Religions unite against new Indian gay laws

The Indian government’s recent relaxation of anti-gay laws may succeed where all other attempts have failed and bring together opposing religious groups, it emerged today.

Muslim organisations Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind have united with Hindu groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to challenge the High Court verdict in New Delhi last week which overturned a 148-year-old law of the British rule criminalising homosexual acts. And members of the two religions are looking to persuade Christian groups to join them.

“Homosexuality is against our culture and we will not accept this at any cost. We will discuss the matter with other religious leaders and see what can be done to stop this,” a spokesman from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad told the Press Association.

Mufti Ejaz Arshad Qasmi, former spokesman of Darul Uloom Deoband and general secretary of the Islamic Peace Foundation, said in the next few weeks efforts would be made to establish a joint forum comprising representatives of Muslim, Hindu and Christian organisations to discuss its objections to the ruling.

According to Mr Qasmi, the process has already started and the Darul Uloom Deoband, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Islamic Peace Foundation will meet soon to decide a course of action.

“We will first try to get as many Muslim organisations as possible on board. The verdict is shameful. It is a result of the mindset of just a handful of ungodly people, how can it be accepted for the majority? It (the order) not just legalises something that is completely against nature, but is also devious of religious sensibilities,” Mr Qasmi said.

He added that once the Muslim groups had held their talks, they would approach VHP, RSS and representatives of various Christian bodies for support. “The VHP and RSS have considerable clout in political circles and like us they too have objected to this dirty verdict,” said Mr Qasmi. “It’s time for us to act together against this verdict or it will pollute the society.”

However, gay rights activists have slammed the religious groups. “Religious group protesting against this order are hypocrites. They have been fighting for years but now all of a sudden they are sounding similar. It’s not a religious matter but a matter of human rights,” Sunil Menon, spokesman of the gay rights group Sahodaran, said.

“We are as religious as anybody else. Religious leaders should learn from us. We are one community, we don’t divide people based on religion, caste and colour.

“Religion teaches us to be honest and we are being honest when we are open about our sexuality,” Mr Menon added.