Pakistan's advisory body says gender change is 'un-Islamic'

Human cloning and changing of gender are "un-Islamic acts", a group of Islamic experts that advises the Pakistan government declared today.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a constitutional body comprising experts from different schools of Islamic thought, upheld an earlier recommendation that said human cloning is un-Islamic.
Changing gender is un-Islamic for males and females, CII Chairman Maulana Muhammad Ali Sherani told a news conference after a meeting of the body.
However, a person could undergo sex change surgery if he has the characteristics of both sexes. Such a procedure should be done "within Islamic injunctions", he said.
Announcing the CII's recommendations on a range of issues, Sherani said human milk banks should not be permitted as use of such milk "would complicate family life" and "would not be beneficial for health".

Test tube babies could be allowed in certain conditions, he said. Gender selection of babies is not prohibited by Islam and this can be done within the limits of Shariah or Islamic law but it should not become a common practice, he added.

The use of secret recordings in court cases should not become part of a general policy and such materials should only be used in specific cases, Sherani said.
Evidence gathered through secret recordings should be used as supportive proof as this cannot be considered to be in line with Shariah law, he added.
Sherani further said research and thinking is not banned by Islam and new innovations could be made within the limits of the religion.

The CII's recommendations should be applicable to all laws, he said.
The Council's next meeting will take up the issues like marriages and divorces among Christians and Hindus, the veil, and installing statues in museums and public places, Sherani said.