Senior representatives from Britain's Muslim
and Sikh communities have slammed David Cameron for wanting to
legalise same-sex marriage.
It comes days after the coalition government launched a formal
consultation on gay and lesbian weddings.
According to the Telegraph, Farooq Murad, Secretary General of
the Muslim Council for Britain, said that there is no need for
current legislation to be altered.
"Whilst we remain opposed to all forms of discrimination,
including homophobia, redefining the meaning of marriage is in our
opinion unnecessary and unhelpful," he said.
"With the advent of civil partnerships, both homosexual and
heterosexual couples now have equal rights in the eyes of the law.
Therefore, in our view the case to change the definition of
marriage, as accepted throughout time and across cultures, is
strikingly weak."
He later went on to say that marriage in Islam is defined as "a
union between a man and a woman" and that "while the state has
accommodated for gay couples, such unions will not be blessed as
marriage by the Islamic institutions."
Lord Singh, head of the Network of Sikh Organisations, also
criticised the plans - even though churches will not be forced to
marry couples of the same-sex.
"It is an attempt by a vocal, secular minority to attack
religion," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We have total respect for gays and lesbians and we are
delighted that there is a Civil Partnership Act. We believe that
this gives gays and lesbians everything they need."
