Muslim leaders in Scotland have expressed their opposition to
gay marriage, urging people not to vote for council candidates that
support it.
The Council of Glasgow Imans declared themselves hostile to the
SNP government's plans for a law that would allow same-sex wedding
ceremonies to take place in churches.
The Imans issued a resolution against gay marriage at the city's
central mosque on Wednesday. In it they labelled the move an
"attack" on their beliefs, and urged Deputy First Minister Nicola
Sturgeon to scrap the SNP's proposed legislation.
According to the BBC, they said: "We wish to inform both her and
First Minister Alex Salmond that we are deeply unhappy and
vigorously opposed to the proposed legislation for same-sex
marriage.
"There is no scope for compromise on this issue."
The Council of Imans further told Muslims across Scotland to
boycott candidates in support of gay marriage when voting in May's
council elections.
Civil partnerships are already legal in Scotland, but ceremonies
may not be conducted in any religious building.
This January, Scottish political leaders pledged to support a
campaign to change this. Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and
Green party members all attended an event at Holyrood that featured
an "equal marriage" cake.
A public consultation conducted by the Scottish government
suggested it "tends towards the view" that gay marriage should be
legalised, but that this would not be imposed on unwilling faith
groups.
A spokesperson for the government told the BBC: "No final views
have been reached and therefore no decisions have been taken."
