Na Im Must Withdraw Calls For Probe Into Lgbtq Event Ngo

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Justice for Sisters (JFS) urged Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar to withdraw his calls for an investigation into an LGBTQ+ event.
It also urged Na’im not to normalise anti-queer hatred through the use of phrasing such as “budaya songsang” (deviant culture) when referring to the LGBTQ+ community.
“Against the backdrop of ongoing state-led discrimination, his (Na’im’s) statement effectively widens the gap LGBTQ+ people face in accessing protection.
“As a direct consequence of discrimination, LGBTQ+ people experience high levels of trust deficit in public institutions, resulting in their hesitating to access government healthcare and welfare services as well as report cases of discrimination and violence.
“Further, research consistently finds a high level of desire to migrate among LGBTQ+ people,” it said in a statement today.
All-out rejection
Last night, Na’im said that the government rejects all attempts at normalising LGBTQ+ culture.
He was commenting on a programme called “Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness” organised by PSM’s youth wing in conjunction with Pride Month.
Na’im said the organisation of such programmes challenges the moral and religious values of Malaysians, even if it were to be held behind closed doors.
He called for authorities to investigate the programme and take legal action if violations of the law exist, while urging the event organisers to halt any activities that go against society’s moral values.
Unnecessary restriction
Commenting further, JFS said that Na’im had previously guaranteed that the government would not deny the LGBTQ+ community’s constitutional rights, including access to education.
“Such unnecessary restriction and ongoing threats of investigation violate the rights of LGBTQ+ people, the organisers and other prospective participants – to non-discrimination, privacy (free from unnecessary state intervention into private lives), dignity, freedom of expression and assembly, and the ability to impart information, among other rights, safeguarded under Articles 5, 8, and 10 of the Federal Constitution,” it said.
It added that religious beliefs do not justify violence or discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
It expressed concerns that threats against Muslims who participate in such events will only worsen the stigma that the LGBTQ+ community already experiences, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Last Wednesday (May 21), Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Fadzli Hassan, in calling anti-LGBTQ+ signboards a good idea, said the state government agreed with Terengganu that LGBTQ+ is a “major enemy contributing to the moral decline of society”.
The Terengganu government had earlier installed signboards condemning homosexual acts, defending the action by stating that the signs were intended to instil public hatred towards such behaviour. - Mkini

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