Friday sermon in Selangor condemns LGBT, warns Muslims against supporting their cause

The Friday sermon at mosques in Selangor today warned Muslims against supporting the LGBT cause, describing those who practised homosexuality as indulging in "perverted habits" that would invite the wrath of God.

"It is compulsory for Muslims who believe and fear God to reject LGBT and liberal groups that support such perverted habits," said the sermon, referring to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement.

"Those who practise and defend LGBT must repent and not repeat such haram acts. Any inclination towards perverted sexual relationships can be changed with the continuous control of the lust," said the text of the khutbah, titled "LGBT is a perverted habit".

The sermon followed the cancellation of an entertainment event planned at a night club in Kuala Lumpur which organisers said would feature "hot men" wearing women's underwear.

Following strong protests from PAS and Muslim leaders who condemned such shows for going against local culture and sensitivities, the organisers said they were calling off the event.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, a Women's Day march in Kuala Lumpur saw a group of LGBT activists calling for equal rights, prompting criticism from PAS as well as a police investigation.

The march was organised by Sisters in Islam (SIS), among others. On March 14, SIS lost an appeal to dismiss a fatwa in Selangor labelling the group as deviating from the teachings of Islam.

Today's sermon also attacked SIS, calling on Muslims to follow the correct teachings of Islam that were "pure and unadulterated".

"It is compulsory for Muslims to steer away from liberal thinking and ideology, in accordance with the findings of the Selangor Fatwa Committee that SIS and any individual, organisation, or institution subscribing to liberalism and pluralism are misguided and have strayed from Islamic teachings. 

"It is haram for any individual or group to openly support LGBT rights, for supporting sinful acts can destroy the belief (aqidah)," it added.

The sermon also warned Muslims in Selangor against promoting or being associated with LGBT.

"His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor disapproves of any type of activities or gatherings to defend and demand LGBT rights being held within the state of Selangor," it said, adding that Muslim jurists were unanimous that homosexuality was a heinous act.

"What will happen when a man marries another man, a woman marries another woman? Are we willing to endure the severe divine punishment as was afflicted on the people of Prophet Lot?" it asked.