Based on the highly successful Coalition for Marriage petition (C4M), which has so far gathered over 500,000 signatures, ‘Muslims Defending Marriage’ is supported by key voices in the Muslim Community.
The petition reads as follows:
‘I disagree with the government’s proposed re-defining of marriage. I fully support the long-standing legal definition of marriage as the voluntary union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.’
The campaign website, which is modelled on that of C4M, calls on Muslims signing to spread the word, respond to the government consultation on same-sex marriage and to contact their MPs.
It carries supporting videos from Farooq Murad, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Maulana Madani, Chairman of Mosques and Imams National and Shaykh Haitham, Chairman Muslim Research and Development.
Farooq Murad, the MCB’s Secretary General said today: ‘We have launched Muslims Defending Marriage (MDM) as we felt we had a duty to defend the meaning of marriage, guard its sanctity and protect the welfare of children’.
He added, ‘Other faith communities have already taken steps to evidence the strength of feeling in favour of keeping marriage intact. It is imperative that the Muslim community does all it can to contribute to this because we have a sacred duty to stand up for marriage and to support those, of whichever faith, that are doing so. We are aiming at mass participation from the Muslim community on an issue that will have such far reaching consequences for everyone.’
The MCB says that it stands opposed to discrimination in all its forms, including homophobia. The purpose of this campaign is to stand firm for the true definition of marriage, as with other faiths, Islam recognises marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
It is calling upon concerned citizens to respond to the government’s 12-week consultation on its proposals for same-sex marriage. The deadline for submissions to the consultation is 14 June 2012.
This latest move will put more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to delay and possibly abandon his quest to legalise same sex marriage.
In recent days three cabinet ministers have added their voices to a growing number of back bench conservatives who have already signalled their opposition.
In response David Cameron yesterday offered a free vote on the Government's plans but Downing Street stressed again this week about the Government’s determination to get it onto the statute book before the end of the parliament.
See also
Series of 24 articles on all aspects of same sex marriage debate
Ten Reasons why same sex marriage should not be legalised
Kind of suspect they won't be subject to quite the same barrage of accusations of intolerance & homophobia too. That kind of perspective seems reserved only for us 'supposedly' bigoted Christians now.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough I was talking to a work colleague about how surprised I was that there had been nothing on same sex marriage from the Muslim community.
ReplyDeleteWe then discussed this issue for some time and found how alike "our" views on this whole subject was very much the same. I will set them out here though I expect I will get shot down in flames and be called a heretic amongst other things.
Before I say anymore I have been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ for over 30 years, I have worshipped the Lord in several denominational fellowships. I am not nor have ever been, contrary to some peoples views of me, a homosexual.
If the state wants to pass a law making same sex marriage legal then so be it, after all many and probably the majority are not sons or daughters of the Lord God Almighty, ergo they are dead in their sin. We who know the truth should make it known this is not Gods pattern for marriage but we are not called to force people to adopt Gods ways,. If we do do that then we are giving the lost false hope, in that the sinner will think well if I keep the 10 commandments etc. I will be okay, which we know is way way off the mark because they have not been cleansed by the blood of Christ and made holy and alive in Him.