Fearing persecution, ‘gay marriage’ student says won’t come home

Ariff (right) is seen during a civil marriage ceremony with his partner.

A Malaysian who reportedly married his Irish lover in a same-sex civil union has said he would fear for his safety if he were to return home.

The Irish Times reported 28-year-old Ariff Alfian Rosli as saying he had never wanted to create any trouble or controversy, and that the reason why he could not return home to work was because of perceived attitudes towards same-sex relationships here.

“Returning home under the current situation is untenable... as I fear for my safety there,” Ariff told The Irish Times. “My thoughts are with my family and friends in Malaysia. I never wanted this to become a major news story.”

The controversy erupted after pictures taken at Ariff Alfian Rosli’s same-sex civil union surfaced on the internet last week, three years after the University College Dublin medical student was reported missing by his family.

Mum wants gay son to return

The mother of a 28-year-old student who allegedly married another man in Britain is appealing for him to come back to Malaysia and reunite with the family.

Umno Youth Community Complaints Bureau chairman Datuk Muhd Khairun Aseh said the man's mother had written a letter to her son, asking him to not only return but to also settle his RM890,000 education loan.

“I will pass the letter to the man when I go to Britain on Dec 23. His family misses him greatly.

“They are still in disbelief over the alleged marriage.“They cannot accept it,” he said yesterday.