Saudi Gazette

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh reaffirmed the firm position of Saudi Arabia against the terms ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ contained in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution.

“The terms in the resolution are not agreed upon (by Saudi Arabia) as they contravene the historical Arab and Islamic identity,” he said while noting that the Kingdom expressed its reservation over the unacceptable terms contained in the resolution.

Al-Sheikh said that the crime of homosexuality is one of the most heinous and ugliest crimes in the sight of God Almighty. “The perpetrators of these crimes are abhorrent to God, and they are disgraced and despicable in this world and the Hereafter,” he said.

The Grand Mufti emphasized that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, firmly affirms its position towards these false claims and disgraceful slogans.

“The human rights in general and the noble qualities of virtue, mercy, justice and righteousness in particular find first and foremost position in God’s law.

At this period of time, the whole world is afflicted with false claims, corrupt slogans, and despicable perversion, which is intended to strip man of his humanity and of the finest characteristics that God has honored him with,” the Grand Mufti pointed out. Earlier, Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, rejected the UN resolution, saying that the terms in the resolutions are against Saudi Arabia’s history, as well as against the voice and legislation of many countries. Last month, UNGA adopted the resolution on free and fair elections with second ever mention of sexual orientation and gender identity.