Asia-Pacific

Pakistani Muslims condemn US gay rights meeting

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-07-04 17:25

ISLAMABAD - A group of conservative Islamic political and religious officials has condemned a meeting held by the US Embassy supporting gay rights as "cultural terrorism" against Pakistan.

The group, which included the head of Pakistan's largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, issued its statement on Sunday - about a week after the embassy held the event.

The statement says the meeting was the second most dangerous attack by the US against Pakistan, following missiles fired from unmanned drones.

The US Embassy said the meeting was hosted by the deputy ambassador, Richard Hoagland, and was meant to support the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals in Pakistan. It was the embassy's first such event.

Pakistan's penal code outlaws homosexuality.