Last November the Norwegian Islamic Council asked the European fatwa council what attitude it should have to homosexuals.
The
fatwa council, which debates questions of Muslim faith and doctrine,
had its annual meeting in Paris three weeks ago, but did not discuss
the subject, according to daily newspaper Dagsavisen.
"It's
wrong of the Islamic Council to wait for the "verdict" from the fatwa
council in such an important case. By not saying 'no' to death
penalties for gays, it shows attitudes that conflict with both
democratic and humanitarian values," says Sara Azmeh Rasmussen. She is
the only openly lesbian Muslim in Norway.
The head of the
Norwegian Islamic Council, Senaid Kobilica, is not worried that the
fatwa council will decide in favour of the death penalty. "I'm 100
percent certain that the fatwa council will not come out in favour
something which conflicts with European law. The council wasn't able to
deal with the question of homosexuality this time, but it thinks that
subject is quite relevant and wants to look at the matter more," says
Kobilica.
The Islamic Council, which represents 60,000 Muslims
in Norway, is still not willing to say whether it is for or against the
death penalty for homosexuals, until the fatwa council has spoken.
"It's
very important to have the European fatwa council with us in difficult
matters like this. I am not in favour of the death penalty, but there
are Islamic texts that various people understand differently. This is
why we need to know the attitude of the authority before we make a
decision," says Kobilica.