Imam accused of 'gay death' slur [Muslim executions 'for the common good']

BBC New on line ^ | October 26, 2006 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

A gay rights campaigner has accused an Imam of saying the execution of gay Muslims to stop the spread of disease is "for the common good of man".

Dr John Casson visited Arshad Misbahi, the Imam at Manchester Central Mosque, to discuss concerns over the execution of homosexual Muslims in Iran.

Dr Casson said the comments were made in a private meeting but he wrote them down afterwards.

The Imam did not deny the comments but said he had been misinterpreted.

Mr Misbahi said he was only talking about the Islamic perspective on homosexuality and stressed he would make a statement later on Thursday.

Dr Casson, a physiotherapist, said he was shocked at what had been said.

He said he set up the meeting to open dialogue with the Muslim community after reading about two gay teenagers, Mahmood Asghari and Ilyas Mahoni, who were hanged in Iran.

He decided to contact Muslim leaders to show he felt this was unacceptable.

"I would very much welcome the Imam's clarification of him telling me and the public exactly what the views of Islam are," he said.

"I would apologise if I had misunderstood what he said to me.

"I wrote down what he said to me straight after the interview."

'Demonising Muslims'

Massoud Shadjareh, from the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said this was not an issue for Muslims.

He said homosexuality was "not compatible" with Islam, just as it was not compatible with other orthodox religions, such as Catholicism.

He added: "Just one man talking to another becomes an issue, Muslims are being put under a magnifying glass.

"I think that this is part of demonising Muslims," he said.

Published: 2006/10/26 13:57:51 GMT

© BBC MMVI

[RS]

"Not that I endorse that sentiment completely...LOL"

... another moderate :-)

[RS]

"BTW Catholics are against the death penalty"

"This is not an opinion that is binding on Catholics, as opposed to being against abortion, which is binding."

Well, c'mon folks ... which is it ?

Do we get to kill murderers or not, or does God say just " whatever you feel like " ?


You two seem like people who seem to know the rules ...

[RS]

"It appears that the Lamestream media is trying to appease Mad Mo's disciples by not pointing out the obvious downsides of Islam."

... and that downside would be that they don't allow those alternative lifestyles as opposed to what we conservative Americans do ?

[wjcsux]

I really don't care what the alternative lifestyles people do as long as:
1. They aren't breaking the law.
2. It is between consenting adults in privacy.
3. They aren't expecting me, my family, or anyone else to "accept them".
4. They aren't trying to indoctrinate us that their lifestyle is "normal".
5. They don't expect the rest of us to finance their health care costs.

[ridesthemiles]

While practicing homosexuality is incompatible with Catholicism, it is hardly the death sentence that it is under Islam."

How about a death sentence for the Imam= "for the common good"????

[daku]

Why am I thinking about "Alien vs Predator"?

LOL and why do I have that "Rove you magnificent bastard " shot of Patton in my head ?

[RS]

Sounds pretty moderate to me ...

The "true conservatives" will probably jump on you for that :-)

[montag813]

While practicing homosexuality is incompatible with Catholicism, it is hardly the death sentence that it is under Islam.

Christianity:
Hate the sin
Love the sinner

Islam:
Hate the sin
KILL the sinner

[foreshadowed at waco]

The Catholic Church came out against the death penalty approximately 15 years ago...I'm not sure if the teaching was issued under the auspices of the Pope's infallibility powers or not...I do know that abortion is considered sinful because it is murder as a human child is believed to have a soul at the moment of conception (part of the reason that the Church is against birth control is because all methods of birth control [except barrier methods] cause spontaneous abortions).

Abortion is a procedure which the person themselves must sanction on an individual level so I can choose to have or not have an abortion. I lack the personal power to stop government-authorized executions so being in favor of or opposing the death penalty does little to encourage or prevent them. The personal choice factor is absent. I would assume that the Church would not look happily upon the man who drops the cyanide into the bucket or kicks the trap door catch.

In terms of voting for a candidate it's hard to find a pro-life candidate who is opposed to the death penalty. I get the innocent life versus guilty life argument but I, personally, am a bit of a libertarian--I don't want the government to have the power to execute citizens--no parole and a life behind bars does it for me. In a just world the family of the killer's victims should get to decide what they think will bring them comfort after much prayer and reflection IMHO.