New Zealand lawmaker condones stoning of gays

New Zealand lawmaker condones stoning of gays
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

WELLINGTON, New Zealand

A Muslim lawmaker in Prime Minister Helen Clark's government has said he condones the stoning executions of homosexuals and adulterers as prescribed by strict Islamic law.

Lawmaker Ashraf Choudhary was asked on a TV3 current affairs program Monday night whether he thought the Quran was wrong to recommend such punishments.

"No, no. Certainly what the Quran says is correct," Choudhary said. The Pakistani-born New Zealand citizen then added: "In those societies, not here in New Zealand."

Clark said Tuesday she would demand an explanation from Choudhary on his comments, made during a show about Islamic extremism.

"Clearly Ashraf is a devout Muslim and he will have his own views," she said.

"But for the record let me spell out the Labor Party does not support capital punishment. It does not support flogging. It does not support stoning. We have very strong views about that," she said.

"I don't care whether it's in any religious tract, it's not something that's acceptable to me," Clark added.

Gay lawmaker and Conservation Minister Chris Carter, who has worked very closely with Choudhary for many years said he would also ask about the comments.

"He is a person who supported the Civil Union Bill, he is a person who is very supportive of minority's in this country and I think is a very good New Zealander," he said.

Choudhary supported the Civil Union Bill, which gave legal backing to unions between single-sex couples, saying that despite the prevailing Muslim view that homosexuality was immoral, Muslims, as a minority group in New Zealand, had a duty to support the human rights of other minority groups.