Alan Turing: A Homosexual
Who
Committed Suicide
Alan Turing: A Homosexual
Who
Committed Suicide
Sam Ghandchi
http://www.ghandchi.com/2445-alan-turing-lgbt-english.htm
آلن تورینگ: همجنسگرایی که خودکشی کرد
http://www.ghandchi.com/2445-alan-turing-lgbt.htm
Preface
The following article was first written and published 25 years ago on May 17, 1994 in soc.culture.iranian Usenet Newsgroup on the Internet. In those days Iranians wrote on the Internet in English and this is why the English translation has not been available till today January 29, 2019. SG
After I posted my article "Homosexuality and Islam"
(1), I received emails from a few Iranian homosexuals who were afraid to
post on SCI. I suggested to them to post anonymously because I hate Email. But I
think they were even afraid to do that, because there is always that very slight
chance that the anonymous names can be discovered.
I have a hard time to relate to their plight, because I have never been in their
shoes. I mean, in the past, I have chosen political or social standings in life
that had caused me threats to my life, and I can relate to that kind of fear.
But I had chosen those positions and I did not feel like I was threatened
because of just being something. But these people have not chosen to be what
they are, and being threatened with their life for what one is, is very hard for
me to relate to.
It is true that they do not need to act on what they are, to be punished, but I
find it very hard to understand how. I mean if I am hungry, I find it hard to
resist food. And they do not think they are sick for feeling this hunger, and
most of the medical profession agrees with them. I have never experienced such a
tough position in my life so I really cannot relate to these people's plight.
Only having read on this subject, like many other subjects, I can only relay
some of my readings.
I remember the life of Alan Turing, the founder of many things that are nowadays
referred to as Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. Many of you know
about Turing Machine (2). You have learned it in your
advanced Computer classes, see Douglas Hofstadter's The Mind's I for more details
about Turing Machine.
Turing was a homosexual living in England. His adult life was in 30s and 40s.
He committed suicide because in England at that time, he could not come out of
the closet with his true personality. When I think about such a genius, I
wonder, if so many homosexuals in Iran
of today are facing the same kind of dilemma.
My request from our Muslim readers is not to convince or be convinced that the
execution of people for what they are is fair or not. Although I think that is a
good question. But I would like to ask to think about something else. I believe
it is more important to be open and look for *creative solutions*. When I noted
the difference between Marhoom Ayatollah Borujerdi’s position on this issue and
others, our friend BBB, at least gave me the benefit of the doubt and sincerely
researched it. I appreciate that and I hope we all do that.
Why?
Well if the rules of punishment in Islam were even tougher than what we hear, it
would not really matter; if Islam was not the guiding principle of state in
Iran. Nobody asks what Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, or Baha'i Faith
prescribes for punishment of homosexuals in Iran. Because they do not determine
what the Iranian state does. Since Iranian state has chosen to be a religious
government, Islamic thinkers need to be more careful to be creative in its
implementation of Koranic law, much more than religious thinkers who are not in
power. Why?
Well look at any state in the world and see how they change and modify laws *all
the time*. Once you have accepted the legitimacy of a state ideology, you need
to be able to modify it. Actually many of the people in Europe, during the
Middle Ages, who asked for separation of Church and State, were themselves
top Christian Theologians and many were high-level pious officials. They
proposed the separation of Church and State because they saw that being a state
religion at the time of rapid changes in the world's social and economic order,
they had to modify the religion so much that after a while they may lose their
religion.
In fact, some of the very conservative Iranian Marja have made similar
propositions, i.e. separation of religion and state, many times. Some people
find it strange that such a demand had come from the most conservative members
of the Islamic clergy. People usually expect such a demand from the more radical
elements. But as noted, the reason is that these thinkers see that being a
state religion, many modifications will need to be made to the rulings of Islam
due to the rapid changes in the world, that they are afraid to lose the
religion, trying to make it the state religion.
In short, I think it is important to find *creative solutions* for issues like
treating the homosexuals in Iran, as long as Islam is the basis of executive,
judiciary, and legislative branches of government in Iran. I think reviewing the
texts of different Marja’s of Shi’a and also reviewing the ways that they allow
changes in these rules is one way of finding a middle ground. Whether I am or
you are convinced, if such *creative solutions* are not found, the problems
remain!!
Hoping for a democratic and secular futurist republic in Iran,
http://www.ghandchi.com/index2.html
May 17, 1994
Footnotes:
1. Homosexuality and Islam
http://www.ghandchi.com/2446-homosexuality-and-islam-english.htm
همجنسگرایی و اسلام
http://www.ghandchi.com/2446-homosexuality-and-islam.htm
2. Turing and AI
http://www.ghandchi.com/439-TuringEng.htm
تورینگ و هوش مصنوعی
http://www.ghandchi.com/439-Turing.htm
About Homosexuals
http://bit.ly/3oqvajq
درباره همجنسگرایان
https://goo.gl/Cc8j3E
Featured Topics
http://featured.ghandchi.com
For a Secular Democratic & Futurist Republican Party in Iran
http://www.ghandchi.com/futuristparty/index.html
