Source: www.hinduonnet.com
[HPI note: A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual sex between consenting adults is not a criminal act. The international media widely reported on the decision, as you can read on the NY Times here and on the BBC here. HPI brings you the religious perspective and opinions from religious leaders.]
DELHI, INDIA, July 2, 2009: The Delhi High Court ruling on homosexuals on Thursday brought cheers to the gay community and rights activists who described it as a “progressive” move which will change their “level of dignity”, but some religious leaders strongly disapproved of the judgement.
The activists said the judgement will give a “new life to persons who have “all along suffered humiliation” They said, “Today’s judgement changed the level of dignity for us.
Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, strongly opposed the change. “It is absolutely wrong to legalise homosexuality. If the government attempts to scrap the Sec 377, we will oppose it strongly.”
All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli also criticized it, saying, “It should continue as a criminal act,” he said.
Catholic Father Dominic Immanuel said that churches have no objection to decriminalizing homosexuality but it should not be legalized. A spokesperson for the Catholic Church of Kerala, Paul Thelekat, said “Legalizing gay sex will open up the society to some sort of sexual anarchy.”