Kashmir chief criticized for supporting same-sex relationship

The Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's comment on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Thursday evoked sharp criticism from religious groups. Abdullah on Wednesday vehemently opposed Indian Supreme Court( SC)'s judgment of upholding a law which criminalized gay sex. The country's top court has asked parliament to legislate on Section 377, a 153-year-old colonial era homosexuality law, which declares that same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offense" punishable with a 10-year jail term. Abdullah wrote on his Twitter account that people must have a choice to choose their lifestyle. "Questions of morality or religion are not the issue. How can a lifestyle choice be illegal? SC removes red lights for equality yet not #377," Abdullah tweeted. "People can take whatever stand their religious/moral beliefs dictate regarding #LGBT lifestyle choices but is terming it illegal not wrong?" In 2009, the Delhi High Court had described Section 377 as discriminatory and said gay sex between consenting adults should not be viewed as a crime. The ruling then was widely welcomed by India's gay community. However, several political, social and religious groups had petitioned the country's top court seeking annulling of Delhi High Court judgment. The Grand Mufti (Islamic jurist) of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Mufti Bashir-ud-Din, while welcoming the criminalization of gay sex by top court strongly criticized Abdullah's remarks and called them "childish talks." "In Islam, as in most other religions, same-sex marriages are seen as a perversion," said Mufti. "Abdullah is perhaps unmindful of the sensibilities of the people in his State. His remarks are shameful." Homosexuality is a taboo in Muslim majority region of Indian- controlled Kashmir and people do not approve same-sex relationships and view them as illegitimate.