Norway: Homosexuality punishable by death?
Fatwa in 5-4-3-2-...
European Fatwa council sidesteps the issue - for now.
The Norwegian Islamic Council is still waiting for a reply from the European Fatwa Council before it decides whether or not it is in favour of the death penalty for homosexuality. "Unacceptable," says lesbian Sara Asmeh Rasmussen.Last November the Norwegian Islamic Council asked the European fatwa council what attitude it should have to homosexuals.
The fatwa council, which debates questions of Muslim faith and doctrine, had its annual meeting in Paris three weeks ago, but did not discuss the subject, according to daily newspaper Dagsavisen.
"It's wrong of the Islamic Council to wait for the "verdict" from the fatwa council in such an important case. By not saying 'no' to death penalties for gays, it shows attitudes that conflict with both democratic and humanitarian values," says Sara Azmeh Rasmussen. She is the only openly lesbian Muslim in Norway.
The head of the Norwegian Islamic Council, Senaid Kobilica, is not worried that the fatwa council will decide in favour of the death penalty. "I'm 100 percent certain that the fatwa council will not come out in favour something which conflicts with European law. The council wasn't able to deal with the question of homosexuality this time, but it thinks that subject is quite relevant and wants to look at the matter more," says Kobilica.
The Islamic Council, which represents 60,000 Muslims in Norway, is still not willing to say whether it is for or against the death penalty for homosexuals, until the fatwa council has spoken.
"It's very important to have the European fatwa council with us in difficult matters like this. I am not in favour of the death penalty, but there are Islamic texts that various people understand differently. This is why we need to know the attitude of the authority before we make a decision," says Kobilica.
Why did the European Fatwa Council bypass making a ruling on this? It looks like they were too busy issuing fatwas about FINANCE and dividing up the pot amongst themselves. That's right - they were busily making a subset of rules to control financial transactions in the EU. Specifically, working in insurance companies, lease provisions, student loans, and provisions of financial transactions in non-Islamic countries. (all written in gobbledy-islam-speak)The European Council for fatwa research is headed by that old reprobate and terror lover, Yusuf al-Qaradawi who believes that suicide bombing is okay as long as it kills a jew. He also banned Pokemon as a 'Zionist plot'.
I don't think he will look kindly on homosexuality...just saying.
And about the European Council for fatwa research and Sharia law? They think the sharia should be respected as superior to civil law and to the democracy. (Hello, Mr. Cram? Are you listening?)
The ECFR aims "to present to the Muslim World and the Muslim minorities in the West particularly" its interpretation of "the manifestation of Allah's infinite mercy, knowledge and wisdom". For the ECFR, the shariah clearly embodies the superior rules in life. The sharia should therefore be respected as superior to civil law and to the democracy: "the Shari'ah cannot be amended to conform to changing human values and standards, rather, it is the absolute norm to which all human values and conduct must conform; it is the frame to which they must be referred; it is the scale on which they must be weighed."
It wants to achieve these through:
- bringing together Islamic scholars who live in Europe
- attempting to unify the jurisprudence views between them in regards with the main Fiqh islamic law) issues, especially with regard to the minority stats of Muslims in Europe;
- issue collective fatwas which meet the needs of Muslims in Europe, solve their problems and regulate their interaction with the European communities, all according the shariah;
- research how arising issues in Europe can be resolved with strict respect for the shariah.
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