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HOMOSEXUALIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST
LIVINGSTONE
LETTER, RESPONSES AND DISCUSSION
To the London Mayor,
Mr Ken Livingstone
On behalf of the
StraightWay Foundation,
10th December, 2004
Dear Sir,
I am glad to see that
there is still support for your decision to host the eminent Islamic scholar,
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, despite the ongoing campaigns against him and
yourself. I can assure you that you have made a great impression on the whole
Muslim community, in the
Of particular
concern to me and my colleagues were the statements made by “gay Muslim
Ramzi Isalam” under the banner of OutRage!. Opportunists like him attract
media attention due to the novelty of hearing a “gay Muslim” voice.
If we define “gay” simply as “attracted to members of the
same sex”, then it is certainly the case that many Muslims fall into this
category. Yet many prefer to use the term “same-sex attracted (SSA)
Muslims” [explaining the reasons for this would take too many lines].
While there are some
SSA Muslims who embrace the prevailing paradigm on homosexuality, there are
many others who prefer to maintain a sincere approach to their Islamic way of
life. That means abstaining from homosexual acts and striving to overcome
desires that are considered contrary to God’s wishes for humankind. With
this in mind, it should be clear that Ramzi Isalam and his colleagues certainly
do not represent the views of all SSA Muslims! The majority do not speak to
anyone about their feelings, let alone seek media attention for political
agendas, in the manner of OutRage!
The vast majority of
Muslims stand by you in your stance regarding Sheikh al-Qaradawi, whom you have
rightly identified as an important voice for moderation and progress in Islam,
as well as dialogue with the West. SSA Muslims who have contacted us have
agreed with our opinion that everything stated by Sheikh al-Qaradawi on the
subject of homosexuality is in agreement with the texts of Islam. Understanding
the context and spirit of his words, and those of all Islamic scholars, we do
not feel condemned or insulted by the rulings the Sheikh has expounded.
I have attached a
copy of the statement we issued last month explaining our position on the
recent campaign against you, as well as some of the wider issues of Islam and
homosexuality. I would be grateful if you would read it in order to understand
how SSA Muslims interpret their feelings in the light of Islam. Below this
letter is a copy of the press release that accompanied the statement.
Yours in solidarity,
Mujahid Mustaqim
Chairman, the
StraightWay Foundation
www.straightway.org.uk
CC: Greater London
Authority
Attached:
StraightWay Statement 17-11-04 (PDF, 72KB)
http://straightway.sinfree.net/SWF_Statement_17-11-04.pdf
Same-sex Attracted Muslims Defend Livingstone, Al-Qaradawi
The StraightWay Foundation, 17th November 2004
A new voice has been added to the debate over London Mayor Ken Livingstone
hosting Islamic jurist Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi in July 2004.
A UK-based organisation representing same-sex attracted Muslims has issued a
5-page statement outlining Islam's positions on issues related to
homosexuality.
The statement comes in response to the campaign against Livingstone conducted
by
the London Community Coalition. A representative of OutRage! describing himself
as a "gay Muslim" made headlines with his condemnation of Sheikh
Al-Qaradawi
and all "fundamentalists".
The StraightWay Foundation is primarily composed of Muslims who experience
same-sex attractions but refuse to be labelled as "homosexual". They
consider
their attractions to be a test from God, and believe that homosexual acts are
sinful.
A spokesman commented: "We don't seek after publicity, but under the
circumstances it seemed our duty to speak out. It's true that the Muslim
community has ignored our plight for too long, but that doesn't mean we resort
to twisting Islam to suit our desires."
On the subject of the scholar's pronouncements, he added: "What Sheikh
Al-Qaradawi said is only what is clear in the sources of Islam. Condemning him
for those views is exactly equivalent to condemning our religion."
----- Response from Mayor <mayor@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 15:48:48 -0000
Subject: MGLA131204-7161: RE : Letter of support ESF
Dear Mujahid
Thank you for your email and for your kind comments.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Ken Livingstone
Mayor of
----- Message from Brian Coleman <Brian.Coleman@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 09:27:17
Subject: Re: Letter of support
I don't want to read this bigoted rubbish
REPLY:
Mr Coleman,
Now that is very interesting. Is it that you're anti-gay, anti-Muslim, or what?
What makes me or my friends "bigoted"? And why is it "rubbish"? I'd be
delighted to know more details about your positions on the issues mentioned.
Perhaps he who does not even READ is more rightly to be called "bigoted"!
Regards,
Mujahid
[No further correspondence]
----- Message from Darren Johnson <Darren.Johnson@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:53:55
Subject: RE: Letter of support
I am gay. Please do not send me anti-gay propaganda. I
find it
offensive.
REPLY:
Mr Johnson,
I am Muslim. Please don't stand holding anti-Islam placards. I find it
offensive.
Not only that: I have not said anything against you for who you are, and never
would. I bet you didn't even read what I sent. No, you just dismissed it,
because you're so enlightened and I must be some stupid
"fundamentalist", eh?
Not only that: at least I stick to facts, and don't regurgitate lies straight
from the Telegraph, such as "Qaradawi blames rape victims" or
"wants women
forced to wear hijab".
You have shown no respect for my religion. I have shown every respect for you,
while explaining how I understand this issue. I should think a councillor could
show more respect.
Regards,
Mujahid
----- Message from Darren Johnson
<Darren.Johnson@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004
21:34:18
I find it absolutely tragic
that organisations are set up with the aim of persuading people to deny their
true sexuality.
Both christian and muslim
organisations have been set up tp achieve this and both are equally wrong. I loathe
christian homophobia as much as I loathe muslim homophobia as much as I loathe
jewish or athiest homophobia
I lothe all homophobia
There is absolutely nothing
wrong with men having sex with each other
Darren
REPLY:
Darren,
I don't expect to persuade you of much. But I'd like to think that we're able
to
reason together, and at least agree on some simple points.
1. Of course Islam and homosexuality cannot be compared, since they are two
very
different sorts of things! But perhaps we can reflect on this: you disagree
with
much of Islam, but that doesn't make you Islamophobic. I disagree with the
currently prevalent way of understanding same-sex attraction, i.e. describing
it as a manifestation of "orientation", but that doesn't make me
homophobic, or
any other kind of phobic.
2. When you say there is "nothing wrong" with something, that is a
moral
judgement. Since I base my moral judgements on Islam, and you base yours on
God-alone-knows-what, we're highly likely to disagree. But can you at least
accept that your view is not the absolute truth? While I believe I'm right, at
least I give people the right to believe they're right too. I don't call them
names, like you do.
3. Tell me, if a Muslim is attracted to people of the same sex, is he gay? You
have every right to say so. But what if he decides that he doesn't want to be
labelled like that? Will you call him homophobic? Self-phobic? Dumb? Maybe you
don't have the right to preach to people what their "true sexuality"
is...
I hope I've given some food for thought. I'd be delighted to correspond with
you
more.
-Mujahid
----- Message from Darren Johnson
<Darren.Johnson@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004
09:42:09 -0000
Mujahid,
Happy to correspond with you
further but got a series of wall to wall
meetings over next day or two
but I'll come back to you soon.
All the best
Darren
[No further correspondence]
----- Message from Jenny Jones
<Jenny.Jones@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004
08:51:37
Subject: RE: Letter of support
I fully support the case for
justice for the Palestinian people and also
support the right of women to
choose whether or not they wear the hijab.
However, I am also concerned
with protecting the rights of homosexuals
and extremely alarmed that Dr
al-Qaradawi has justified the execution of
homosexuals and saw fit to
denounce homosexuality as evil live on
British television.
I do believe in tolerance of
other beliefs, but feel offended in exactly
the same way when the archbishop
of
rabbi, say the same things. Our
democracy in the
for others' behaviour, and I
support that freedom.
REPLY:
Dear Dr Jones,
Thank you for your considered response. Conservative Coleman told me that he
was
not going to read my "bigoted rubbish" (surely bigots are those who
don't read?)
and your Green party colleague denounced my letter as "anti-gay
propaganda".
Surely such approaches will not advance us at all, if people are not willing to
understand one another's views, concerns and feelings.
The views of same-sex attracted Muslims have not been sought in this
controversy, other than those few who take the "out and proud"
approach and
have already decided that the Qur'an is not all relevant to them. But surely
our culture of tolerance raises many thorny issues - if you say that Dr
al-Qaradawi should not say what he said about homosexuality, what should he
say? Are you advocating that Muslims should remove parts of the Qur'an (for
example)?
There are some Muslims who go too far in their anti-gay rhetoric, probably
because this is an issue that still has not been properly debated internally.
My organisation is meant to help resolve this problem. Islam does not ask us to
discriminate against, or harm anyone on the basis of their sexual preferences.
Neither is that what Dr al-Qaradawi said or meant. What is needed now is a
proper dialogue, such that mutual understanding is achieved between people
identifying with various faiths, and various sexualities.
The campaign against Livingstone will not help in this regard.
-Mujahid
----- Message from Jenny Jones <Jenny.Jones@london.gov.uk> -----
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 19:09:11
In many things I support the mayor.
I do think it's time that we knew exactly what dr
al-qaradawi said,
rather than translations that may not render his exact
views.