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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Imam accused of 'gay death' slur | Imam accused of 'gay death' slur |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A gay rights campaigner has accused an Imam of saying the execution of gay Muslims to stop the spread of disease is "for the common good of man". | A gay rights campaigner has accused an Imam of saying the execution of gay Muslims to stop the spread of disease is "for the common good of man". |
| Dr John Casson visited Arshad Misbahi, the Imam at Manchester Central Mosque, to discuss concerns over the execution of homosexual Muslims in Iran. | Dr John Casson visited Arshad Misbahi, the Imam at Manchester Central Mosque, to discuss concerns over the execution of homosexual Muslims in Iran. |
| Dr Casson said the comments were made in a private meeting but he wrote them down afterwards. | Dr Casson said the comments were made in a private meeting but he wrote them down afterwards. |
| The Imam did not deny the comments but said he had been misinterpreted. | The Imam did not deny the comments but said he had been misinterpreted. |
| Mr Misbahi said he was only talking about the Islamic perspective on homosexuality and stressed he would make a statement later on Thursday. | Mr Misbahi said he was only talking about the Islamic perspective on homosexuality and stressed he would make a statement later on Thursday. |
| I would apologise if I had misunderstood what he said Dr John Casson | |
| Dr Casson, a psychotherapist, said he was shocked at what had been said. | |
| He said he set up the meeting to open dialogue with the Muslim community after reading about two gay teenagers, Mahmood Asghari and Ilyas Mahoni, who were hanged in Iran. | He said he set up the meeting to open dialogue with the Muslim community after reading about two gay teenagers, Mahmood Asghari and Ilyas Mahoni, who were hanged in Iran. |
| He decided to contact Muslim leaders to show he felt this was unacceptable. | He decided to contact Muslim leaders to show he felt this was unacceptable. |
| "I would very much welcome the Imam's clarification of him telling me and the public exactly what the views of Islam are," he said. | "I would very much welcome the Imam's clarification of him telling me and the public exactly what the views of Islam are," he said. |
| "I would apologise if I had misunderstood what he said to me. | "I would apologise if I had misunderstood what he said to me. |
| "I wrote down what he said to me straight after the interview." | "I wrote down what he said to me straight after the interview." |
| 'Demonising Muslims' | 'Demonising Muslims' |
| Massoud Shadjareh, from the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said this was not an issue for Muslims. | Massoud Shadjareh, from the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said this was not an issue for Muslims. |
| He said homosexuality was "not compatible" with Islam, just as it was not compatible with other orthodox religions, such as Catholicism. | He said homosexuality was "not compatible" with Islam, just as it was not compatible with other orthodox religions, such as Catholicism. |
| He added: "Just one man talking to another becomes an issue, Muslims are being put under a magnifying glass. | He added: "Just one man talking to another becomes an issue, Muslims are being put under a magnifying glass. |
| "I think that this is part of demonising Muslims," he said. | "I think that this is part of demonising Muslims," he said. |