This provoked a lot of debate.
Many of you are probably familiar with the @Ireland account on Twitter, where a new person takes turns to curate the account each week in an effort to provoke conversation about various aspects of Irish society.
This week, it has been in the hands of Muslim cleric Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic Theologian and founder and CEO of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council.
Since taking over the account, Al-Qadri has been tweeting about a number of issues, predominantly in relation to the religion of Islam, such as being a Muslim in Ireland and the role of women in Islamic society.
The tweets from the account that have been causing most debate and controversy, however, are in relation to the Islamic stance on homosexuality.
Al-Qadri posed a number of questions about homosexuality earlier today, claiming a desire to engage in dialogue and to understand “the other opinion”.
Question: Are all homosexuals born as gay ? Genuine replies please
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
By asking the question whether a person is born gay I am only intending to engage in dialogue and understand the other opinion
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
If one is born homosexual and homosexuality is not a choice (like religion), what about a man in his 50's who suddenly engages in gay sex ?
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
So some are born gay and some choose to be. Those who choose to be gay sometimes are called bi-sexual, right ?
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
Islamic jurists hundreds years ago did acknowledge some humans are born as homosexual. These humans are not attracted to same sex…(cntd)
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
LGBT people, May Allah keep you smiling in this life and hereafter, Ameen! My invitation to you still stands. RSVP info@islamiccentre.ie
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 10, 2015
Not surprisingly, the questions met with quite the response.
https://twitter.com/trisarrrahtops/status/641998921968013312
https://twitter.com/ickle_tayto/status/642003515418759168
@ireland answer: Who cares? They're human beings, who cares about their sexual preference?
— Thomas (@Peeled_Apples24) September 10, 2015
@ireland Genuine question back: Are all heterosexual people born as heterosexuals?
— Tiernan Brady (@Tiernanbrady) September 10, 2015
In the last few days Al-Qadri has stressed repeatedly that he feels no hostility towards the LGBT community, many of whom have been regularly responding to his posts.
To all those who think we Muslims hate and want to kill homosexuals. Islam teaches to hate sin, not the sinner! pic.twitter.com/flqIL1Fmvg
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) September 7, 2015
.@Ireland seems like a well-meaning nice guy, but simply lost when challenged on Islam views of women/LGBT etc. Essentially: "My book says!"
— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) September 9, 2015
You can check out more of the correspondence on the @Ireland account.
What do you think?
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
