Gay Humanists Support London Rally Against Sharia Law

London 18^th June 2010

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA, www.galha.org) supports the protest against Sharia Law in London on Sunday 20 June 2010. The rally, organised by the One Law for All Campaign (www.onelawforall.org.uk) will be held from 1400-1600 hours at Richmond Terrace junction with Whitehall opposite Downing Street. GALHA will speak at the rally about the problems of Sharia law for LGBT people and Humanists.

GALHA has long campaigned for Humanism, one key aspect of which is a secular society in which no religion enjoys a privileged position in law. The idea of laws, like Sharia, based on the teachings of a particular religion are anathema. Currently Sharia Law is applied in a significant number of countries in Asia and Africa. Whilst precise interpretations vary, women are always subject to serious discrimination, and in many cases LGBT people (both male and female) are actively persecuted.

Even in the UK, the previous government chose to recognise some of the “civil” aspects of Sharia Law. Because many Muslims in the UK are encouraged to accept its rulings, this has resulted in de facto legalised discrimination against some of the UK’s own Muslim citizens.

GALHA Chair Adam Knowles commented:

“Sharia law has institutionalised discrimination against women and gay people based on ideas laid down for a different society in a different age. GALHA opposes any legal system based on the doctrines and dictates of a religion. A fair free and open society requires a level playing field. Laws must be based on argument, evidence and reason - and subject to democratic debate and change. That can only be achieved by a single, national set of laws, applied without fear or favour, in other words “One Law For All”. That is why we're behind this rally and are sending a representative to demonstrate that support.

We call on the British Government to campaign against Sharia Law internationally, wherever it is applied, and to support its many victims: men, women, Muslims, non-Muslims, gay and straight. We also urge the Government to refuse absolutely to grant any recognition or credence to Sharia “courts” within the UK and not to give any credence to their verdicts or rulings.

We've spent decades fighting for equality in Britain and elsewhere - only to see this discrimination resurface in another guise.

We support this rally wholeheartedly, and urge everyone, whatever their religion, their gender or the sexuality to do the same. The time has come to show Sharia law the door."

END

Note to Editors:

GALHA . promotes  Humanism and LGBT  rights in the United Kingdom and elsewhere and promotes a rational approach to LGBT Rights as human rights.

www.galha.org <http://www.galha. org/>   0792 1188329

For more information about the One Law For All Campaign please see their website: www.onelawforall.org.uk