UK Muslims, Sikhs slam govt's gay marriage plan as 'unnecessary, assault on religion'

London, Mar 20 (ANI): The Muslim and Sikh community in the United Kingdom has slammed Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to legalise gay marriage, calling it an 'unnecessary' step, and an 'assault on religion'.

Farooq Murad, Secretary General the Muslim Council of Britain, said the government's proposals were 'strikingly weak'.

"Whilst we remain opposed to all forms of discrimination, including homophobia, redefining the meaning of marriage is in our opinion unnecessary and unhelpful. With the advent of civil partnerships, both homosexual and heterosexual couples now have equal rights in the eyes of the law," The Telegraph quoted Murad, as saying.

"Therefore, in our view the case to change the definition of marriage, as accepted throughout time and across cultures, is strikingly weak," he added.

Lord Singh, head of the Network of Sikh Organisations, said the proposed reforms represented "a sideways assault on religion".

"It is an attempt by a vocal, secular minority to attack religion. Sikhs believed in marriage as the union of a man and a woman and that changing the definition was an attack on the English language," he told the BBC.

"We have total respect for gays and lesbians and we are delighted that there is a Civil Partnership Act. We believe that this gives gays and lesbians everything they need," he added.

According to the report, senior Roman Catholic and Anglican bishops have already warned that the move will undermine social structures dating back thousands of years. (ANI)

null