Leader of the Opposition and the We Invest in Nationhood party, Azruddin Mohamed, is coming under fire for a statement he made during a recent visit to a masjid to break his Ramadan fast.

In a video recording Mohamed questioned the decision by some masjids in Georgetown to allow what he called “questionable persons” into the masjids to pray.

He said “in our masjid in Georgetown, questionable persons, lesbians, bisexuals, coming in the masjid and pray and yet our leaders, what our leaders really doing? Our leaders, they are not speaking out, our leaders are like puppets in this country”.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, reminded that just before the general and regional elections in 2025, she was part of a panel discussion with other political representatives that was hosted by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

She said while she represented the People’s Progressive Party, the WIN party, which is headed by Mohamed, was represented by its General Secretary, Odessa Primus.

She said the entire panel condemned discrimination based on sexual orientation and expressed views in support of the gay community, acknowledging equal access to education, healthcare, work and protection under the law.

The Minister said the views recently expressed by the Leader of WIN party is no surprise to her, as she noted that he has encouraged his supporters to relentlessly attack her personal life.

“I visited the Ramadan village and they attacked. I went to church and they attacked. My personal life is not a weakness, and I have never used it to play the victim. I am a proud gay person, serving in the cabinet of our country and supported by my party. When we say we govern for all the people of Guyana we mean ALL the people of Guyana”, Rodrigues said.

Minister of Local Government, Priya Manickchand also issued a statement and said leading a bandwagon of intolerance for anyone based on their religion or sexual orientation or ethnicity or gender ought to be something eschewed by political parties and their leadership.

She said she was shocked by the statements made by the WIN party leader, and added that places of worship should be safe havens for all.

In a joint statement, Sexualities Women and Genders (SWAG) organisation and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination said they have both taken careful note of Mohamed’s remarks.

The statement said while both organisations respect religious freedom, Mr. Mohamed’s comments are divisive and discriminatory towards lesbian and bisexual people, in particular, who are followers of Islam.

They added that his remarks came at a time when religious observances of Ramadan, Lent and Vasant Vart intersected – a timely season to share a message of inclusion and respect for diversity in all its forms. “Guyana’s diversity includes lesbians and bisexual people”, the statement noted.

SASOD Guyana’s Chairperson Mishka Puran was quoted in the statement as saying that “Mr. Mohamed’s first public remarks on LGBTQIA+ issues were a missed opportunity to share a message of unity, togetherness, compassion and respect when Guyana and the world need it.”

She added that the Leader of the Opposition should clarify his and his party’s position on reforming Guyana’s laws to decriminalise same-sex intimacy and protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression – which polls show a strong majority of Guyanese across the political spectrum support.

Meanwhile, SASOD Guyana’s Managing Director Joel Simpson added that Mohamed’s comments in the masjid seem at odds with his party’s position as articulated by their General Secretary Odessa Primus at the LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall which was held on July 29, 2025.

Simpson said at that forum, the representative of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) indicated her party’s support for the necessary law reforms and championed public education to improve social attitudes to LGBTQIA+ people in Guyana.

“Mohamed could have called on his Muslim brothers and sisters to be more inclusive and welcome lesbian and bisexual Muslims to their masjids, but he chose to do the opposite. How is WIN championing education to change attitudes at one forum and preaching division and exclusion in the masjid,” Simpson questioned.

In a statement today, Mr. Mohamed said his remarks reflected his personal religious belief, adding that as Muslims, all are welcome to the masjid, where they partake in all activities in the outskirts of the musallah, but it should be known that the space of prayers is sacred.

He made reference to two Government Ministers, who he said should not have been welcomed in the masjid and performing prayers.

Mohamed said his statement did not intend to target, insult, or demean anyone in the LGBTQIA community. He said he respects the dignity and rights of every citizen of Guyana.

The Opposition Leader said Guyana is a diverse society, and people hold different beliefs—religious, cultural, and personal. He said as Leader of the Opposition, he maintains that everyone should be treated with respect and fairness, regardless of differences in values or viewpoints.

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