A controversial Muslim leader has likened gay relationships to incest while speaking out against same-sex marriage at Sydney mosques.
Keysar Trad, the head of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, is leading a ‘vote no’ campaign among the Muslim community, initiating a tour of prayer halls to speak about what he considers the dangers of gay love.
‘We might love our mum and dad intensively but you don’t denigrate that love with sexual behaviour,’ he said, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Controversial Muslim leader Keysar Trad (pictured) has likened gay relationships to incest while speaking out against same-sex marriage at Sydney mosques
Mr Trad claimed the Grand Mufti of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohamad (pictured), told a Bankstown prayer hall on Friday he is worried it will be illegal to tell children homosexuality is wrong if the law changes
‘We should all love each other but that type of love ends in denigrating people; there is nothing to stop you from having the utmost love for your friends who might be the same gender but it doesn’t mean you strip naked together and start doing things,’ he said.
Mr Trad has been vocal about his belief marriage should remain between a man and woman, previously claiming bisexuals will lobby for both a husband and a wife if gay marriage is legalised.
Islam does not recognize or allow same-sex marriage, according to The Australian National Imams Council.
Mr Trad, the former president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said he’s not the only Muslim leader advocating a ‘no’ majority on the postal vote.
Mr Trad said the Grand Mufti of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, told a Bankstown prayer hall on Friday he is worried it will be illegal to tell children homosexuality is wrong if the law changes.
Mr Trad (pictured) is leading a ‘vote no’ campaign among the Muslim community, initiating a tour of prayer halls to speak about what he considers the dangers of gay love
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed pictured at a National Day of Unity and Mosque Open Day in Canberra in 2015
A spokesman for the Victorian Board of Imams also told the Daily Telegraph the group has started a ‘vote no’ campaign on social media.
‘This is a democracy, we are being asked to vote, and we’ve had a say on that matter,’ Sheik Muhammad Saleem said.
In February, Mr Trad controversially said the Koran allowed husbands to lightly beat their wives ‘as a last resort’ before clarifying he was giving a clumsy interpretation of the religious text.
Two months later, Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir released a video saying husband could hit their wives with a small stick.
Where Islamic polygamy is allowed, women are not allowed multiple husbands.
Under Islamic law, a man can divorce a woman by saying ‘I divorce you’ three times but a woman does not have this same privilege.
Postal vote ballot were sent out to Australian households on September 12, with voters given until November 7 to return them.
Postal vote ballot were sent out to Australian households on September 12, with voters given until November 7 to return them