Gays Should be Protected from Islamic Hate-Mongering Too

KENILWORTH, 22 FEBRUARY 2002 — The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has welcomed the arrest of the Muslim cleric Abdullah el-Faisal who has allegedly been touring the country inciting murder against Jews and non-believers. He has been charged under the rarely used Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.

However, GALHA is prompted to ask why a charge was not brought under the same act when other Muslims made similar threats in the past against lesbian and gay people.

GALHA secretary George Broadhead said: “When the late Dr Kalim Siddiqui, leader of the UK Muslim Parliament, made threats against ‘evil’ lesbians and gays, he was not arrested, let alone prosecuted. Nor was Omar Bakri Muhammad, the leader of Al-Muhajiroun, when he called (at Hyde Park, London) for lesbians and gays to be exterminated. This call followed the publication of the Al-Muhajiroun leaflet Homosexuality, Bestiality, Lesbianism, Adultery and Fornication – the Deadly Diseases.

“It seems that Jews and non-believers merit protection from Islamic hate-mongering, but lesbians and gays do not. When will the authorities realise that this is just as offensive and potentially deadly to lesbians and gays as it is to other vulnerable groups?”