Lamu Muslim clerics oppose Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ

A section of Muslim clerics in Lamu has voiced their opposition against the recent Supreme Court ruling favouring the LBGTQi community.

Last month, the Martha Koome-led cour, in a landmark ruling considered a win for the group, criticized the government for failing to register an association for LGBTQ+ people, saying the decision discriminates against the rights of the community.

The court stated that even though same-sex unions remain illegal in Kenya, everyone has a right to association.

The clerics, however, insisted that the decision was immoral and goes against Africa's religious and cultural beliefs.

On Friday last week, businesses in Lamu island came to a standstill for close to two hours as Muslim clerics led the community and youth in protesting against the court ruling terming it misleading and misplaced.

The hundreds of protestors marched around the island carrying placards and chanting anti-LGBTQi slogans which they also termed unreligious.

The protesters appealed to the Members of Parliament to formulate policies that will see the Supreme Court ruling overturned with immediate effect.

Muslim clerics in Lamu insisted that the practices of Lesbianism, Gayism, Bi-sexualism and Transgender practices have no place in African society and as such, can never be accepted or incorporated into society.

According to the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics-CICC chairperson Mohamed Abdulkadir, God created each body organ for a specific function and it is ungodly for anyone to try and reverse the same or turn it into a different object or organ.

He warned that the Supreme Court ruling was meant to introduce immoral, evil and devilish possession of the world adding that such efforts, must be rejected fiercely by all and sundry.

“All the holy books be it in Islam, Christianity or even Hindu and the rest, nowhere was there creation of two men or women. It was a man and a woman. That's how God planned it and that’s how we are going to keep it. These other sideshows are evil and straight from the pits of hell and must be rejected,” he said.

Imam Idarus Always of the Swafaa Mosque in Lamu island challenged politicians to go beyond their usual rhetoric of rebuking the LGBTQ community on their podiums.

He called on lawmakers to pass laws that will guard against the introduction of foreign habits which are bound to destroy generations.

The cleric mocked Kenyan parliamentarians saying they were swift to pass laws to secure their interests in CDF money but cannot do something timely to guard Kenya against the impending moral decay.

“Kenyan leaders are hypocrites. They should stop talking about it on those podiums and actually do something about it before it gets out of hand. Let them overturn this mistake that the Supreme Court has made,” said Idarus.

Abubakar Shekuwe, the chairperson of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Lamu branch, called on Kenyan leaders and religious leaders to rebuke the LGBTQ so as to save Kenya’s generations from the impending pitfall.

“Even animals who are considered not sensible, don’t do this, why would people do it? Let’s talk about this as a country and understand why it can never happen here,” said Shekuwe.

Ahmed Walid of the Lamu Youth Alliance called for a review of some of the learning material under the CBC curriculum since there have been reports that some books have content promoting LGBTQ to young school kids.

“Anything that tries to lure our children into that lifestyle must be attacked mercilessly,” said Walid.