Ourvoice had a chance to do interview with K.

H Husein Muhammad, an imam of Dar A t-Tauhid Islamic boarding school in Arjawinangun, Cirebon, West Java. K.H Husein is also an official member of National Commission for Woman, for 2009 2014 peri od, as he is renowned for his vocal opinion on gender equality. In this half-hou r interview with Hartoyo and Rikky (Ourvoice), K.H Husein pronounced his opinion on homosexuality regarding to Islamic teaching. Ourvoice (O): "What is your stance regarding homosexual?" K.H Husein Muhammad (HM): "Before I comment on homosexual, I want to explain tha t there are some stances that are not fairly nor properly socialized (about homo sexuality). I see that there are a lot of views that put homosexual the same as people of Sodom. But from what I've heard and gathered (from) the meetings on se xuality, (it) turns out that homosexuality is same-sex sexual orientation. In my opinion, sexual passion is a natural thing. Generally, sexual orientation (of people) is heterosexual. But there are facts that some people have sexual pa ssion for the same-sex, which is homosexual. Because it's a natural/given sexual passion, (it) cannot be detached from one's personal. That's why I think we hav e to appreciate these differences. We will not presume it as an erroneous sexual relation. Moreover presuming (it) as a deviant sexual relation. I think the ter m "homosexual" is just uncommon. And deviant is completely different from uncomm on." O: "How is homosexual regarding to religion teaching?" HM: "I found that there is no religion's stance since classical era up to today which appreciate same-sex sexual relation. Furthermore, the thought that is ackn owledged on people's mind in Islamic world, generally, (that) homosexual is the same as sodomy. The people of Lot's behavior. When homosexual is mentioned, then the assumption (arises) is sodomy. That is why the punishment of (homosexuality ) in Tafseer* and also Fiqh** is really harsh. Maybe even harsher than (punishme nt) for heterosexual intercourse." O: "How is the historical assessment of Lot regarding homosexual?" HM: "The facts that same-sex love are found in human civilization anywhere. Duri ng the Prophet (Mohammed) era, there were men who looked-like and acted-like wom en, and there were same-sex loves especially on the caliphates during early year s of Islam, those kinds of chronicles are a lot (to find). But the not so promin ent things were eunuchs, men who were castrated for the (sexual) purpose." O: "So what is your stance on sexual orientation that is given?" HM: "I think that if the basis of sexual orientation is natural/given, I think i t has to be respected. (It's) different from people whom (done it) because of a certain purpose, i.e. to get some money out of homosexual relationship and not b ecause of love. And I also think that there are a lot of places where same-sex r elationship occurs. There are people who have different orientation than the dom inant. So at a time, I could be infatuated to men. But those feeling could be di sappeared later on. For example, the mairil tradition in Islamic boarding school . The mairil tradition does not perform sodomy, instead (it) only performs outer course sex on thigh and also performs affectionate acts just like lovers. Going everywhere together, some even put oneself as man who escorts the other. In Isla mic boarding school these relationships are tacitly known, people in Islamic boa rding school aware of mairil (tradition)." O: "What shall be done by religious figures in viewing the homosexual group?" HM: "I think there have to be a basic knowledge for religious figures to apprehe nd that in this world there is a third sex, there are different sexual orientati ons that are real. So, if this basic knowledge is not apprehended, then there wi ll always be unsympathetic attitudes, and even condemnation. I think, at least ( they) do not stigmatize first. Then the stance of the existing reality shall be given to the religious figures. I straightforwardly (say) that I haven't had enough courage to be vocally invol

ved in (homosexual) community. Even though a few times, some of my friends asked me to, but I have other things to do, (and) I have to reject. I'm actually quit e vocal on some issues in terms of women and men relationship but not on homosex uals. I often say that if it was realized, then the whole structure of equality between men and women will be "collapsed". I think in the Islam world itself, th e scholars who are vocal in speaking about the equality between men and women, n ot yet dare to talk openly about homosexuality." O: "What is the Fiqh says about shalat (prayer) for homosexual people?" HM: "I think there are a lot of sexual orientations, but it is vaguely apprehend ed. There is a term 'Khunza', which is a person who has two genitals, male genit alia and female genitalia. While the issue that is often disputed by the scholar s is 'mukhonnas', which is man who acts like woman. In Fiqh, it only says about khunza. Khunza according to shalat rule is positioned before women. It means the sequence would be men first, then children, then khunza, then women. So, actual ly in Islam, khunza is recognized." O: "Is there any case about khunza that you found?" HM: "I think it is very concealed. There is a probability but it never shows up to the public. And if it shows up, then immediately the separation process of ge nitals is performed. I think all this time, there are a lot who practiced this ( process)." At the end of the interview, K.H. Husein Muhammad revealed that the country shal l protect all of the citizens. It shall be comprehended that the country is cons tructed to protect all of the citizens despite of social background and private life background. The most important function of a country is to give opportuniti es for all its citizens.