A leading Islamic leader has threatened a violent protest if a gay parade takes place in Moscow this spring

Hassan Mirza:

Chief Russian Mufti of Russia’s Central Spiritual Governance for Muslims Talgat Tajuddin told the Interfax news agecy, “Muslims’ protests can be even worse than these notorious rallies abroad over the scandalous cartoons".

“The parade should not be allowed, and if they still come out into the streets, then they should be bashed.”

“Sexual minorities have no rights, because they have crossed the line. Alternative sexuality is a crime against God.”

Russian LGBT leader announced in July that they would try to hold pride celebrations in Moscow on May 27, 2006 — the anniversary of the abolition of Soviet laws against homosexuality in 1993.

The Russian capital has never had a pride parade before.

Nikolai Alekseev, one of the organisers of Moscow LGBT Festival and Pride, responded to the threats and said, “The position of Talgat Tajuddin is unacceptable".

"What is terrible is that he used the current situation in the world connected with the publication of cartoons, to incite hatred towards those who have absolutely not connection to that."

On Wednesday, Leading Russian Rabbi Berl Lazar suggested that a Gay Pride parade “would be a blow for morality”.

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