Malaysian religious council issues ban on lesbian sex
Oct 23, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — One of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies has banned females from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.
The National Fatwa Council late Thursday issued its ruling following a two-day meeting that discussed recent cases of young women apparently behaving like men and exhibiting homosexual tendencies, state news agency Bernama reported.
Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told Bernama many young women admired the way men dress, behave and socialise, violating human nature and denying their femininity.
"It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear," Abdul Shukor was quoted as saying.
"(Masculine behaviour) becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender, that is woman and woman," he said.
"In view of this, the National Fatwa Council which met today have decided and taken the stand that such acts are forbidden and banned," he said.
Male homosexuality, considered against the order of nature, is illegal in Malaysia but lawyers say female homosexuality is technically permissible as there are no provisions for it under the law.
The Fatwa Council does not have jurisdiction in civil law, but the ruling appears to be an attempt to push female homosexuality towards illegality.
Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of its 27 million people are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5izKo_RKkF40cfljjibbi3Yai-5Tw
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Tomboys sneer at fatwa, vow no change
A BAN on tomboys will not change their lifestyle, several
pengkid (tomboys) told
Metro Ahad. They questioned how the edict by the National Fatwa Council last month would be enforced.
A tomboy named Win asked:
“Surely I will not be arrested if I dress like a man or when I am eating out with other girls?”
Win is certain the fatwa will not change their ways or activities.
“The ban is only on paper as it will be difficult for the authorities to determine if a girl is a tomboy,” she said.
Win said most of them did not commit wrongful acts.
“We just want to have fun, but I don’t deny there are some who go overboard and fall in love and have lesbian relationships,” she said.
Win noted however that a sexual relationship between them would be safe as there was no chance of getting pregnant.
However, she added:
“I know I cannot go on like this forever and one day I will change. If my mother forces me to marry a man, I will force myself to marry,” she said.(Depressing mindset)
Asni, 25, said she was amused by the fatwa against tomboys, adding that since “becoming a man” she has led a happier life, falling in love and living with her female friend.
“Right now I do not want to know (about the ban).
“I know we are choosing the wrong path. But I cannot change the way I have always felt,” said Asni, who hugged her partner during the interview.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/10/nation/2503610&sec=nation
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Malaysian Islamic party slams protests over lesbian sex ban
22 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's hardline Islamic party has hit out at criticism of a "fatwa" or religious ban on lesbian sex, reports said Tuesday, after civil society groups held street protests over the decision.
One of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies last month banned females from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.
Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Islamic party PAS, said such rulings should be respected by all in Malaysia, which is dominated by Muslim Malays but also home to large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.
"Not only non-Muslims but also Muslims cannot protest against any fatwa," he was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.
"All fatwa are based on the Koran and Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet Mohammed) and... to protest against them is like going against the teachings of Allah," he said.
"Who are we to go against Allah's commands, are we that great?"
At least two non-Muslim civil society groups have held street demonstrations in recent weeks to protest last month's National Fatwa Council ruling.
Although the Fatwa Council does not have jurisdiction in civil law, the ruling appears to be an attempt to push female homosexuality towards illegality.
A top Islamic cleric last month said the Fatwa Council was also planning to ban Muslims from the ancient practice of yoga if they engage in Hindu "religious elements" during the exercise.
Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, and many non-Muslims say they are concerned about growing "Islamisation" of the multicultural nation.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hvVj4q797DjBQMALOLC6BuzvXcSg
Note: The Islamic party PAS is a very conservative Islamic party in Malaysia. The followers can be aggressive when they need to be.
But speaking of Malaysia, the Islamic Council is set to ban Yoga as well.
I think we are getting worse and worse every year. Whatever happened to the old modern non conservative Malaysia?
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