Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed is now facing condemnation for “divisive and discriminatory” comments about lesbians and bisexuals being present in the Muslim community’s houses of worship.
Two rights groups, Sexualities Women and Genders (SWAG) and Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), jointly noted the viral comments, in which Mohamed called out Muslim leaders for “not speaking out” about lesbians and bisexuals going to masjids.
They said the current season, during which the religious seasons of Lent, Ramadan and Vasant Vart intersect, is a timely season for the Leader to share a message of inclusion and respect for diversity in all its forms, including for Guyanese people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, etc. (LGBTQIA+).
“Guyanese lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people come from all walks of life. Many subscribe to different faiths while others do not,” the joint statement read.
SWAG’s Co-Chair Savannah Williams said, “There are lesbians and bisexual people who are devout Muslims, whether Mr. Mohamed likes it or not.” She added that “it’s not Mohamed’s place to judge any Muslim or worshipper – he is not God or Allah.”
SASOD Guyana’s Managing Director, Joel Simpson, added that Mohamed’s comments in the masjid seem at odds with his party’s position as articulated by their General Secretary Odessa Primus at the LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall which was held on July 29, 2025. At that forum, the representative of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) indicated her party’s support for the necessary law reforms and championed public education to improve social attitudes to LGBTQIA+ people in Guyana, SWAG and SASOD said.
“Mohamed could have called on his Muslim brothers and sisters to be more inclusive and welcome lesbian and bisexual Muslims to their masjids, but he chose to do the opposite. How is WIN championing education to change attitudes at one forum and preaching division and exclusion in the masjid? Simpson questioned. “Mr. Mohamed cannot separate his personal, religious views on policy issues from his role as the Leader of the Opposition,” Simpson added.
SASOD Guyana’s Chairperson Mishka Puran believes that “Mr. Mohamed’s first public remarks on LBTQIA+ issues were a missed opportunity to share a message of unity, togetherness, compassion and respect when Guyana and the world need it.”
‘Clarify your party’s position’
“We call on Azruddin Mohamed to fulfill his constitutional obligations as the Leader of the Opposition,” the groups said.
They called on the Leader of the Opposition to clarify his and his party’s position on reforming Guyana’s laws to decriminalise same-sex intimacy and protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
SWAG and SASOD Guyana said they are committed to constructive dialogue and publicly call on the Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed and WIN’s leadership to engage both groups on how his office and party can support the public education and law reform that they advocated for at the 2025 Elections Town Hall.
They added, “Electoral promises must be delivered.”
‘I did not intend to demean anyone’
In a post on the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, the Opposition Leader said his comments were made from a religious perspective about values important to Islam. In this regard, he said all are welcome to the masjid and may partake in activities outside of the musallah, which is a sacred space for prayer.
“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 said, coupled with the fact that they are non-muslims.
Mohamed said he did not intend to target, insult or demean anyone in the LGBTQIA community, and that he respects the dignity and rights of every Guyanese citizen. He pointed out that he has financially supported them, helping with things like housing and starting a business, and that they are part of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) movement.
