Muslim leaders slam WC’s support of LGBTQ community
A war of words has erupted between Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) over the DA-led provincial government's decision to decorate its state building in rainbow colours in support of Pride Month.
The MJC and Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB) slammed the move, saying there were far ‘bigger issues to be highlighted’.
News24 reports that the Western Cape legislature building in Wale Street was lit up last week, in LGBTQIA+ colours to mark the start of Pride Month, but the decision has angered the Muslim bodies.
The MJC (SA) believes that the Western Cape government should prioritise significant matters over mere frivolity.
It added that while the MJC condemned any violence or crime against any person, it strongly objected to the ‘veneration of choices made by a very small minority group of people’.
Meanwhile, the CTUB said the focus and attention being placed on the LGBTQIA+ community was ‘disproportionate’.
CTUB added that they feared that the increased ‘emphasis on this matter in the way it is being forced down their throats is going to result in the behaviour being normalised’.
Hitting back, Winde said he disagreed with the Muslim bodies, and that the decision was made to visibly show their support and willingness to confront ‘unacceptable and archaic’ prejudices and discrimination the LGBTQIA+ community faced.
The standoff between the DA-led government and leaders in the Muslim community comes as Cape Town prepares to host the Pride Festival expected to take place on 3 March.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
