Muslim and gay - Dissertation Example

?Running head: Muslim and gay (insert Muslim and gay (insert The Islam religion is against homosexuality as documentedin the Islamic law books and the Quran. Homosexuality is not only a sin to Allah but also a crime under the Islamic law. Muslim homosexuals face many social problems because they are not allowed to freely express their ideas and their feelings. Under the Islamic law, those found to be involved in acts of homosexuality face a death penalty and in some instances life imprisonment. Due to the strict nature of the Islam law against lesbians, the homosexuals opt to hiding for fear of their lives. Even though human rights activists try to fight for gay rights in the Muslim world, those efforts have been futile because they are met with a community that is not ready to change from its older traditions. Muslim and gay Homosexuality is the romantic attraction or sexual activity between members of the same gender. It started in ancient Greece but has not yet been accepted in the world. As the world evolves into a free and liberal society, homosexuality has been the centre of many debates among human rights organizations and the legislative bodies of different countries. In these discussions, different ideologies of human sexuality are always discussed. It is through such ideologies that religious groups feel they have been robbed the power to exercise moral authority over the society. Even though most religions oppose homosexuality, Islam has been on the forefront to impose stringent rules that oppose gay and lesbian rights. The Islamic views on homosexuality are formed from the writings of Quran and some holy narrations. According to the Quran, homosexuality is not only a sin but also a crime under the Islamic law (Meyers 1977). Treatment of Muslim gays and lesbians by the Muslim society Being a gay Muslim attracts a rather unwelcoming treatment from the community. Gays and lesbians have to face mockery from the society (Ali 1992). Each day, they face abusive language from the public because they are considered traitors to the olden Muslim traditions. The mockery they face has resulted into psychological torture to the homosexuals. Such form of hostility forces some of them to be alcoholics or even into drug addiction. Due to their affiliation to the western norms, they are considered outcasts by the society. They therefore, are not recognized as members of the Muslim congregation because the Quran does not accept homosexuality (Guillaume 1994). Such a misconception affects the self-esteem of the gay/lesbian Muslim. They therefore are not able to believe in themselves because the society does not give them a chance to express themselves. The gay community faces different types of violence from the public. The superiority of the larger Muslim community exposes some of the gays to physical harm. It has been documented that in some mosques in the United Kingdom, some Muslim clerics preach violence against the gay (Bernard 1992). According to a Gallup study carried out in early 2009, it found out that Muslims in the United Kingdom have zero tolerance to homosexuality. Moreover, though Muslims form only 2% of the British population, they are found to commit 25% of all anti-gay crimes. Since homosexuality is not legal in most countries, the Muslim gays cannot be able to get married legally. Such proposals have always been faced with public outcry and a lot of criticism from the religious groups (Denny 1994). Therefore, the gay couples will not have to enjoy the benefits of being in a legal marriage. For example, they cannot legally adopt a child, have a joint account or even in some cases cannot borrow loans from banks with the name of a gay spouse. This social alienation is unfair because the Muslim gay are not able to fully enjoy their social life. Reasons for lack of openness by the Muslim gay Due to their religious beliefs and that of the society, the Muslim gay are not open about their sexual orientation because of the following reasons: Fear of death penalty for homosexuals The Muslim society takes their teachings from the holy book of Quran and from the prophet of Allah, Mohammed. They perceive Mohammed as the perfect example and hence his teachings are taken with a lot of seriousness. As stated by Mohammed, “if you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it and the one whom it is done” (Gordon 1991). In the ancient Islamic narrations, Lot’s people are stated to have been involved in homosexual activities. In Islam, the penalty of homosexuality takes two ideologies: i) Hanafi school of thought In this ideology, a person found to have involved in homosexual behavior is subjected to a thorough beating. The beating acts as a warning to the person and then they are set free. However, in case the accused repeat of such a mistake, a death penalty is issued. The death sentence can be in form of stoning to death or it can be being thrown from a high building (Newby 2002). ii) Shaffi school of thought In this ideology, there is a different treatment between the married and single homosexuals. If married, the same punishment as adultery is imposed and if single the same punishment as fornication is imposed. This implies that, if married a death penalty is imposed or if single one is whipped 100 times (Nasr 2002). The death sentence is always executed through stoning of the accused and in some instances; the accused is to be thrown from a high building. Such strict rules and punishments in the Islamic laws have made it hard for the homosexuals to freely expose themselves. They therefore have to hide in the society for the fear of their lives. Fear of Imprisonment Homosexuality has been branded as one of the greatest crimes in the Muslim world. It has been compared to treason or even blasphemy in some countries. Harsh legislations have been put in some Muslim countries to try to eradicate homosexuality from the public. In countries like, Egypt, Kuwait, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and other middle east countries; life imprisonment is subjected to a person if found guilty of gay sexual activity. These legislations act as a warning to the public to abstain from any gay and lesbian activity. Therefore, a gay or lesbian person cannot openly show himself or herself to the public for fear of imprisonment (Ronald 1998). It is against the laws of Allah The gay Muslims clearly understand that it is against the laws of Allah to be involved in gay and lesbian activities (Leonard 1997). Due to religious nature of Islam, these people feel ashamed because they know they are involved in sinful activities. They therefore cannot publicly declare their sexual orientation because of the guilt they feel. Fear of Victimization by the society The society perception about homosexuality is fixed. It does not give room for any gay or lesbian activities. Any act of gay behavior leads to victimization by the society as one would be blamed for misleading the public. A Muslim believed to be gay would be sidelined from the society because no one would wish to be associated with him/her. The fear of victimization has made many gays to hide from the public hence are not able to fully fight for their rights. Fear of Association with the western culture In the Muslim world, it is viewed barbaric if one disowns his/ her own culture for the western culture. Such a person is disregarded in the society for his failure to have a stand in the Muslim traditions. In some instances, parents have had to disown their children because of their adoption to the western culture. Therefore, homosexuality being widely accepted in the western world as compared to the rest of the countries in the world is a reason as to why Muslims cannot fully accept it in their society. To the Muslims, acceptance of gay rights is like abandoning their customs and traditions and embracing the American and European traditions. The fear of being viewed as traitors to the native culture has prompted homosexuals not to expose themselves in the society (Hewitt 1996). Being viewed as people with no moral uprightness In the Muslim culture, it is considered immoral to be associated with homosexuality. The idea of being gay attracts public outcry as the Muslim community considers one a sinner. It depicts lack of moral uprightness and hence a rebellion against the holy prophet of Allah. The society has criminalized the notion of gay and lesbian activities and such people in the society are viewed as immoral. The fear of being viewed as a immoral limits public exposure of the Muslim gay (Robert 1993). Fear of being mocked by the public In the Middle East and other Islamic countries, gays and lesbians are subject to public mockery of all kinds. This kind of phenomenon is common in boarding schools and other educational institutions. In such institutions, the homosexuals are mocked and cursed by their peers. For example in Tunisia, a student found to be gay is exposed on all notice boards of the institution; also, they are to face a disciplinary committee. They are not regarded as normal human beings because the society views them as having a mental disorder. For fear of public mockery, the gay Muslim opts to be in hiding to safeguard their reputation. Obstacles the gay and lesbian Muslims face in the society The following obstacles face the gays and the lesbians in our society. No free relationships As a gay Muslim, one cannot be free to have relationships. He/she has to be always cautious never to be caught by other Muslims because they will have to face serious repercussions for their actions. The Muslim gays are therefore not able to live an accomplished social life because they are not happy in their relationships. Infringement to basic human rights and freedoms Homosexuals have the right to association and freedom to express themselves. However, the Muslim community does not allow them to freely express themselves. Therefore, the homosexual community has to endure a violation to their basic human right for fear of victimization that comes up with being gay. Lack of education on same sex relationships Education is required for people in same sex relationships. In these educational seminars, the gay couples are taught on some better ways to engage socially as well as how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. However, Muslim gays are not given a formal education on their sexual activities (Watt 1998). This makes them vulnerable to various sexually transmitted diseases and an unhappy social life. No freedom to adopt a child Since the society does not recognize gay unions, the partners in this society cannot be able to legally adopt a child. Such adoption processes are often denied because the social conduct of the gay couple is always questionable. The lack of a uniting factor such as children in a relationship makes life incomplete for the spouses hence the gay couple is not able to enjoy their relationship fully. Even though many efforts are being carried out by nongovernmental organizations to lobby for freedom of relationships, such efforts are always hindered by lack of funds to run such organizations. Such organizations need to organize public awareness campaigns, gay awareness seminars and organize demonstrations against violation of gay rights. Lack of governments to negotiate is a hindrance to the progress of such negotiations. The Muslim governments do not agree with such activities. In conclusion, the Muslim gay face many hardships from the society. They face not only a risk of death in the society, but also other social problems. With same sex marriage being illegal, the homosexuals are left to leave a socially unfulfilling life. The Muslim community should embrace the acceptance of the gay community because gay is a genetic condition and not ones decision. They should allow each person to make his/her own independent decision without victimization. Moreover, the human rights activists should increase their efforts in lobbying for more acceptances of gay rights in the Muslim world. References Ali, K 1992, Sexual ethics and Islam: feminist reflection on Quran and jurisprudence, Oxford UK, Clare press. Bernard, L 1992, The world of Islam, New York, Hudson publishers Denny F, M 1994, An introduction to Islam, New York, Macmillan Gordon, M. 1991. Islam world religions, New York, Facts on file inc. print Guillaume, A 1994, Traditions of Islam: an introduction to the study of Islam traditions. Oxford UK, Clare press. Hewitt, A 1996, Political Invasions: Homosexuality, Fascism, & The Modernist Imaginary, Stanford, Stanford University Press. Leonard, H 1997, Muslims and Islam: East Sussex, England, wary land publishers’ ltd. Meyers J 1977, Homosexuality and literature 1890-1930, London, The Throne press. Nasr, S, H 2009, The heart of Islam: enduring the values of humanity, New York, Harper publishers. Newby G, D 2002, A concise encyclopedia of Islam, Oxford UK, one world. Robert, F 1993, The book of facts, New Jersey Ronald, J 1998, Windows in the house of Islam: Muslim sources on spirituality, London, University of California Press. Watt, W, M 1998, The formative period of Islamic thought, UK. Oxford. Read More