Academic condemns anti-LGBT sermon

It can lead to violence against the minority group, says Tajuddin Rasdi of UCSI.

PETALING JAYA: A university professor has condemned a Friday sermon that he says can inspire violence against the LGBT community.

Tajuddin Rasdi.

Speaking to FMT, Tajuddin Rasdi of UCSI alleged that the sermon, drafted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), was unreasonably harsh and encouraged hatred towards the minority group. He said he heard it at a mosque within the compound of a boarding school in Kajang.

In denouncing LGBT behaviour, he said, those who wrote the sermon did not deem it appropriate to warn Muslims against taking the law into their own hands.

Since when does Malay Islam override the constitutional and basic human rights of individuals?” he said.

“Clearly, the writers have a lot to learn about communication in a democratic and global world.

“Nothing was said about the eight people who assaulted a transgender.”

He was referring to a recent attack in Seremban, which left a transgender person in critical condition with a punctured spleen, a fractured backbone and broken ribs.

“Nothing too was said about death threats against Nisya Ayub,” he added.

Nisya is a transgender rights advocate who has complained of death threats issued through social media.

Tawfik Ismail.

Former MP Tawfik Ismail agreed that the sermon might encourage people to break the law.

He urged Tajuddin to write to the Selangor government to inquire whether Jais condones the sermon and to call for the suspension of the writers.

“The state government must take the necessary action,” he said.

He described the sermon as “not only unIslamic, but also seditious as it is against the constitution and the head of religion in the state, the Sultan”. -FMT