Malindi Muslims demonstrate against Supreme Court’s ruling on LGBTQ

Muslim faithful in Malindi on Saturday held a peaceful demonstration to demand that the Supreme Court of Kenya reviews its decision of allowing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community to form an association.

They also called upon the Kenyan Executive and as well as legislators to rise above mere condemnation of the ruling and formulate and enact laws that prohibit LGBTQ practices in Kenya.

The Muslim faithful held a procession from the Masjid Radhwa Mosque through Malindi’s Central Business District, waving placards and chanting Ahau Akbar (God is great).

Speaking to journalists before staging the demonstration, a number of religious leaders said homosexual practices are prohibited in all religions and that they were not African, hence the need for all Kenyans to reject them.

They urged President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to initiate a process that will enable the Supreme Court to rescind its decision of allowing the LGBTQ community to form an association.

They also urged the National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi to make good his promise to sponsor a Bill in Parliament outlawing the practices in Kenya.

Famau Mohamed Famau, a renowned anti-narcotic drugs activist, said LGBTQ practices are taboo in the African culture and all religions, hence rallied adherents of all faiths to oppose them.

“Allowing these evil practices is like inviting God to curse our country and we do not want this nation to be under God’s curse,” Famau said, sentiments that were echoed by Ustadh Yusuf Shosi.

Sheikh Muhdhar Ahmed Badawy, a Muslim scholar, said that since the Supreme Court’s decision cannot be reviewed by any other court in Kenya, it was incumbent for the Supreme Court judges to listen to the voice of Kenyans and review their decision themselves.

“We urge the judges to convene a session and reverse their own decision because no other court in this county has the constitutional power to reverse that ruling,” Sheikh Badawy said.