Aussie Imam: Gays Should be Beheaded
Charles Johnson
Sat Dec 6, 2003 at 5:42 pm PST • Views: 356
One of the most senior Australian Islamic clerics told 1000 people at an end-of-Ramadan service that homosexuals “should have their heads chopped off.” (Hat tip: Baldy.)
A complaint made to Victoria Police alleges the chairman of the Board of Imams, Rexhep Idrizi, was reading from the Koran when he made derogatory comments about homosexuals and said they should have “their heads chopped off”.Imam Idrizi’s alleged outburst occurred before 1000 worshippers at a prayer service to celebrate the conclusion of fasting for Ramadan at the Albanian Mosque in Drummond St, Carlton.
Imam Idrizi, whose son was jailed last year for bashing gays, said yesterday the claims were unfounded and he had a video of the service, in Albanian, to prove it.
“It’s just spite from idiots,” he said. “All I said was that homosexuality is prohibited in Islam.
“I wouldn’t encourage anyone to attack my enemy. And if you put this in the paper, it’s discrimination against Islam and we will defend ourselves.”
But worshipper Asip Demiri, who was at the service, told the Sunday Herald Sun that Imam Idrizi had verbally attacked homosexuals.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was sitting there with my son and he comes out with comments as if the Koran says it’s OK to attack homosexuals,” Mr Demiri said. “He told us they should have their heads chopped off.
Frank says: