Muslim MPs vote for same-sex marriage in Germany

Four Muslim lawmakers from the Green Party - Cem Özdemir, Ekin Deligöz, Özcan Mutlu and Omid Nouripour; Aydan Özoğuz from the centre-left Social Democratic Party, and Cemile Giousouf from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union voted in favour of the legislation, reports The Independent. Meanwhile, Merkel has faced criticism for opposing the bill and announcing: “Marriage is between a man and a woman.” The Social Democratic Party also criticized Merkel for “embarassing” delays to the legislation. Despite the Chancellor's opposition, the historic “marriage for all” measure was approved with 393-226 votes in the Bundestag on Friday, leading hundreds of MPs to rise to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation. The Green Part launched rainbow confetti into the chamber when the result was announced. Although Merkel has always been staunch in her personal stance against marriage equality, her party's MP Cemile Giousouf, the first Muslim elected into the Bundestag in 2013, was praised on social media after endorsing the landmark legislation. Activist Filipe Henriques tweeted: “She's a Muslim woman and a Conservative. She voted for marriage equality, most of her CDU colleagues voted against. “Merkel thinks marriage is sacred bond between men and woman. Most Germans and all Muslim MPs believe in equality. Who needs integration?”

That's Cemile Giousouf. She's a Muslim woman and a Conservative. She voted for marriage equality, most of her CDU colleagues voted against pic.twitter.com/WwZWcwJWZE

— Filipe Henriques (@FHenriques) June 30, 2017

After the vote passed, Merkel said: “I hope that the vote today not only promotes respect between different opinions but also brings more social cohesion and peace.”

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The Chancellor also said she supported the bill’s introduction of full adoption rights for same-sex couples – a move she had previously opposed – and was fighting anti-LGBT discrimination. With almost all of its neighbours supporting legal unions between gay partners, calls had been increasing in Germany for the government to drop resistance that appeared increasingly anachronistic. The Netherlands was the first European country to legalise same-sex marriage, back in 2001, followed by countries including Belgium, Spain, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, France and the UK. Germany has allowed same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships since 2001, but same-sex marriages remained illegal. The draft law legalising same-sex marriage was first moved in 2015 in the upper house of parliament by the state of Rhineland Palatinate. It is expected to be signed into law by the president some time after July 7 but could face legal challenges.