The 10 myths of homosexuality flyers distributed by JAKIM ruffled the feathers of many.
These entities, be it the English portals, their columnists or feminist NGOs have this penchant for criticizing Islamic rulings (disguised as criticizing JAKIM most of the time). Worse, they did it out of shallow understanding of scientific reports, not updating themselves of the latest information and therefore succumbed to deduction of misleading conclusion.
They seemed to be lagging behind when it came to facts. So overzealous in defending the ‘minorities’ of sexual preferences – in this case the homosexuals – that recent data emerging showing that no matter what you do, with condoms or not, the fact that anal penetration carries the 2nd highest rate of spread of HIV after blood transfusion, is conveniently dismissed. All in the name of human rights.
For example, in trying to quash JAKIM’s effort, Sisters in Islam quoted in their FB of an 8 year old report by MOH and UNICEF which stated that the highest transmission of HIV was from husband to housewives. SIS are driving home a wrong message altogether, that we shouldn’t be worry about the transmission by homosexuality, that the kind of lifestyle would not in any way affect women, because homosexual, by their definition, is strictly men’s problem. We know they’re not.
First, let’s look at the more recent reports by Global AIDS Response Progress Report in 2012. Sexual transmission of HIV in 2011 is responsible for more than half of the newly reported HIV infection. But what was more alarming was the data on MSM (short for Men who have Sex with Men or in laymen term ‘gay’).
The report mentioned that with MSM’s estimation prevalence in Malaysia believed to be around 10%, this route of infection of new cases standing at 10.3 % is alarming, and that insufficient attention has been given to prevent HIV infection among MSM and transgender.
Some homosexuals do get married. And it may affect the wives as well. Homosexuals have 18 times more risk of getting the virus. We abhor both homosexual and promiscuous heterosexual from both religion and health point of view.
Well, it looks like JAKIM is well ahead of SIS and its critics by starting to address this issue by means of prevention and religious education.
And secondly, if the critics start to mumble what’s the role of JAKIM in heterosexual transmission, lo and behold….a study by researchers from Media Department of UM, published in 2014 issue of Asean Journal of Science Social found that ‘JAKIM has conferred striking benefits in curtailing the spread of HIV/AIDS infection through its publication of Manual of HIV/AIDS in Islam and Premarital screening of HIV infection’.
Do we gamble the health of our nation, for the sake of defending a lifestyle that is condemned by religions? Where are the limits of human rights?
Let’s look at the hard fact.
Safe sex – condoms for homosexuals.
Are they really effective?
In 2012, Lancet journal has reported a study by John Hopkins School of Public Health which revealed that the rate of HIV among homosexuals in North America was at 8% yearly since 2001. After 10 years, despite having a good health intervention promotion among homosexuals in USA which was deemed as having the best health services for this group, the rate of HIV infections among homosexuals has escalated to 15%, almost similar to the rate in developing countries like Thailand or Malaysia, and these countries do not have such a robust and comprehensive intervention and sex education program as USA. The study thus concluded that anal penetration has 18x more risk for HIV infection as compared to normal population because biologically, anus have more blood vessels than a woman’s vagina and therefore, a good site in transmitting the virus by blood.
The study also showed that homosexual lifestyles were correlated with a host of other STDs and health risks, including substance abuse and depression.
So, for how long will these columnists and SIS continue to protect this lifestyle and to whose benefit will they serve?
No one.
Prof Madya Dr Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar
Chief of Information, Wanita ISMA
References:
http://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ass/article/download/38111/21245
http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/971
Beyrer C, Baral SD, van Griensven F, et al. Global epidemiology of HIV infection in men who have sex with men. Lancet 2012.published online July 20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60821-6.
