Homosexuality In The Arab World
I’ve written a bit about homosexuality here and there in the past, mainly commenting on a piece of related news or something, but I never got around to writing a post just about homosexuality in the Arab world. This is my attempt at writing that post.
First of all, let’s start with the general fact: Homosexuality exists. It has existed for ages and ages, and will continue to exist for ages to come.
The Arab and Muslim world is no exception. Homosexuality exists in our societies and is a lot more widespread than we think it is.
We and our governments choose to ignore that fact, we choose not to face it, and just act as if it’s not there, even though we know we’re lying to ourselves; it’s because we simply don’t know how to handle it.
We hope that just by turning our backs to it, it’ll dissapear, and we won’t have to take a position on this issue.
It’s getting harder and harder to do that though, especially with the western influence, pushing the idea that gayness is normal down our throats everyday.
Yet really there’s no need to talk about homosexuality being normal or not, as “normal” is quite relative, and is mainly what a certain society defines as normal, so no need to restrict ourselves to one definition or another.
But, homosexuality simply can’t be regarded as a natural thing; basic logic, human anatomy, religion and many other things point towards that.
Just because a couple of gay penguins, or some other gay animals were found, doesn’t make it natural; since when do we evaluate ourselves through what animals do or don’t do?
But what can be done? How is this dealt with?
Do we regard homosexuality as a crime punishable by law and a sentence to jail?
Do we think of it as a severe mental disorder and lock gay people up in asylums?
Do we follow the opinion that homosexuality is a result of a hormonal disorder, and inject gay people with hormones to make them more masculine or feminine?
Or should we just act “forward-thinking” and follow the western world, accept homosexuality openly, and then give gay people the right to marriage when they start asking for it?
Some more moderate people think that counselling could help. Maybe it could.
But obviously none of the above is a direct, satisfactory and acceptable solution for everyone in our Arab world. Yet the problem is that once the issue is uncovered, it’ll be like pandora’s box being opened, impossible to ever close again.
So, is the Arab world’s policy of just ignoring the existence of homosexuality, and leaving it for the Arab society to deal with, as something that is both illegal by law and forbidden by religion, the best solution we have?
24 Responses to “Homosexuality In The Arab World”
Napo on May 30, 2006 | Reply
to me, the phenomena of guy and lesbian is a medical/psychlogical condition that needs to be treated adequately.
M2K (The Tunisian Star) on May 30, 2006 | Reply
I think Homosexuality will be never disapear, but we have to never accept in ours socity, it’s against nature
hager on May 30, 2006 | Reply
i just wanna say i’m impressed with this post as it handled the topic with impartiality and an open mind that is often not present in the arab world.. i agree that the way homosexuality is handled now is not correct and its not helping at all, and i’m not too sure what is the right way (its definitely not the way handled in the west either though)!
anyhow.. thanks for the post
3oth on May 30, 2006 | Reply
Are u saying that homosexuality is wrong ? Do u think it is ? And even if u do, do u think that people should think like u do ?
I mean what’s wrong about two gais being together ? Have they done smthg wrong to u or to anybody else ?
Even if I don’t like homosexuality, it’s kind of discusting for me, but i don’t have the right to forbid it or to make people follow my opinion.
There were a very smart guy whos said that even u have the opposite point of view of mine, i will strive to death to make u have the right to express and defend it.
ancien combattant on May 30, 2006 | Reply
on retrouve dans ce post “impartial” et “ouvert” la quintessence des id
Jimbo on May 30, 2006 | Reply
I’m from a tradition that doesn’t much care what consenting adults do so long as it doesn’t frighten the horses. Moral judgments I leave to the vast number of people in the world who feel empowered to make them.
As a landlord, however, I’ve noted over the years that though my gay tenants tend to be diffident and insular, they always pay the rent on time and leave the place sparkling clean when they depart.
Maria loves pictures on May 30, 2006 | Reply
Yes I agree with you, the current position on homosexuality in the Arab area of this world is a very frustrating and inhuman. I think this might be somehow related to the fact that arabic countries are mostly dominated by man and religion as same as in some wastern parts of this world.
Hannibal on May 30, 2006 | Reply
@MMM: Neat post Marwen. Yet I was not able to fathom your “personal” take on the issue.
Laila on May 30, 2006 | Reply
Homosexuality is NOT NORMAL! It’s sad the way the west is. It should not be accepted ANYWHERE! The gay and lesbians say that they can’t help it as God made them that way but I will tell you one thing, Allah made us all with sin and we all have human struggles. If a person is overweight that too is a sin if not dealt with and brought to Allah (I know I can talk). As well as other problems. It’s up to us to want to change no matter how hard it is. If we want to change no matter what the problem is and we ask Allah for help he will help us.
reem on May 30, 2006 | Reply
I am so saddened by this post, but everyone is entitled to his or her own opionion, and I respect that you put a controversial subject for public. To say its unnatural and God did not make people that way is a very uneducated and uniformed viewpoint. A person is born homosexual. Environment can play the deciding roll in the expression or lack thereof of the genetic condition.
I do not condone any risky or sexually loose lifestyles, hetero or homo.
How you choose to express that genetic condition is up to you and between you and allah. Sin or not sin. I do not think most homosexuals would prefer to be this way if they got to choose in the genetic lottery. Being homosexual is a very hard way to live. They should not have same rights in marriage for adopting children, but they should have chance to stay monogomous and not live bad lifestyle.
What if your son who you love said dad I am gay but I will not practice this sexually. Will you have him be married to someone if he asks for your advice.
I believe Scientology says they can counsel gayness out of someone — look at tom cruise and travolta shining examples of gay counseling at its most effective!
Keeping people forced to hide their conditions brings about very illict behaviors. Homo and Heterosexuals should be held to the same moral standards of not engaging in pre-marital sex. Why is it worse for a man to have pre-marital sex with another man, than a man to have pre-marital sex with a woman?
Keeping the issue hidden and not discussed and applying absolutism and denial will not make it go away, and in fact more perverse behavior will develop.
Choosing to turn off and not support “western” programs will help allievate the onslaught of supergaydom being shoved down throats by the west.
When advertisers pull out of programming, the programming will cease. SO don’t buy products that advertise on gay themed media shows.
907b team on May 31, 2006 | Reply
907b team va defiler fel gay pride .
on est hetero et on soutient les homo ds leurs combat contre l’homophobie
ancien combattant respect!
jools on Aug 12, 2006 | Reply
I think no better ways could be expressed to deal such subject and i think it is all but enough for morally upright people to say something! You already have put charges to individuals who likely lived their lives the way every one choose to have theirs. Leave everything to God or to your Allah, He makes impartial judgements to us all. We are not saved by making people appear good or even through our good works, but it is through our faith in Him that secure us of our salvation! We all sin! Don’t we? I restpect every ones opinion on this, but dont shoved it down trying to make gay people look worst than straight human-slaughters, prostitutes, adolterers and even high ranking church officials keeping deep dark secrets, or even our-lying-selves too (yes this includes you). We all need to respect one another and not try to make one our underdog. This is when war starts if people lose respect. Life is fair. We all got something popping out soon, and only those people who couldn’t find a life of their own discusses other peoples lives. Lets be fair!
katie on Nov 22, 2006 | Reply
I believe that God’s greatest gift to us was the freedom of choice. We can do the right thing, or the wrong, but we are free to do either. Now we’re taking away that choice by not allowing homosexual marriage to take place. I thought freedom of religion, also meant freedom from religion.
hulala on May 7, 2007 | Reply
I
hulala on May 7, 2007 | Reply
Laila, it is apparent and obvious you
hulala on May 7, 2007 | Reply
I totally agree and support reem’s opinion. And jools’s statement for respect is very applicable. *salute*
roy on Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
wow..totally enlighthening…this should usher the dawn of a new civilization..
roy on Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
wow..totally enlighthening…this should usher the dawn of a new civilization..
Lothh on Dec 28, 2007 | Reply
I really can’t believe what I’m reading… Homosexuality an illness?? I see you still stuck in the prehistoric era… what is not right is to pretend to be what you’re not, either you’re gay or straight, and to punish people for been who they are.
Taniya on Jul 6, 2008 | Reply
I think being gay is something the Arab people try to ignore talking about cos they refuse to believe that we do exist in their everyday lives, its been here since the dawn of century but the Arabs choose not to believe what is real..
being a homosexual isnt a disease, it’s not “nashaz” it’s like saying that heterosexual is a disease, thats absurd allow me to say..
Love goes beyond Gender, Religion or Age..
i think everyone is secretly a bisexual, u show appreciation to a person of his/her outside look, hair, eyes or even the personality.. thats no difference..
we as homosexuals are human too and we deserve rights just as u guys do, we’re not hurting u nor causing problems in fact some famous gay people achieved alot of huge accomplishments worldwide, why cant u just live and let live ?
we are here to stay so u will have to accept us
A Global Citizen on Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
I personally don’t think Arab governments have totally, completely disregarded the important issue of homosexuality. Yes, there are shy attempts to discuss the matter and put it right on the table, but at the same time there are serious, positive efforts that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Homosexuality is not a mental illness nor a hormonal disorder. This is something the homosexuals have comme up with as an excuse to justify their sick desires and to attract people’s sympathy and acceptance. However, the fact is that homosexuals are not only harming themselves, but also drawing destruction (of all sorts) to people around them.
By the way, interesting blog!
David on Dec 19, 2008 | Reply
Oh yea! Well, what do you know? Have you yourself, struggled with Homo sexuality? If you haven’t? Then you have, No room, to speak on it!! Don’t try, to pick the peck, out of my eye, untill, you pull the log, out of your own!!! As the Good Lord says! Let You, who are, with out sin, cast, the first stone! Who are you, to judge? My sin, is between me, and God!!!
David on Dec 19, 2008 | Reply
No that’s Not true! Bisexuality is very real! Even if you can’t understand it!!
Chris on May 2, 2009 | Reply
A very nice post, MMM.
Thank you.