Russian Chief Rabbi Echoes Muslim Leader in Protesting Gay

[Daanyeer]

Russian Chief Rabbi Echoes Muslim Leader in Protesting Gay Pride in Moscow

Source: MOSNEWS
February 16, 2006




.....“The Mayor of Moscow said firmly that Moscow government will not allow the conduct of gay parade in any form — neither open, nor indirect, and all attempts to organize non sanctioned action will be severely suppressed.”

Three days after Russia’s top Islamic leader called for violent protests against this spring’s planned gay pride march in Moscow the country’s Chief Rabbi has joined him in denouncing gays.

Rabbi Berl Lazar on Thursday told Interfax that if the gay pride parade were allowed to go ahead it “would be a blow for morality”.

Lazar, who also holds U.S. citizenship, did not go as far as calling for violence, but warned the Jewish community would not stand by silently, 365.com website said.

On Tuesday Chief Russian Mufti Talgat Tajuddin said gays could be beaten if they go ahead with pride celebrations in the capital.

“Muslims’ protests can be even worse than these notorious rallies abroad over the scandalous cartoons,” Tajuddin, of Russia’s Central Spiritual Governance for Muslims, told Interfax.

Rabbi Lazar on Thursday said that anything promoting what he called “sexual perversions” does not have the right to exist.

“I would like to assure you, that the parade of homosexuals it is not less offensive to the feelings of believers than any caricatures in newspapers,” Lazar said, linking the pride parade with the current furor over the cartoons of the Islamic Profit Mohammed published in Denmark.

Nikolai Alekseyev, one of the organizers of the pride festival called the comparison “outrageous”.

“Any comparison between the march for human rights and against discrimination with the publication of cartoons is nothing more than an attempt to incite hatred toward sexual minorities,” Alekseev said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the city of Moscow said a parade permit would not be granted to the LGBT rights groups.

“Moscow authorities will not allow the conduct of gay pride in any form,” Sergei Tsoi said on Thursday.

“The Mayor of Moscow said firmly that Moscow government will not allow the conduct of gay parade in any form — neither open, nor indirect, and all attempts to organize non sanctioned action will be severely suppressed.”

Alekseyev said any attempt to prevent the march would be countered with court action.

“In case of denial to conduct the match of sexual minorities we will immediately sue in court. The right to meetings, marches and demonstrations is guaranteed by the Russian
Constitution to every citizen of Russia including gays and lesbians,” he said.

If necessary the organizers will go all the way to the European Court of human rights in Strasbourg, said Alekseyev.