Sir,

We have been somewhat concerned that anyone reading the newspapers of late may have got the impression that opposition to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill comes narrowly from Roman Catholics. It doesn’t. Indeed, opposition is in no way restricted to people of faith. However, as the Bill commences its consideration in the House of Commons we would like to make it plain that as people from other Christian traditions we are completely opposed to the creation of animal-human hybrids, saviour siblings and the removal of the obligation on IVF clinics to consider the child’s need for a father. We call on Parliament to remove these ill-conceived provisions from the Bill and, if there are any abortion votes, to address the disgrace on nearly 200,000 terminations per year - nearly 7 million since 1967! This is not a narrowly Roman Catholic issue, nor is it a narrowly Christian issue nor indeed is it a narrowly religious issue. It is a human issue. We need to fight to uphold and protect our humanity.

Yours

The Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, Bishop of Winchester,
The Rt Revd Dr Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham
The Rt Revd George Cassidy, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
Dr R David Muir, The Evangelical Alliance
Rev. Lyndon Bowering (Chairman, CARE)
Dr. John Andrews (Assemblies of God)
Rev. Gerald Coates (Pioneer)
Roger Forster, Founder and Leader of Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Rev. Douglas Deverton (New Testament Church of God)
Rev. Graham John (Associating Evangelical Churches Wales)
John and Eleanor Mumford (Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland)
Peter Kerridge (CEO, Premier Christian Media)
Rev. Keith Berry (Old Baptist Union)
Rev. David Banting (Vicar of St. Peters Harold Wood)
Lynn Green, YWAM

WHY ISLAM AND MUSLIMS OPPOSE THE GOVERNMENT'S EMBRYO BILL

Islam prohibits the making of a new creation through a cross-species(human-animal) hybrid, which will be allowed by the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, to be debated today in the House of Commons.

Every human embryo is a human being and is fully respected and protected in Islam - yet the bill will destroy countless of thousands of embryos.

Every child should have a known father and should be born within a legitimate legal marriage - yet the bill will sanction children without fathers.

IVF will be used and abused to make children for the unmarried and those living in unnatural and immoral relationships. This will undermine marriage and family values, and is prohibited in Islam.

We fully support scientific and medical progress aimed at finding the causes and treatment of diseases. Seeking to use stem cells from this new unnatural, man-animal production is knocking on the wrong door, especially when there have been many successful medical results using adult stem cells, an ethical alternative (www.stemcellresearch.org)

Muslim doctors, Muslim parents and the British Muslims generally will oppose strongly this Bill, a minefield of dangers and immorality.

For religious, ethical, humane, family and social reasons, British Muslims will fully support our Catholic and Christian friends in their opposition to this dreadful bill.

WE APPEAL TO ALL MUSLIMS TO WRITE TO THEIR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT(MPs) TO REQUEST THEM TO OPPOSE THIS UNISLAMIC BILL.

Dr A.Majid Katme(MBBCh,DPM)
Spokesman: Islamic Medical Association
Tel: 07944 240 622
Address: 31 North Circular Road Pakmers Green London N13 5EG

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