Muslim Man to Open 'Mosque for Gays' in France

[Turborama]

Source: Jakarta Globe

November 23, 2012 | by Ian Dulkowski -

Hajj season just ended and Mohammed Ludovic Lutfi Zahed returned to France with an odd idea.

After going the holy pilgrimage, Zahed felt enlightened and realized he wanted to give something to his gay Muslim community in Paris: Opening a "mosque for gays."

"In normal mosques, women have to sit in the back seats and wear a headscarf and gay men are afraid of both verbal and physical aggression. After performing the Hajj, I realized that a mosque for gays was a must for gay Muslims who want to perform their prayers," Zahed said as quoted by Turkish Daily Hurriyet.

=snip=

Zahed, founder of association of Gay Muslims in France (HM2F), said he will use a Buddhist chapel where Friday prayers and gay marriages would be performed.


Read more: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/globebeyond/muslim-man-to-open-mosque-for-gays-in-france/557686

[mainer]

1. A bold but scary idea. Like hanging a sign that says "bomb me."

I hope he and his congregation stay safe.

[pipoman]

2. Has a fatwa been issued yet?

[loudsue]

3. Now there is an enlightened guy with a death wish.

He could just draw a target on his clothes.

[Ash_F]

4. The guy wants to fight Homophobia and Islamophobia.

I admire his bravery and his principled stance. More power to him.

[Raster]

11. Indeed. Ideas whose time has come.

I too admire his bravery and principled stance.

[Bohunk68]

5. I was at a wedding earlier this year, in Philly,

of a Christian reared man to a Pakistani Muslim woman. The visuals were overwhelming. What amazed me were the words of the imam during his homily. He literally came out for Marriage Equality! I was impressed and discovered that the Imam was of a local Progressive Islam congregation. Will be seeing the couple and family this Holiday Season. Get the particulars.

[Pterodactyl]

6. A brave move in a bigoted country.

[AlphaCentauri]

15. Burqas not allowed, sorry n/t

[Odin2005]

7. I hope that guy has body guards.

The nuts are gonna REALLY hate him!

[DonRedwood]

8. Giving Thanks that my partner and I are safe and happy in our home

Thank you for sharing this. Sometimes we forget the struggles our friends in the South, the Middle East, so many places, go through.

I look forward to when my partner and I can get married (in our home state) but until then I will remember how lucky we are to be safe.

[AnnieBW]

9. Great for him, but lousy for his insurance company

I hope they have "pissed off Fundie insurance". Because if the Islamic Fundamentalists don't get him, the homophobes will.

[Posteritatis]

10. Props to the chapel for offering the space, too. (nt)

[Matariki]

12. Nice. Good luck to him. n/t

[4th law of robotics]

13. I wish him well but fear this will end tragically.

Zahed, founder of association of Gay Muslims in France (HM2F), said he will use a Buddhist chapel where Friday prayers and gay marriages would be performed.

Ah, well that will calm down the radicals.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Good for him. Allah be with him!

K&R

[hrmjustin]

16. I hope it works out.