Inclusivity & respect are fundamental values of Islam – CIOG, MYO

– as WIN defends leader’s anti-LGBTQIA+ remarks

As the United States (US)-indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), continue to receive backlash over his anti-LGBTQIA+ remarks made at a masjid recently, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO) have reminded the public that inclusivity and respect are fundamental values of Islam. In a joint statement on Friday, the CIOG and MYO noted that while same-gender relationships are not condoned within Islamic teachings, masjids are sacred spaces, and anyone who respects their sanctity is welcomed. “Anyone who enters these spaces and observes the expected standards of decorum – such as removing shoes, wearing appropriate attire, and refraining from bringing prohibited items such as alcohol or pork – may do so in a spirit of respect for the sanctity of the masjid,” the religious bodies noted. They went on to remind that masjids do not display signage or establish entry restrictions targeting any specific groups of people, whether based on personal conduct, lifestyle or beliefs. In fact, they noted that individuals who may have committed other forms of wrongdoing, such as acts of domestic abuse, paedophilia, gambling, alcohol consumption or other moral transgressions, are not even barred from entering places of worship.
“Fundamentally, masjids are places where individuals may seek guidance, reflection and spiritual growth. The only expectation is that all who enter do so with respect for the sacred environment and for those gathered in worship. These principles reflect the broader spirit of Islam, which emphasises compassion, humility, respect and tolerance in human interaction.”
“As a faith practised within Guyana’s richly diverse and multi-faith society, Islam encourages peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among all people. We trust that this clarification helps to reinforce a shared understanding of the welcoming nature of places of worship and the values of respect and dignity that guide our communities,” the CIOG stated. In a video clip that has been circulating on social media, while speaking at a masjid recently, Mohamed is heard saying, “At our masjid in Georgetown, you know, questionable persons; lesbians and bisexuals come into the masjid and pray. What are our leaders really doing?”

Condemnation
Mohamed later took to his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page to defend his remarks by directly attacking Government Ministers Kwame McCoy and Susan Rodrigues. “My remarks reflected my personal religious belief. As Muslims, all are welcome to the masjid, where we partake in all activities in the outskirts of the musalla, but it should be known that the space for prayers is sacred. We have seen Ministers Kwame McCoy and Susan Rodrigues being welcomed in a masjid, performing prayers when they are openly in same-sex relationships; this goes against every fabric of Islam,” Mohamed posted. “Coupled with the fact that they are not Muslims and they have breached a sacred space in the masjid, the place for performing prayers. When I spoke, I was referencing the sunnah and expressing a perspective grounded in faith,” he added. In the same vein, Mohamed said it was not his intention to “target, insult, or demean” the LGBTQIA+ community. However, the Opposition Leader has since faced widespread condemnation, particularly from gay rights groups Sexualities, Women, and Genders (SWAG) and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Guyana. In a statement on Thursday, the groups said while they respect religious freedom, Mohamed’s comments are divisive and discriminatory towards lesbian and bisexual people, in particular, who are followers of Islam. SASOD Guyana’s Managing Director Joel Simpson also pointed out that Mohamed’s comments in the masjid seem at odds with his party’s position, as articulated by their General Secretary (GS) Odessa Primus at the LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall, which was held on July 29, 2025. At that forum, Primus indicated her party’s support for the necessary law reforms and championed public education to improve social attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ people in Guyana – a position she apparently backtracked on when she defended Mohamed, saying that persons’ views must be respected. “We have to be able to respect each other’s views. We don’t need to agree with it. And that does not, by any means, mean or indicate or even implicitly or explicitly state that the Leader of the Opposition has a problem with a particular sector of society, whether you’re gay, straight, crooked, or otherwise. It does not have any such indications,” she posited. The WIN GS went on to add, “If you are forbidden to be in a certain place unless you fit a certain bill based on the religion of a person, then I think that should be respected.” According to Primus, many of the persons who are complaining are not even Muslims, as she contends that persons are making a “mountain out of a molehill” with this issue.

Bandwagon of intolerance
Nevertheless, the WIN GS, who also serves as a Member of Parliament, noted that this issue has opened the door for dialogue on the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Guyana, but not before she took a jab at Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues, who had also criticised Mohamed’s utterances. In fact, Rodrigues – a member of the LGBTQIA+ community – represented the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) at the very town hall alongside WIN’s Primus and other political representatives last year. She reminded in a recent Facebook post that “all of us condemned discrimination based on sexual orientation and expressed views in support of the gay community, acknowledging equal access to education, healthcare, work and protection under the law.” Was the position expressed by WIN on that panel one of convenience because of the impending elections? Has that position changed? Are we no longer equal?”
Rodrigues further added that Mohamed’s position is no surprise since she has personally been attacked by his supporters based on her sexual orientation.
“He has encouraged his supporters and paid actors to relentlessly attack my personal life. I visited the Ramadan village, and they attacked. I went to church, and they attacked. My personal life is not a weakness, and I have never used it to play the victim. I am a proud gay person serving in the cabinet of our country and supported by my party. When we say we govern for all the people of Guyana, we mean ALL the people of Guyana,” the Minister added.