‘You can’t be a gay Muslim, if you are then you’re not a Muslim’
A couple who had one of the UK’s first same-sex marriages involving a Muslim partner have received online abuse after their wedding.
Jahed Choudhury and Sean Rogan married last week in Walsall, in the West Midlands.
Footage from the ceremony showed the couple dressed in traditional Bangladeshi attire as they said their vows at the town’s registry office.
But since their marriage, they have been targeted by hundreds of messages of abuse online, some from fellow Muslims.
Pink News reported on comments posted on a video of the pair by BBC Midlands, in which one commentator wrote: “You Can’t Be A Gay Muslim, If You Are Than Your Not A Muslim.
“Islam Forbids This, I’m not saying they should Split up and Be Straight Which is the right thing to do, what I’m saying is they can’t be Muslim If they are Gay.”
Another added: “It’s like eating meat and calling myself a vegetarian you are not Muslims.”
Several similar messages were posted after The Independent shared the couple’s story on social media.
They are not Muslims, we don’t have gays and lesbians
— Haithem Khalil (@KhalilHaithem) July 12, 2017
One commenter said “Islam doesn’t accept this” while another wrote: “Just putting asian costumes doesn’t make it a Muslim marriage, there is no concept of gay marriage in Islam.”
Another said: “They are not Muslims, we don’t have gays and lesbians.”
Mr Choudhury, 24, was previously bullied at school, attacked by other Muslims and banned from his local mosque.
He attempted to change his sexual orientation and went on religious pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, but became suicidal and attempted to kill himself before meeting Mr Rogan.
The couple started living together in 2015 and Mr Choudhury proposed on his husband’s birthday last year.
London Pride 2017
Mr Choudhury told The Express and Star: “This is about showing people I don’t care, my family doesn’t want to come on the day, they just don’t want to see it, it’s too embarrassing for them.
“They think it’s a disease and can be cured, some of my family still call it a phase.
“I want to say to all people going through the same thing that’s it’s okay – we’re going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.”
Mr Rogan, 19, said: “Being gay’s not wrong, it’s not ‘a phase’. People just need a bit of support.”
by Samuel Osborne
Source – The Independent
