Rehana Kausar and Sobia Kamar astounded many conservatives in their home country of Pakistan when they recently married in a civil partnership in the UK. Kausar and Kamar are the first lesbian Muslims to wed, as LGBT groups are scorned (or at least ignored if they’re quiet enough) in custom and law in Pakistan. The ladies immediately applied for political asylum, as they’d received death threats from opponents of their decision in both the UK and Pakistan. Hopefully the right of asylum will lead to citizenship, as homosexuality is still deemed unnatural in the Middle East and Arabic-speaking countries, where Islam is the dominant religion.
It could prove difficult, however, since the 2005 London suicide attacks have caused major barriers for obtaining UK citizenship. If that wasn’t enough, some douchebags are suspicious that the two are only doing this for UK citizenship. Although Kausar and Kamar were unable to be wed in the traditional Islam nikah ceremony, the couple has still made history with their incredible bravery. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that these women will be able to return to their native country, for fear of facing persecution.
Sources: The Diplomat, Birmingham Mail
Photo via Birmingham Mail
