OutRage! protests against cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the chief scholar of the website IslamOnline, which endorses the execution of homosexuals - who it discribes as "sick perverted and abonimable"; and which blames rape victims who dress "immodestly" for sex attacks, and outlines the conditions under which a husband can beat his wife.
Green Councilor Darren Johnson joins protestors outside London's City Hall
Mayor plans to embrace homophobic cleric again in October
LONDON – 12 July 2004 - “Ken Livingstone has sided with male Muslim
misogynists and homophobes against women and gay Londoners,” said
human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell of OutRage! who was one of a
group of protestors outside London’s City Hall this morning, 12 July
2004.
He was commenting on the Mayor of London’s decision to host
controversial Muslim scholar, Dr Al-Qaradawi, and to invite him to a
further conference at City Hall in October.
“By kow-towing to Islamic fundamentalists like Dr Al-Qaradawi, the
Mayor has betrayed liberal Muslims who are already isolated and
terrorised within sections of British Muslim society,” said Mr
Tatchell.
“Young Muslim girls in some parts of London are pressured by their
families and religious leaders into wearing the hijab. Gay and lesbian
Muslims have been threatened with violence by Islamic activists.
Progressive Muslims who speak out in support of gay and women’s rights
are intimidated and cowed into silence.“
“Ken Livingstone has associated himself with Muslim religious tyranny
against liberal Muslim opinion,” added Mr Tatchell.
The protest outside City Hall was against the participation of Muslim
theologian Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi in a GLA-sponsored conference on the
hijab.
It involved activists from the gay and lesbian human rights group
OutRage!, together with Green London Assembly members, Darren Johnson
and Jenny Jones, and campaigners from GayEgypt.com and the Gay and
Lesbian Humanist Association.
The protesters say Dr Al-Qaradawi’s homophobic and misogynist views
sanction the oppression of women and the execution of lesbians and gay
men.
Despite claims by Ken Livingstone and the Muslim Association of
Britain that Dr Al-Qaradawi has been misinterpreted and
misrepresented, Dr Al-Qaradawi is the chief advisor to the website,
IslamOnline, and supervises its content. He is therefore responsible
for the views it expresses.
IslamOnline promotes policies contrary to key principles of
international human rights law. The website tacitly endorses the right
of husbands to beat their wives and to force them to wear the hijab.
It blames rape victims who dress immodestly and defends the right of
Islamic states to impose the death penalty for homosexuality, says
OutRage!
“Dr Al-Qaradawi is the chief scholar on the website IslamOnline which
issues fatwas – religious edicts – on a range of contemporary moral
issues and responds to ethical questions posed by Muslims seeking
theological guidance. In addition to answering many questions
personally, Dr Al-Qaradawi heads a panel whose role it is to ensure
that nothing appears on the site that ‘violates the fixed principles
of Islamic law’,” said Brett Lock of OutRage! who has researched Dr
Al-Qaradawi’s IslamOnline site.
“Some of the fatwas issued via IslamOnline by Dr Al-Qaradawi and his
colleagues support the death penalty for homosexuality (including
burning and stoning).
“Though he has told the Guardian that he does not support individual
Muslims attacking individual gay people, tellingly, he leaves the
issue of government-sanctioned persecution – including execution –
open, saying ‘any punishment was a matter for the state’. Currently,
at least six Islamic countries have the death penalty for
homosexuality. Instead of using his position as a respected cleric and
popular broadcaster to bring relief to the persecuted, he gives
theological authority to the persecutors.
“The conference on the hijab was a farce. It claimed to promote
‘choice’ but Dr Al-Qaradawi has himself ruled that wearing the hijab
is not a matter of choice, but one of religious obligation. The
conference speakers included no liberal or progressive Muslims. The
voices of Muslim feminists, who reject the hijab, were excluded. It
was a one-sided presentation of religious fundamentalism masquerading
as a human rights debate.”
“Interviewed in The Guardian on 12 July 2004, Dr Al-Qaradawi defended
his statements on wife-beating as ‘scholarship’, and said that in his
view it was neither ‘obligatory or desirable’.”
“We welcome this clarification,” added Mr Lock, “however we are
disturbed that Dr Al-Qaradawi seems unable to grasp that scholarly
opinions that appear to condone wife-beating give legitimacy to
domestic violence, whatever Dr Al-Qaradawi’s intentions. They may
influence the attitudes and behaviour of many Muslims who hold Dr
Al-Qaradawi in high esteem. His illiberal scholarly views help
legitimise and encourage intolerance in the wider Muslim community.
“The UK Muslim support group, Safra Project, report that domestic
violence is a major problem faced by many Muslim women. A man prone to
wife-beating is unlikely to appreciate the scholarly subtleties of Dr
Al-Qaradawi’s arguments, especially since IslamOnline’s format is
similar to that of an Agony Aunt – dispensing advice to people
presenting real-life problems and situations. How can Dr Al-Qaradawi
claim that his answers are merely academic?” queried Mr Lock.
LONDON – 12 July 2004 - “Ken Livingstone has sided with male Muslim
misogynists and homophobes against women and gay Londoners,” said
human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell of OutRage! who was one of a
group of protestors outside London’s City Hall this morning, 12 July
2004.
He was commenting on the Mayor of London’s decision to host
controversial Muslim scholar, Dr Al-Qaradawi, and to invite him to a
further conference at City Hall in October.
“By kow-towing to Islamic fundamentalists like Dr Al-Qaradawi, the
Mayor has betrayed liberal Muslims who are already isolated and
terrorised within sections of British Muslim society,” said Mr
Tatchell.
“Young Muslim girls in some parts of London are pressured by their
families and religious leaders into wearing the hijab. Gay and lesbian
Muslims have been threatened with violence by Islamic activists.
Progressive Muslims who speak out in support of gay and women’s rights
are intimidated and cowed into silence.“
“Ken Livingstone has associated himself with Muslim religious tyranny
against liberal Muslim opinion,” added Mr Tatchell.
The protest outside City Hall was against the participation of Muslim
theologian Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi in a GLA-sponsored conference on the
hijab.
It involved activists from the gay and lesbian human rights group
OutRage!, together with Green London Assembly members, Darren Johnson
and Jenny Jones, and campaigners from GayEgypt.com and the Gay and
Lesbian Humanist Association.
The protesters say Dr Al-Qaradawi’s homophobic and misogynist views
sanction the oppression of women and the execution of lesbians and gay
men.
Despite claims by Ken Livingstone and the Muslim Association of
Britain that Dr Al-Qaradawi has been misinterpreted and
misrepresented, Dr Al-Qaradawi is the chief advisor to the website,
IslamOnline, and supervises its content. He is therefore responsible
for the views it expresses.
IslamOnline promotes policies contrary to key principles of
international human rights law. The website tacitly endorses the right
of husbands to beat their wives and to force them to wear the hijab.
It blames rape victims who dress immodestly and defends the right of
Islamic states to impose the death penalty for homosexuality, says
OutRage!
“Dr Al-Qaradawi is the chief scholar on the website IslamOnline which
issues fatwas – religious edicts – on a range of contemporary moral
issues and responds to ethical questions posed by Muslims seeking
theological guidance. In addition to answering many questions
personally, Dr Al-Qaradawi heads a panel whose role it is to ensure
that nothing appears on the site that ‘violates the fixed principles
of Islamic law’,” said Brett Lock of OutRage! who has researched Dr
Al-Qaradawi’s IslamOnline site.
“Some of the fatwas issued via IslamOnline by Dr Al-Qaradawi and his
colleagues support the death penalty for homosexuality (including
burning and stoning).
“Though he has told the Guardian that he does not support individual
Muslims attacking individual gay people, tellingly, he leaves the
issue of government-sanctioned persecution – including execution –
open, saying ‘any punishment was a matter for the state’. Currently,
at least six Islamic countries have the death penalty for
homosexuality. Instead of using his position as a respected cleric and
popular broadcaster to bring relief to the persecuted, he gives
theological authority to the persecutors.
“The conference on the hijab was a farce. It claimed to promote
‘choice’ but Dr Al-Qaradawi has himself ruled that wearing the hijab
is not a matter of choice, but one of religious obligation. The
conference speakers included no liberal or progressive Muslims. The
voices of Muslim feminists, who reject the hijab, were excluded. It
was a one-sided presentation of religious fundamentalism masquerading
as a human rights debate.”
“Interviewed in The Guardian on 12 July 2004, Dr Al-Qaradawi defended
his statements on wife-beating as ‘scholarship’, and said that in his
view it was neither ‘obligatory or desirable’.”
“We welcome this clarification,” added Mr Lock, “however we are
disturbed that Dr Al-Qaradawi seems unable to grasp that scholarly
opinions that appear to condone wife-beating give legitimacy to
domestic violence, whatever Dr Al-Qaradawi’s intentions. They may
influence the attitudes and behaviour of many Muslims who hold Dr
Al-Qaradawi in high esteem. His illiberal scholarly views help
legitimise and encourage intolerance in the wider Muslim community.
“The UK Muslim support group, Safra Project, report that domestic
violence is a major problem faced by many Muslim women. A man prone to
wife-beating is unlikely to appreciate the scholarly subtleties of Dr
Al-Qaradawi’s arguments, especially since IslamOnline’s format is
similar to that of an Agony Aunt – dispensing advice to people
presenting real-life problems and situations. How can Dr Al-Qaradawi
claim that his answers are merely academic?” queried Mr Lock.
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Comments
Hide the following 14 comments
No place
13.07.2004 09:11
We have now heard his filth and in general Muslims have not rejected him, which is surprising and disturbing. Religion is once again being used as a shield for bigotry and ignorance. Muslims need to reject this man and his views and make clear that as proud British Muslims they don't subscribe to his outdated opinions.
Journo
extract from earlier report
13.07.2004 09:57
He says that although he stands by the fact that homosexuality is not accepted in the Koran, he is staunchly opposed to any punishment being given to gays and lesbians in non-Islamic states.
"My opinion is that homosexuality is forbidden in Islam, as in Christianity," he told the newspaper.
"Muslims have no right to punish homosexuals or mistreat them as individuals."
[incidentally, why is it incumbent on 'all Muslims' to distance themselves from al-Qaradawi, but there is no obligation on 'all Christians' to distance themselves from racist, sexist, homophobic right-wingers who kill doctors in the name of Jesus? Answer: because Muslims are still being treated as one homogenous bloc rather than diverse people who happen to have a faith in common, and that's the real problem in this whole discourse if you ask me]
type
Yes but . .
13.07.2004 10:02
Islam needs to face up to its nutters like Christianity, Judaism and for all I know Pagans do. People are less and less inclined to follow any religion in the educated democracies.
As has been said before the biggest threat faced by all religions in education. Let us spend our money and time not in fighting Islam and the other religions but in destroying them by educating our young.
Journo
Reading between the lines
13.07.2004 10:32
So it's OK for Islamic states to punish gays then?
Qwerty
betars protest
13.07.2004 11:12
we also went there with about 20 people we flew israeli and british flags and called for the resignation of ken livingstone.
the major of london who stands on platforms saying 'free palestine' is a disgrace dont you agree i am ashamed to be a londoner.
big up the gays your a nice bunch next time join us at m and s instead of the pally supporters who i hear beat you up?. we will look after you
activist
Difficult Issues
13.07.2004 11:39
Some of the issues that are raised here are difficult for the broad left to negotiate, as they involve the confusing minefield of freedom of speech vs. freedom from hate crime, Islam, anti-semitism and secularism. I have a feeling the arguments will rumble on for a while.
My personal feeling is that the coalition of gay, womens, secular and Jewish groups protesting are quite correct in highlighting the cleric's unpleasant pronouncements, and Mr Livingstone should have made much more of an effort to distance himself from this man. Perhaps an effort to moblilise progressive Muslims to counter this fellow could have been useful.
Various interesting lines have been adopted over this issue. For example, the right-wing Daily Mail (which is usually openly hostile to gay rights and feminism) cited these as reasons for opposing the Islamist conference (pp1, Monday 12th July) OutRage!, which marched with Livingstone at the July 3rd London Gay Pride Parade, is today protesting him. The Communist Party of Britain (Morning Star) are not taking an official line (to my knowledge). Neither are the SWP or the Jewish Socialist Group.
I guess there are going to be as many stances taken on this issue as there are activist groups!
Caz
Independent Left
genuine people in danger of hijack by anti-Muslim / anti-immigrant agenda
13.07.2004 14:20
I have a lot of respect for Outrage! and the work they've done, and I know they haven't just targetted Muslim religious leaders but Christian too. But I can't help feeling that with this following hard on the heels of them being quoted in right-wing meeja attacking Palestine Solidarity, they are risking being co-opted by the anti-Muslim lobby.
The trouble is that none of us can control our portrayal in the meeja. You may say 'we support the Palestinians, but condemn homophobia in Palestine' but most reporters will skip the first bit and just quote the second because it's more controversial/newsworthy.
It's like just before the massive Stop the War 15 Feb demo, when a spokesperson from a group who shall remain nameless appeared on Newsnight attacking the Stop the War Coalition for working with the Muslim Association of Britain. They tried to make it clear they nonetheless opposed the war, but guess what? That didn't get reported. Instead they were presented as a dissenting pro-war voice from the Left!
Remember the main strategy of the ruling classes is and always has been divide-and-rule.
trade unionist
to trade unionist
13.07.2004 14:42
Groups from across the political spectrum were united in opposition to this hatemonger, whose homophobia, racism and misogyny is equivalent to the worst we have seen from the BNP and other fascist groups.
Still, it's not up to me to tell you whether you should be defending fascists.
peter g
?
14.07.2004 11:35
double standards
your reply is illogical and disingenuous
14.07.2004 15:38
The Archbishop of Caterbury has never suggested that homosexuality is a disease that can only be cured by death. He has never suggested beating women, or said that rape victims probably deserved it.
This issue is only connected tangentally to Islam, and I wish these stirrers and agitators would stop trying to pretend it's got something to do with demonising Muslims. Qaradawi's views are clear - his views are backward, extremist, violent, intolerant, racist, misogynistic, homophobic and disgusting.
And they would still be, whatever religion he followed.
peter g
Double Standards?
14.07.2004 15:55
Brett Lock
Hear Hear!
15.07.2004 00:00
Mr Livingstone's new found friendship with homophobe (gay=evil) "Dr" Al-Qaradaw
It's about time the world faced up to the fact that a tiny percentage of Islam is not consistant with an accepting multicultural society. Don't fear a backlash from those who say you are 'islamaphobic' for challenging the small number of bigots that exist like Al-Qaradawi. It is HE who is of shame to Islam, and not the other way around. When people are raised from birth in a religious setting, simply preaching 'gay=bad' won't prevent them from being gay for heavens sake, should we ignore these poor souls and let them suffer in silence, I think not. Congrats OutRage as always!
Feel free to distribute the following image that the QUeErLiBeRaTIonFrOnT has kindly put together to honour Mr Livingstone's new found friendship...!
Q~~~L~~~F
divide-and-rule is how the Right win
15.07.2004 11:21
I know some people may think this is spin, but after many many years campaigning experience I really think this is what can happen. Remember that right-wingers have far more media power than us: give them any excuse for hijacking your efforts for their purpose and they will. I'm really afraid of them succeeding in setting up a divide-and-rule situation which will assist in whipping up anti-Muslim racism while doing nothing to actually promote LGBT rights.
In the unions we know very well that we do best when we stand together, against racism sexism and homophobia and for womens rights, LGBT rights and equality for people of all ethnic backgrounds and religions. That involves a degree of self-discipline and mutual respect which goes out the window as soon as we start issuing ultimatums to each other!
trade unionist
divide-and-rule
15.07.2004 13:38
Qwerty