Muslim Community calls for concerted action against homosexuality

Friday 22nd July, 2011

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Accra, July 22, GNA – The National President of the Coalition of Muslim Communities of Ghana (COMOG), Major (Rtd) Alhaji Mohammed Easah has called on politicians, the media, the Clergy, Imams, Traditional Rulers and opinion leaders to team up in the crusade against the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism in the country.

   

He said the practice was not only demonic  but also an abominable act which, if encouraged, would result in the spread of infectious diseases and affect procreation which would eventually  lead to the extinction of the human race.

   

Alhaji Easah expressed the concern at a press conference  in Accra on Thursday,  during which he stated the collective position of the Muslim Community in Ghana on the subject of homosexuality that is currently being debated nationwide.

    

He condemned the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism as well as same sex marriages which, he noted, was being practiced among some members of the Ghanaian society.

    

He said the Muslim community would strongly resist any attempt to legalize the practice of homosexuality, lesbianism and same sex marriages in Ghana and would to join hands with other concerned groups including the Christian Council and other religious bodies, as well as like-minded individuals, against the practicein the country.

    

The press conference was also addressed by other Muslim leaders including the Head of the Ahlusunna Wal Jamaa, Hajj Umar Ibrahim, Sheikh Kamal-deen of the Shia Community, Head of the Tijanniya Muslim Movement in Ghana, Sheikh Yajalal Mustapha, Sheikh Ayub Ofosuhene of the Society of Muslim Preachers, representatives of the Network of Muslim Youth Organisations and the Ghana Muslim Students Associations.

    

Alhaji Easah argued that there was no moral justification by gay right advocates who sought to defend the practice, which he said was alien, shameful, disgusting and an effrontery  to Ghanaian cultural values.

    

He therefore urged all political parties to demonstrate their commitment to the fight against the menace by clearly articulating their disapproval in their party manifestoes, adding that “the Muslim Community has resolved not to vote for any political party which fails to heed to this demand”.

      

Alhaji Easah said the Muslim Community proposed that Parliament, as a matter of urgency, took a position on the issue with the passage of a Homosexuality and Lesbianism Bill that would make the act a criminal offence and which must attract a stiff punishment.

     

Such punishment, he added, should include long prison terms with hard labour, and the disqualification of people found to be engaging in the practice from consideration for appointment or promotion to any public office.

    

He said the Muslim Community was also challenging Parliament to make an urgent public pronouncement on the subject as a prelude to government’s much awaited intervention.

     

      

He noted that God through His Holy Scriptures, the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible, had warned mankind about His displeasure over the practice of homosexuality and demonstrated His anger to those who practiced it in the past.

    

“There is also ample evidence that the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism has contributed to the further spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) both in Ghana and in other parts of the world.”

    

Alhaji Easah urged the National House of Chiefs as custodians of the nation’s culture to issue a statement on the menace and its adverse effects on the society, and called on Traditional rulers and opinion leaders to assist the Police in the identification and prosecution of homosexuals and lesbians.

    

On his part Hajj Imam Ibrahim of the Ahlusunna Muslim Sect said,  “Don’t let us test the resolve of God’ since His reaction can be devastating”,  adding that the issue should not be politicized. He urged all to pray for almighty God’s intervention to purge the country of such evil deeds.

   

The conference noted that Ghanaians could not afford the luxury of time any longer but must take bold and swift action to purge the country of the menace in order to get the pleasure and blessings of God, rather than wait and incur His wrath as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah in the scriptures.  

GNA