Echoing the controversial views of Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria, Nizar said those who were infected with HIV should instead be quarantined and everything should be done to treat them.

Three years ago, Harussani had caused an uproar when he proposed that HIV/AIDS carriers should be quarantined in an isolated place, such as an island, to ensure that they did not infect others.

"Allowing this (marriage involving HIV carriers) is very unfair.

"Somebody who is very sick like that should not be allowed to get married," Nizar said after meeting mosque officials at his residence here yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on the statement by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz that those who tested positive for HIV would still be allowed to marry.

Last Friday, Wan Mohamad was reported as saying that HIV carriers would receive counselling on the preventive measures that they should take.

Nizar said while it was bad enough to allow an HIV carrier to marry a non-HIV carrier, it was even worse if both partners were HIV carriers.

"If there's any breeding, sorry for having to use that word, the embryo will also carry the same virus. So, that is even more unfair because you are actually passing that disease on to the child. It is very unjust to the child."

When a reporter suggested that HIV-infected couples could get married but abstain from sexual intercourse, Nizar retorted: "How is that a marriage then? Obviously they will indulge in sexual intercourse.

"We don't know what will happen. They are legally married... anything can happen. So if there's a child, what happens?"

Nizar also disagreed that HIV carriers should be allowed to marry so that they could care for each other emotionally and physically and lead a normal life.

"Once a person is confirmed as an HIV carrier, it is difficult for him or her to lead a normal life.

"But, if the government insists on allowing HIV couples to marry, then a thorough review should be carried out.

"Until and unless that is done, to allow such marriages would be a gross error," he said, adding that it was pointless to screen couples for HIV infection if those who were infected were allowed to get married.

If there's any breeding, sorry for having to use that word, the embryo will also carry the same virus. It is very unjust to the child.'

How is that a marriage then? Obviously they will indulge in sexual intercourse. They are legally married... anything can happen.'

Asia News Network