merely unIslamic, but unethical and devoid of the Pakistani culture”, Piracha said. “All this is happening because of the weaknesses of our rulers. They have already allowed US to kill our people through drone attacks, and now they (US) have attacked Islamic values and laws”, Piracha maintained. Right-wing Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadit, Sunni Tehrik, Tehrik-e-Jafria Pakistan, which represents minority Shiite population of Pakistan, Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), the largest students party in the country, took out protest rallies, and demonstrations condemning the US patronage to this un-Islamic act. Students belonging to IJT and other parties burned US flags and effigies of the diplomat that hosted the pride party in different parts of the country. Three senators belonging to Jammat-e-Islami has also moved an adjournment motion in the upper house, Senate, against pride gays, and lesbians party. “Not only in Islam, but in Christianity too, homosexuality is considered a sin”, Allama Nazir Abbas Naqvi, a Shiite religious scholar told “Islam Online”. “The US doesn’t respect the laws of other lands. It thinks that the world should be run as per its own laws”, he said asking that “if the US doesn’ t respect our laws, how could it expect from us to respect its laws”. He thinks that the motive behind such unethical parties is not only to discourage the family system, which is the back bone of an Islamic society, but also to attack the foundations of the Islamic law s of the country. Cultural imperialism Not only the right wing parties, but legal and political experts too consider the move in contravention of the law of the land. “We should not see the holding of this party in isolation. This is part of a universal Western agenda”, Ismat Mehdi, a Karachi-based senior lawyer told “Islam Online”. She thinks that due to the ever-increasing economic constraints in America and Europe, there is a deliberate denial of family-oriented system there. “This is cultural imperialism in its worst form. They want to impose their agenda here too”, she observed. “If it is so legal and fit, then US should let it prevail all over the US” , Mehdi maintained referring to the remarks of the host of the party that struggle for gays and lesbians rights in Pakistan is still beginning, but “ I want to be clear that the US embassy is here to support you and stand by your side every step of the way”. Piracha too thinks that Pakistan’s family system is the prime target of such activities. “The family system has been totally destroyed in most parts of the US and Europe because of the exclusion of religion from daily life. It’s not only Islam, but in all religions, homosexuality is considered unnatural and a great sin”. “How ironic it is that America and Europe are silent over the ban on headscarfs, and minarets in various European countries, but they feel the pain for perpetrators of those who are going against nature, not only as per Islam, but as per Christianity and Jewish beliefs”. A favor to extremists Farzana Shah, a Peshawar-based political analyst thinks that the US move will not only foment the already increasing anti-American sentiments, but will also strengthen the propaganda of extremist groups vis-à-vis US anti-Islam policies. “This is a very unwise move. It has not only given a golden opportunity to prove that Pakistani government and the army stand alongside that country, which supports and patronize anti-Islam activities in Pakistan as an agenda ”, Farzana Shah told “Islam Online”. “Indirectly, the US has given a great favor to the hardliners”, she thought. “I am afraid that extremist groups will now not only target the US, but Pakistani gays and bisexuals who up till now were relatively not harmed and were carrying their activities with ease. But, the US had put their lives at risk by issuing official statement. If anything violent takes place after this goof up against Pakistani gays and lesbians, only the US will be responsible for that”, she maintained. “Such unwise and uncalled moves only benefit extremists and hardliners. They always go against moderates, who have been trying to promote religious harmony and tolerance in society. But, this all goes in vain just because of these stupid moves”, she added. -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
