G25 deplores Malaysians who support Orlando club killings

A man pays respect at a rainbow flower wall as part of the makeshift memorial for the Pulse nightclub mass shooting victims last week in Orlando, Florida, U.S., June 21, 2016. - REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

PETALING JAYA: Statements by Malaysian Muslims in support of the killings in the June 12 Orlando nightclub mass shooting can be interpreted as condoning the acts of violence which cannot be justified, says G25.

“It is extremely disturbing to see in social media some Muslims in Malaysia revelling at the murder and justifying it on the ground that homosexuality is forbidden and is a major sin in Islam.

“We wish to state in the strongest possible way that while Islam and the Quran prohibits homosexuality, the deliberate taking of a human life is something Islam prohibits.

“This is stated in Ayat 32 of Surah 5 (Al Maidah), the essence of which is encapsulated in the phrase “…and whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind…” “ G25 said in a statement.

G25 is a civil society organisation that comprises a group of influential Malays.

It was reported that 49 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in US history at an Orlando nightclub for gays by a 29-year-old American Muslim.

G25 condemned the senseless murder and expressed its condolences to the relatives and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.

The group urged Muslims to abandon their extreme and intolerant attitudes towards people of a different sexual orientation and to embrace the universal view that these people are human beings, that they have the same feelings as others in wanting freedom to live and lead a peaceful life.

“They are citizens who have legitimate rights and freedoms provided by the law of the land, in the context of Malaysia, this inalienable right is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“Therefore it is the duty of the law to give them the same protection that all citizens are entitled to, against any hostile acts,” the group said.

G25 said Muslims who believe in the universal view of justice and human rights will realise that it is cruel to celebrate, or even to tolerate or be indifferent to the killings in Orlando.

“It is important for the international Muslim community to speak out against such barbaric acts that perpetrate in the name of Islam.

“They must do so especially under the current situation in Europe and America where racist sentiments and Islamophobia are on the rise.

“Muslim communities face hostile reactions whenever Islamic extremism strikes at innocent lives with deaths and injuries to those who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” the group said.