The War of Ideologies

The War of Ideologies

By: Afshain Afzal

Sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly in refined societies but in recent years the evil powers have gained strength and societies are undergoing self-destruction. Those who hold ethics and values esteem are seen with suspicion as it is a crime while characterless people have gained repute in the society. On my part, it was very difficult for me to touch topic relating to sex as I believe that there can be no room for such discussion once all major religions have banned it. However, the latest decision of India Courts legalizing homosexuality and backing by Indian government at the Centre has forced me to pen down on the issue to save members of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and other communities living in India and Pakistan from evil designs of those who are mislead by Satanic forces. Unless we curb this issue from its roots, it is going to pop up again and again. People who have fallen pray of this disease must not be looked down as they need our help to get rid of this disease. They are the people who need our attention and sympathy. We must warn them that homosexuality is an offence under Shariat Law and Haram in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and all religions of the world.  We must remember how Allah punished the nation of Hazrat Loot Alhey Salam. So much so that Allah destroyed the very family members of the Prophet ie his wife and son. When Hazrat Loot Alhey Salam complaint Allah that He had promised him to save his Alhe-Bait (family), Allah explicitly told that his wife and son is not from his Alhe Bait.

During the British rule of India, Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, drafted in 1860 by Lord Macaulay, was a piece of legislation to criminalise homosexual activity. It is also commonly known  as the ‘Anti-sodomy Law’. This law provided, “Unnatural offenses: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.” The Indian Penal Code was later reproduced in most other British colonies which included independent India. It was year 2006, when a  movement led by the Naz Foundation India Trust gained momentum to repeal Section 377. The promininent figures of the moment included Vikram Seth. Since then the Section 377 was under a constitutional challenge at the Delhi High Court. The campaign to decriminalize homosexuality is being backed by organizations including NAZ foundation, the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), the Law Commission of India, the Union Health Ministry, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Planning Commission of India. Basically the men and women who have run away from their homes are being trapped in such activities and thus as a chain reaction other society is polluted. It is pertenent to mention here that although the law was there but since independence in 1947 but there are only a few cases in India where an individual has been convicted homosexual relations. The present position is that Indian government at New Delhi in order to gain cheap popularity to be addressed as “Secular” in the rows of nations is planning to repeal the Section 377 of the IPC. In the past, Indian Union Home Ministry always opposed the repeal but today it seems that centre is seriously considering changing its previous stand. Indian Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has reportedly favoured the repealing of Section 377 of the IPC. In the same regard, Union Law and Justice Minister, Veerappa Moily has confirmed that Chidambaram is in favour of a review of the law and the government may soon hold a discussion in this regard. It is important to mention here that to repeal the Section 377, a consensus among the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and Law Ministry, is required. Critics are of the opinion that Section 377 violates set human rights standards including the provisions of the Indian Constitution on equality and non-discrimination.

One wonders that how can Indian constitution remain a silent spectator when ethics and norms are violated. In case enforcement of ethics and respect to human accounts inequality and discrimination than I am afraid that one day Indian society might ask to legalize others crimes between individuals on mutual consent, which we cannot even imagine for a moment. There is requirement to create awareness amongst Indian media, judiciary, government, private and public sectors to voice against such an evil attempt. It is pertinent to mention here that when we talk about Pakistan as an ideological state, we do not mean that India is without an ideology. We, however, have to understand that all the people of Pakistan irrespective of the race, colour, caste or religion opted to accept Islamic ideology as system of governance. This very spirit is embodied in the preamble of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the shape of objective Resolution. On the contrary, India, despite the partition in 1947, could not get rid of its subcontinent status. There are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christian, Buddhists, Jains etc living in India and the constitution of India does not explicitly mention superiority or authority of any religion over the other. Though India claims to be a secular country but secularism is neither religion nor ideology. Thus India is not an ideological state despite its official claim of being secular. In the name of secularism, India has even started crossing boundaries of human respect, ethics and values which need to be stopped at once.

Hindu religious organizations like Bharatiya Janta Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are opposed to any changes in the Section 377 of IPC. Same is the case with all the Muslim religious groups including Jammat-e-Islami, All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. Legalization homosexuality by revoking Section 377 will not only bring new incurable diseases but is also against the Indian culture and family system.  In an interview with Najam Sethi on Duniya News, one of the Pakistani political leader said that there would have been no Partition had the Congress accepted Mohammad Ali Jinnah's 14 points. He also said that few people knew that even Allama Iqbal had not demanded a separate Pakistan in his famous Allahabad address in 1930. This is nothing but propaganda to misguide the masses who already made a right decision in 1947 to separate their destinies from such criminal ideologies. How can leaders sitting in India and Pakistan justify revoking of Section 377 of IPC by Indian Courts and the government and its forcible imposition on all communities including Muslims. It is sad to observe that international organizations including the United Nations have urged India to decriminalize homosexuality, saying it would help to fight the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. We must understand that Pakistan was created so that we can lead our lives individually as well as collectively according to tenants of Islam as embodied in Al-Quraan. On the other hand, India needs to preserve its own identity and get rid of the aliens’ evils which have polluted the whole society. Such moves will only invite the wrath of Almighty Allah and disintegrate the country.