The forum, entitled “Hate Crime And LGBTIQ: Where Is The Love?”, saw a panel journalists and activists reach the conclusion that Islamisation in the country was leading to a growing intolerance of LGBT, which in turn has led to hate crimes.

The panel reported that Malaysia’s LGBT community remains very marginalised, often fearing persecution from religious authorities and the country’s laws prohibiting same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.

Religious beliefs that are intent on persecuting LGBT are against the fundamental principles of Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, which guarantees everyone’s right to freedom of speech and religion.

Social activist Azrul Mohd Khalib noted that Islamic teachings often warned against sexual identities that deviate from the heterosexual norm.

 “The Islamisation agenda that is being played out today puts the LGBTQI community at risk and vulnerable to what the agenda wants to impose. It oftentimes involves criminalisation of community to demonstrate piety to the religion,” he said at the forum.

Panelist Syerleena Abdul Rashid warned that as religion is so deeply engrained in Malaysian society, it is hard for LGBT to demand equal treatment.

“Being Malaysians, we’re stuck in between rock and hard place. It has lots to do with, what I feel, is religion become deeply intertwined in our society. And the type of religion dictated leaves no room for discourse or debate.”

“You can’t ask questions and can’t challenge the norm. That’s when things become dangerous. In other words, it makes others think it’s okay to treat others a way you shouldn’t be treating them,” she said.