The founder of Europe’s first inclusive mosque has spoken out about being gay and Muslim. Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed claims that it often feels like “trying to decide whether to cut off one arm, or the other” when your sexual orientation conflicts with your religion.
Rather than choosing between the two, Zahed made the decision to open an inclusive mosque and provide a place where he and other members of the LGBT Muslim community can pray without feeling uncomfortable.
He wants to help other gay Muslims restore their faith without feeling as though they must reject their sexuality in order to do so.
Zahed previously stated that many gay men do not attend mosque because they “don’t want to be ostracized” or “rejected” for looking a certain way, something that has happened to Zahed’s own husband.
When asked about its stance on Zahed’s mosque the Paris Grand Mosque made it clear they believed it to be “outside the Islamic community” because:
“The Koran condemns homosexuality. It is banned.”
However Zahed claims that being gay “is not a sin” and that rejecting Muslims because they are gay is “modern and new in Islam.”
Although Zahed has received some threats and insults, including being told his mosque is “dirtying up Islam,” the public’s overall response has been “much more positive than we expected.”
Zahed maintains that “Islam has nothing to do with homosexuality” as it is peaceful in terms of “dealing with sexuality and gender identity.” He hopes his mosque will enable gay Muslims to “find a way to reconcile faith and sexuality.”
Zahed justifies his stance on Islam and explains his desire for a more inclusive religion, stating:
“Islam is not a totalitarian fascist identity. You should not use Islam to justify your prejudices and try to control the sexuality and gender of individuals.”
Image by The Independent.
