Is it required to establish the crime of sodomy with four witnesses, as is the case with unlawful sexual intercourse?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: How do we establish the crime of sodomy? And is it required to have four witnesses for it, as is the case with unlawful sexual intercourse?

Answer:
Yes, the crime of sodomy is like the crime of unlawful sexual intercourse: it is established either by confession four times, or by four witnesses. This is from the mercy of Allah and from the aspect of covering the faults of Muslims. Yes, and from the aspect of protecting the honor of people from being spoken about. Yes.