Human Rights Watch has slammed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for advocating discriminatory practices against homosexuals, calling the opposition leader’s anti-gay position as “shameful” and “fundamentally wrong.”
Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division Phil Robertson accused Anwar of playing politics with civil liberties.
"Anwar Ibrahim is fundamentally wrong when he maintains that it should be permissible to discriminate against homosexuals.
“While this might be a good vote-getting strategy in some parts of Malaysia, his claim shamefully runs completely contrary to the central principle of non-discrimination in international human rights law,” he said in a statement issued today.
The Human Rights Watch, the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to protecting human rights, issued the state statement following a High Court hearing on Wednesday, in which Anwar categorical gave out his views about the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders (LGBT) community among Malaysians.
Anwar made the statement when replying to questions by lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein if Malaysia should “discriminate against homosexuals,” and the opposition leader responded with a simple: “Yes”.
The court hearing was part of a case Anwar has launched against Malay daily Utusan Malaysia. In January, Utusan Malaysia reported that Anwar supported the rights of LGBTs but Anwar responded by suing the daily for character defamation.
“We do not give space to homosexuals," Anwar said during the court session.
He went on to say that Malaysian law must be "crafted in a way we must believe the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman…we do not promote homosexuality.”
Robertson said Anwar’s views on gay rights were a sad reflection of Malaysian politics.
“The UN High Commissioner issued a comprehensive report in November 2011 that clearly identified the need to protect the rights of LGBT people and called on all UN member states to enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that includes discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation,” he said.
Anwar’s remarks appeared to have not only upset Humans Rights Watch but also some of his core supporters, many of whom are young, urbanised and hungry for greater civil liberties.
One of them, Leroy Luar, expressed his view in an opinion piece posted in the opposition website Malaysiakini Wednesday where he said: “A leader who makes a statement endorsing discrimination is no leader at all.”
He added: “You, sir, who have built your cause around speaking for the downtrodden, the side-lined, the disadvantaged. [Are gay rights] not a fight against discrimination?
“You, sir, are a liar. You, sir, are a disappointment. You, sir, are no different than those you vilify in your own defence. We have been betrayed,” Luar added.
While Anwar’s stance on homosexuality will upset liberal voices in his unregistered Pakatan Rakyat coalition, it will likely please others in his coalition, such as PAS.
The Islamic-fundamentalist party has openly called for hudud to be introduced and Anwar had said he personally supported the move and refused to rule out implementing hudud should he be elected Prime Minister.
If PAS gets its way in a future Anwar-led government, Malaysia would become a fully Islamic state and homosexuals could face the death penalty.
Source: Malaysian Digest, July 22, 2012