SEXUALITIES Women and Genders (SWAG) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Guyana have condemned comments made by Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition and head of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
In a Facebook video, he chastised “questionable persons, lesbians, and bisexuals” coming into the masjid to pray. Mohamed, among other things, lamented that our leaders are not speaking out on the matter.
In a joint statement released on March 5, 2026, SWAG and SASOD Guyana said they are taking careful note of Mohamed’s remarks, marking his first public comments on sexual minorities since being elected as a Member of Parliament and assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition.
While affirming their respect for religious freedom, both organisations noted that Mohamed’s comments were divisive and discriminatory, particularly against lesbian and bisexual individuals who practice Islam.
According to SWAG and SASOD, Guyanese lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals come from all walks of life, with many practising various religious faiths, while others do not.
The statement noted that his comments come at a time when multiple religious observances intersect, including Ramadan, Lent, and Vasant Vart, emphasising the importance of inclusion and respect for diversity.
SWAG Co-Chair Savannah Williams said, “There are lesbians and bisexual people who are devout Muslims, whether Mr. Mohamed likes it or not. It’s not Mohamed’s place to judge any Muslim or worshipper – he is not God or Allah.”
SASOD Guyana Chairperson Mishka Puran called Mohamed’s comments a missed opportunity to promote unity and respect, adding 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 also urged the Leader of the Opposition to clarify his and his party’s position on law reform to decriminalise same-sex intimacy and protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, reforms that polls indicate have strong public support.
Joel Simpson, SASOD Guyana’s Managing Director, highlighted a discrepancy between Mohamed’s recent remarks and his party’s previous public statements. At the LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall on July 29, 2025, WIN General Secretary Odessa Primus expressed support for legal reforms and public education to improve social attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ people.
Simpson said, “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?”
He added, “Mr. Mohamed cannot separate his personal, religious views on policy issues from his role as the Leader of the Opposition.”
The organisations concluded by calling on Mohamed and WIN’s leadership to engage with them on how his office and party can support public education and law reform as pledged at the 2025 Elections Town Hall, stressing that electoral promises must be delivered.

In his statement issued on Thursday, Mohamed said his remarks reflected his personal religious beliefs, explaining that while everyone is welcome at the masjid and may participate in activities around the musallah, the prayer space itself is sacred.
He also said his comments were not intended to target or demean the LGBTQIA+ community and emphasised that all Guyanese should be treated with dignity and respect despite differences in beliefs.
Meanwhile, government ministers quickly responded to Mohamed’s remarks targeting lesbian and bisexual Muslims. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand condemned the comments, stressing that political leaders should promote unity rather than intolerance.
She said, “Good political leaders find ways to make life easier for the people they seek to lead. Leading a bandwagon of intolerance for anyone based on their religion or sexual orientation or ethnicity or gender or for any other bigoted view ought to be something eschewed by political parties and their leadership.”
Manickchand expressed shock at Mohamed’s suggestion that LGBTQIA+ individuals be excluded from places of worship, adding that “places of worship should be safe havens for all”. She called for greater compassion during religious observances, urging, “Let’s be kind and tolerant in this Ramadan and Lenten period… Live and let live.”
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues had also questioned the WIN party’s stance on LGBTQIA+ issues, recalling that at a SASOD panel before last year’s elections, all parties, including WIN, condemned discrimination based on sexual orientation and supported equal access to education, healthcare, employment and legal protection.
Rodrigues challenged whether that position was politically convenient, stating, “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.”
In a Facebook post, user Nick Yearwood addressed Mohamed directly, arguing that religious teachings caution against judging others.
“Before rushing to quote the Quran to condemn others, it is important that we first look within ourselves. The sanctimonious Leader of the Opposition should perhaps reflect on the parts of the Quran that speak clearly about justice, humility, and integrity. It warns believers not to “consume one another’s wealth unjustly” (Quran 2:188) and condemns corruption and deceit in financial dealings. Those teachings remind us that faith requires honesty in how we earn and use wealth. Or consider: “So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He knows best who is truly righteous.” (Quran 53:32),” Yearwood said.
According to the Facebook user, “These teachings show that Islam is not meant to be used selectively. It speaks about character, honesty, modesty, and accountability in all areas of life.”
Meanwhile, Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, are currently before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to extradition proceedings to the United States.
U.S. prosecutors have accused the pair of running what authorities describe as an international criminal network linked to a US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme, with charges including alleged wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations.
According to U.S. authorities, the case is being pursued in the U.S. Southern District of Florida.
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had also sanctioned the Mohameds in June 2024 over allegations related to gold smuggling and public corruption.
The Mohameds have consistently maintained that the extradition proceedings against them are politically motivated. However, Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh ruled that this claim was not supported by the evidence presented before the court.