Jakarta, NU Online
Rais Syuriah (chairman of lawmaking body) of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Ma'ruf Amin said that whatever its reason homosexuality was not permissible in Islam.

"The homosexuality is more than sexual acts outside of marriage," Ma'ruf told NU Online here on Monday (31/3).<>

He asserted the statement following a report by one of national newspapers that there had been some Muslim scholars in a discussion in Jakarta recently saying that homosexuals and homosexuality were recognized in Islam.

Ma'ruf who is also head of the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said that those viewing Islam recognizes homosexuality were derived from their narrow thinking in interpreting religious main sources.

As reported by the newspaper, Muslim scholars said in there were no reasons to reject homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings.

Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace cited the Koran's al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.

"There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes of God, people are valued based on their piety," she told the discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi.

"And talking about piety is God's prerogative to judge," she added.

"The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect and dignify them."

Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion. (dar)