US Embassy Guilty Of ‘Cultural Terrorism’ For Support Gay Pride Event.

 

A leading Pakistani right-wing party has condemned a recent function held to show support for gay rights at the US Embassy in Islamabad.  They claim it to be "cultural terrorism"

The Times of India reports that the event took place on 26th June and deputy ambassador Richard Hoagland was the main host at the event. In a statement on the embassy website it was said  the event was its first gay and lesbian pride celebration.   More than  75 people including Pakistani gay community leaders attended the meeting.

 
"Such people are a curse for the society and social garbage,'' said Jamaat-e-Islami in a statement . It described the event as the second most dangerous US attack after drone and missile strikes. "The participants don't deserve to be Muslims or Pakistani and the support and protection announced by the US administration for them is the worst social and cultural terrorism against Pakistan.''

Several religious leaders demanded the Pakistani government to arrest the participants under the country's laws and said the meeting was an attack on the entire Muslim world.

"What was the need for such an idiotic move by the US embassy at this time? Don't they know the sensitivities of our people over such an issue? This was an attack on the entire Muslim world and its Islamic culture," said Maulana Gohar Shah, a leader of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), a Deobandi organization.

US deputy ambassador said that the US would support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in Pakistan.    "I want to be clear: the US embassy is here to support you and stand by your side every step of the way," Richard Hoagland.

The ToI report continues, -   the LGBT community in Pakistan has not yet started any formal campaign for their rights. But, according to reports, the members of LGTP community who exist in urban towns like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi organize their private gatherings.

Pakistan's apex court last year had given a ruling in favour of the civil rights of transsexuals who had been deprived of citizenship.
Under Pakistan Penal Code, homosexuality is a crime punishable by a prison sentence of up to two years. With the introduction of Islamic laws known as "Hudood Ordinance" by the former military ruler General Zia ul Haq, severe punishments were stipulated for homosexuality, adultery, fornication and alcohol consumption. However, no punishment has been defined for pederasty which is something common in rural and tribal areas of Pakistan.

Several incidents of pederasty involving clerics and young boys at religious seminaries had been reported. It was often difficult for victims of sexual abuse to get justice as the public in most of the case was not ready to believe that a cleric could engage in pederasty.
Young boys who are forced to be the receptive partner in anal intercourse are often perceived as being gay and are thus subjected to social hostility.

 

Pakistani relations with the US and the UK are at an all time low since the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden.   Political fractions are splintering off from the mainstream in the anti US and UK feeling.

Pak rightwingers slam US for gay event at mission - The Times of India