The politicisation of Islam is one of the main reasons why gays are increasingly persecuted in Islamic countries and secular ones such as Egypt or Morocco. In Iran, the persecution of gays has further led to a boom in demand for sex-change operations and where more operations are performed than any other country in the world besides Thailand.
Although homosexuality is not punishable by law in Indonesia, many gay Indonesians experience personal conflict and face condemnation from religious leaders. Hera Diani writes in The Jakarta Globe.
Citing a spate of cases involving young women "behaving like men and indulging in lesbian sex" as reported by the Malay language Berita Harian, Malaysia's National Fatwa Council has announced a ban on "tomboyish" behaviour and lesbian relations.
Faisal Alam, founder of Al-Fatiha, warns against the gay media's failure to accurately report on stories which fuels growing Islamaphobia and hatred towards Islamic world; and urges gays and lesbians to view the queer liberation movement through a broader lens of social justice and human rights.
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