Islam 'Recognizes Homosexuality'

Islam 'recognizes homosexuality'

Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 03/28/2008 1:38 AM |

Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus
permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday.

Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to reject
homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and
homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on
narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings.

Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace
cited the Koran's al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for
human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of
ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.

"There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes
of God, people are valued based on their piety," she told the
discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi.

"And talking about piety is God's prerogative to judge," she added.
"The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect
and dignify them." Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should
be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion. Mata
Air magazine managing editor Soffa Ihsan said Islam's acknowledgement
of heterogeneity should also include homosexuality.

He said Muslims needed to continue to embrace ijtihad (the process of
making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the Koran and
the Sunnah) to avoid being stuck in the old paradigm without
developing open-minded interpretations.

Another speaker at the discussion, Nurofiah of the Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU), said the dominant notion of heterogeneity was a social
construction, leading to the banning of homosexuality by the majority.

"Like gender bias or patriarchy, heterogeneity bias is socially
constructed. It would be totally different if the ruling group was
homosexuals, " she said.

Other speakers said the magnificence of Islam was that it could be
blended and integrated into local culture. "In fact, Indonesia's
culture has accepted homosexuality. The homosexual group in
Bugis-Makassar tradition called Bissu is respected and given a high
position in the kingdom.

"Also, we know that in Ponorogo (East Java) there has been
acknowledgement of homosexuality, " Arus Pelangi head Rido Triawan said.

Condemnation of homosexuality was voiced by two conservative Muslim
groups, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Hizbut Thahir Indonesia
(HTI).

"It's a sin. We will not consider homosexuals an enemy, but we will
make them aware that what they are doing is wrong," MUI deputy
chairman Amir Syarifuddin said.

Rokhmat, of the hardline HTI, several times asked homosexual
participants in attendance to repent and force themselves to gradually
return to the right path.