August 28 2008
The Islamic Council of Norway doesn't want homosexuals, Muslim or not,
to be in the closet.
They live in Norway, a democratic country, and they are free to come
out, says Senaid Kobilica of the Islamic council of Norway to
Dagsavisen. He stresses that nobody should live in fear and points to
violent incidents where homosexuals were beaten due to the sexual
inclination.
"Most of all they need somebody to speak with. Imams must therefore be
open to listen to homosexual Muslims. We recommend that everybody
respect homosexuals and lesbians", says Kobilica.
The Islamic Council is an umbrella organization for the Islamic faith
societies and organizations in Norway. It represents close to 70,000
Norwegian Muslims. [ed: out of an estimated 120,000-150,000]
By saying imams should listen to homosexual Muslims, Kobilica opens
the door for homosexual Muslims. But the head of the Islamic Council
thinks it's incompatible to be a homosexual and a believing Muslim.
"It isn't possible to live homosexually and at the same time say that
one practices Islam. These are two incompatible things."
- Isn't is also an interpretation of Islam, that one can't be an
homosexual and a believing Muslim?
"No. Homosexuality goes against what Islam stands for, and therefore
it can't be combined."
- How should the imams treat homosexual Muslims?
"The imams should listen to homosexuals and to their concerns. But
naturally we will also inform them about Islamic thought and how it
relates to homosexuality."
- Can homosexuality be cured?
"I don't want to speak of curing or that homosexuality is an illness.
As an imam I will note that every Muslim should live in conformity to
basic Islamic principles."
Earlier this week the Islamic Council of Norway's met with SV's
homo-network, where they spoke of homosexual Muslims in Norway. This
is the first time the Islamic Council met with homosexual
representatives to debate on this issue.
Two and half weeks ago the Children and Equality Minister, Anniken
Huitfeldt, criticized the Islamic Council for not rejecting the death
sentence against homosexuals. (..)
"We stress that the Islamic Council of Norway rejects the death
sentence for homosexuals in Norway, but we don't want to go into
legislation in other countries," says Kobilica.
But Norwegian Muslims don't need to reject the death sentence for
homosexuals outside Norway?
"As said the Islamic Council can't get involved in how other countries
are run."
Senaid, you had earlier said that you can count homosexual Muslims on
one hand. Do you still think that?
"He he. No, I've heard much about it, and it was certainly not so
clever of me," answers Kobilica.
Basim Ghozlan, head of the Islamic Association, says he will naturally
listen to homosexual Muslims who come to him.
"But until now I haven't seen anybody. If they come to me, we can talk
about anything. I think they should live the way they think is right,"
says Ghozlan.
http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/article365805.ece
The Islamic Council of Norway doesn't want homosexuals, Muslim or not,
to be in the closet.
They live in Norway, a democratic country, and they are free to come
out, says Senaid Kobilica of the Islamic council of Norway to
Dagsavisen. He stresses that nobody should live in fear and points to
violent incidents where homosexuals were beaten due to the sexual
inclination.
"Most of all they need somebody to speak with. Imams must therefore be
open to listen to homosexual Muslims. We recommend that everybody
respect homosexuals and lesbians", says Kobilica.
The Islamic Council is an umbrella organization for the Islamic faith
societies and organizations in Norway. It represents close to 70,000
Norwegian Muslims. [ed: out of an estimated 120,000-150,000]
By saying imams should listen to homosexual Muslims, Kobilica opens
the door for homosexual Muslims. But the head of the Islamic Council
thinks it's incompatible to be a homosexual and a believing Muslim.
"It isn't possible to live homosexually and at the same time say that
one practices Islam. These are two incompatible things."
- Isn't is also an interpretation of Islam, that one can't be an
homosexual and a believing Muslim?
"No. Homosexuality goes against what Islam stands for, and therefore
it can't be combined."
- How should the imams treat homosexual Muslims?
"The imams should listen to homosexuals and to their concerns. But
naturally we will also inform them about Islamic thought and how it
relates to homosexuality."
- Can homosexuality be cured?
"I don't want to speak of curing or that homosexuality is an illness.
As an imam I will note that every Muslim should live in conformity to
basic Islamic principles."
Earlier this week the Islamic Council of Norway's met with SV's
homo-network, where they spoke of homosexual Muslims in Norway. This
is the first time the Islamic Council met with homosexual
representatives to debate on this issue.
Two and half weeks ago the Children and Equality Minister, Anniken
Huitfeldt, criticized the Islamic Council for not rejecting the death
sentence against homosexuals. (..)
"We stress that the Islamic Council of Norway rejects the death
sentence for homosexuals in Norway, but we don't want to go into
legislation in other countries," says Kobilica.
But Norwegian Muslims don't need to reject the death sentence for
homosexuals outside Norway?
"As said the Islamic Council can't get involved in how other countries
are run."
Senaid, you had earlier said that you can count homosexual Muslims on
one hand. Do you still think that?
"He he. No, I've heard much about it, and it was certainly not so
clever of me," answers Kobilica.
Basim Ghozlan, head of the Islamic Association, says he will naturally
listen to homosexual Muslims who come to him.
"But until now I haven't seen anybody. If they come to me, we can talk
about anything. I think they should live the way they think is right,"
says Ghozlan.
http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/article365805.ece
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