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.
Source: Dagsavisen (Norwegian)
See also: Norway: Islamic Council facing loss of funds over homosexuality question, Norway: Still waiting, Norway: Waiting for the fatwa, Norway: Islamic Council turns to European Fatwa Council for ruling on homosexuals
"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.
Source: Dagsavisen (Norwegian)
See also: Norway: Islamic Council facing loss of funds over homosexuality question, Norway: Still waiting, Norway: Waiting for the fatwa, Norway: Islamic Council turns to European Fatwa Council for ruling on homosexuals
