South Sudan youth object to same-sex marriage
April 27, 2012 (JUBA) – A South Sudan youth group on Friday vehemently rejected importation of what they described as western culture that allows same sex marriage, saying that South Sudan is a nation with culture, values and beliefs.
In 2010 South Sudan president, Salva Kiir said that Homosexuality will not be accepted in southern Sudan.
In the interview with Radio Netherlands Worldwide Kiir said: “It [homosexuality] is not in our character […] it is not there and if anybody wants to import it to Sudan […] it will always be condemned by everybody.”
Speaking before South Sudan’s independence in July last year Kiir promised democracy, equality and justice for everyone in the new nation but made an exception for homosexuals, saying that gay people would not be accepted.
Kiir’s position chimes with that of the Sudan Africa National Union (SANU) whose leaders spoke against homosexuality on Friday.
Speaking at a cultural heritage center Martin Oduho Adlino, an executive youth member with SANU said “our thoughts and actions are dictated by such culture, values and standards and those unnatural human activities that are not in conformity with our culture and beliefs cannot therefore be entertained”.
Adlino while complained that there was too much talk about the rights of gays and lesbians in the western countries including countries in Africa.
“We do not want to hear and do what is done by other others because South Sudan is a country known for its culture, morals and conscience cannot provide sanctuary for such engagements.”
James Mawut Lueth, a member of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday said he supported the position of the SANU youth leadership against same-sex marriage practices in line with the young country’s religious and cultural beliefs.
“Our cultures condemns in the most serious terms same sex marriage, so also our religions, Christianity and Islam in particular. This is premised on the principle that the human race must guarantee the production and reproduction of human beings. Once a human being is born by a family and taken care of by society, he or she is under obligation to also constitute a natural family to produce other humans. It is by so doing that we are grateful to the family that gave us birth and society in general for ensuring our living”, said Lueth who comes from Warrap State.
James Tut a youth with South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF) equally sided with other youth members and that the scriptures reveal that societies in countries that practiced same sex marriage are experiencing difficulties because a large part of the society are angering God.
“Entertaining such practices in our society means we risk facing the same destiny like those societies in western worlds. In addition, the good morals and values that shapes our society and made it conducive for co-existence of humans will be corroded and eventually erased”, said Tut.
“I am therefore in full agreement with the youth leadership that there will be no room for the same sex marriage in South Sudan. We hope that people will be versed in our history to know where we came from so that we can know where we are going to.”
Reverend Faustino Wel of the Anglican Church of Sudan commended youth position on the same sex marriage and argued that the practice lacks a cultural or religious basis.
“Let us always bear in mind that the world and all its materials are not eternal. We came from the Lord without our knowledge and will return to Him with our knowledge. And creation is for a purpose, which must be fulfilled. Our failure to fulfill the mission of creation means that destruction awaits us in the end. The South Sudan cannot afford to be part of the societies and people who wish to earn the anger of the creator and his lethal punishment.”
“Our culture in diversity opens the doors for all and sundry, but gays and lesbians and others whose actions, thoughts and conscience are by it not progressive and are opposed to the Divine Will cannot be entertained”, he explained.
The issue of homosexuality is a taboo throughout most of the continent and many African states have legislated laws to make it a crime.
(ST)