"Liberal activists in America deride churches for upholding traditional marriage but seem mostly silent when Islamist regimes execute homosexuals and adulterers." -- Faith J.H. McDonnell, IRD Religious Liberty Program Director

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The execution of three Iranian men for alleged homosexual acts is alarming human rights organizations. Since many churches don't realize the global threat from Shari'a (Islamic law), IRD's religious liberty director is urging churches to condemn the executions and stand against attempts to enshrine Shari'a worldwide.

According to the Iranian Student News Agency, the men were hanged to death on Sunday morning at Karoun prison in the south western city of Ahvaz. The agency quoted Abdolhamid Amanat, an official at the prosecutor office in Khuzestan Province, as its source.

The Independent reports that the recent Ahvaz executions cite section 108 and 110 of the Iranian penal code, which prescribes death for "lavat" (sodomy). Iran is an Islamic Republic ultimately governed by clerics. Under traditional Islamic law, homosexual practice and adultery, among other offenses, are punishable by death.

IRD Religious Liberty Program Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:

"Liberal activists in America deride churches for upholding traditional marriage but seem mostly silent when Islamist regimes execute homosexuals and adulterers.

"Enshrining parts of Shari'a into Western legal codes, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested, or accommodating it by social custom, opens a door to manifold dangers that churches and human rights organizations cannot ignore.

"Multiculturalism and political correctness sometimes argue for accommodating Sharia in the West. But Christians and others concerned about human rights must defend Western legal traditions of equality before the law.

"Liberal activists so quick to accuse traditional Christians of homophobia and Islamophobia might give a little more attention to how the Islamic Republic of Iran treats its people."