Following the hearing on the constitutional validity of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which criminalises consensual gay sex which started on 10th July, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPBL) and Christian intervenors have come out to take a stand against 377. Appealing to the central government, APMPBL asserted that homosexuality is a ‘sin in all religions’.
@AIMPLB_Official appeals the government to take a firm stance in the court against homosexuality. It’s a sin in all religions and should be declared a crime. A neutral stance by the government is against religions, traditions and ethics of this country.
— All India Muslim Personal Law Board (@AIMPLB_Official) July 15, 2018
AIMPBL further said that a neutral stand by the government is against ‘religions, traditions and ethics’ of this country. In fact, the board further said that homosexuality is ‘injurious to human health’.
Not just AIMPLB, Christian associations have also come out in support of section 377. Advocate Manoj George appearing on behalf of two Christian associations criticised the government on the ‘u-turn’. He also said that the section 377 would go ‘if Your Lordship says that there is nothing called ‘order of nature’ with or without consent’. He further said that reading sex to include sexual orientation would leave space for uncertainty.
