Surabaya, NU Online
Member of the Nahdlatul Ulama Scholars Association (ISNU), Dr. Masdar Hilmy, greatly appreciated the Indian government for criminalizing homosexuality, saying it was dangerous for the country seeking to preserve its traditions and culture.<>

"In addition to be forbidden in Islam, the same-sex relationship is also prohibited in such religions as Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Budhism," he told NU Online here on Thursday (12/12).

The NU intellectual who earned a PhD from the University of Melbourne, Australia, said that such practice (same-sex relationship or marriage) was a moral disorder and "many reasons why all divine religions do forbid it. For example, it is dangerous for the health of the individuals and for the society."

He said, as the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), must always be committed to maintaing and preserving its Ahlussunnah wal jamaah (Aswaja) teachings from any ideas which aim to promote homosexuality.

As reported, on Wesnesday (11/12) the Supreme Court of India issued a verdict to ban homosexuality in the country.

“The Supreme Court has given this verdict to maintain the culture of this country,” Zafaryab Jilan, All India Muslim Law Board member told the Business Standard on Wednesday.

“We cannot make law on the basis of some people. It is not only against Muslims community, but also Hindus and Christians.

“It was an offence and therefore it should continue to be an offence. It is an welcomed judgment.”

Jilan was commenting on India’s Supreme Court ruling, issued on Wednesday, to make gay acts illegal in the country of more than a billion people.

The Wednesday's verdict has reversed Delhi High Court's 2009 order which had decriminalized homosexuality for the first time in India.

Before 2009's ruling, homosexuality was illegal and punished by sentences ranging between ten years jail up to life term, according to section 377, a 1861 British colonial law.

Over the past four years, religious and social groups along with anti-gay rights activists had challenged the verdict appealing it to the Supreme Court.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq