KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Homosexual couples are allegedly less faithful and face more domestic violence than those in a heterosexual relationship, according to a flyer purportedly published by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and distributed during Valentine’s Day yesterday.

Titled “10 myths about homosexuality”, the flyer also claimed homosexuals are not seriously disadvantaged by discrimination as they have higher levels of education.

“Homosexuals are less likely to enter into a committed relationship, less likely to be sexually faithful to a partner, even if they have one, and are less likely to remain committed for a lifetime, than are homosexuals.An advisory against homosexuality purportedly issued by Jakim.
An advisory against homosexuality purportedly issued by Jakim.

“They also experience higher rates of domestic violence than heterosexual married couples,” the flyer stated.

Advertisement

The flyer bore Jakim’s logo, and a verse from the Quran on committing illicit sex and evil.

Copies of the pamphlet have been circulating on social media.

Among other “facts” provided by the flyer was that homosexuals suffer from greater risk of “sexually-transmitted deceases” [sic] and experience “considerably higher levels of mental illness and substance abuse”.

Advertisement

The flyer also claimed that nobody is “born gay”, sexual orientations can change, and preventing a homosexual from being turned into a heterosexual is an “ethical violation”.

The flyer did not state the source of its facts or the researches that back their assertions.

The statements in the Valentine’s Day flyer however are strikingly similar to a 2010 brochure also titled “ The top ten myths about homosexuality” by a group called Family Research Council (FRC).

FRC is a United States-based conservative Christian lobby group founded in 1983 that is against gay rights, abortion, divorce, embryonic stem-cell research and pornography.

Jakim’s flyer also curiously contained US-centric points, such as insisting that homosexuals comprise less than 3 per cent of the US population, and described provisions contained in the US constitution.

Muslim-majority Malaysia continues to reject the perceived rise in LGBT activity, which together with growing calls for greater civil liberties, they deem to be an assault against Islam.

Jakim has not yet responded to Malay Mail Online’s request for comments at the time of writing.