A gay Muslim described as an expert on the Koran,
Ludovic Mohammed Zahed is set to create another crisis that may lead to fresh
round of violence across the globe most especially in the western world.
Zahed, according to agency reports, plans to open Europe’s first gay-friendly mosque in Paris at the end of this month.
He calls it a place of shelter as well as a place of worship and according to the report, Zahed will be one of the three prayer leaders at the mosque along with a female French convert to Islam and another man who is being trained.
Zahed’s mosque will honor some Islamic traditions, like Friday prayers (Jumu’ah), and the Muslim marriage contract (Nikah) to bless same-sex marriage. It will also perform funeral rites (Janazah) for those who have been denied a traditional Islamic funeral based on Sharia law because of their sexual orientation.
“Our imams will talk on any taboo topic.” Zahed is quoted by ABC News as saying fueling speculations the move may lead to protests by muslims who may consider the move as blasphemous against the faith. Recently, a video which depicted the prophet Mohammed in negative light led to violent protests in many countries while some people have been sentenced to death, though in absentia, over the video.
The report went further: “We need to have a safe space for people who do not feel comfortable and at ease in normal mosques,”
Zahed told ABC News. “There are transgender people who fear aggression, women who do not want to wear head scarf or sit in the back of the mosque. This project gives hope back to many believers in my community.
“Common prayer, practiced in an egalitarian setting and without any form of gender-based discrimination, is one of the pillars supporting the proposed reforms of our progressive representation of Islam,” he said.
“The Unity” mosque will initially operate in a Buddhist temple in a neighborhood in eastern Paris, and will emphasize “accepting everyone as equally God’s creation….I hope straight men will pray together with gay men and women, everyone,” said Zahed who declines to make public the address of the venue, due to security concerns.
“It is a safe place to worship,” said Zahed, where no religious questions will go unaddressed. “Current Islamic ethics may condemn this sexual orientation,” Zahed said, “but in fact nothing in Islam or the Koran forbids homosexuality. Indeed, for centuries, Muslims did not consider homosexuality to be the supreme abomination that they do today.”
According to Zahed, renowned Muslim poets wrote odes glorifying handsome boys. Some were interpreted as metaphors for loving God, but some also seem to reference gay intimate relations. Zahed argues that homosexuality became criminalized only under European colonialism.
“From the 10th to the 14th century, Muslim society used to be a far richer mix of the legal, the rational and the mystic,” said Zahed.
Zahed, according to agency reports, plans to open Europe’s first gay-friendly mosque in Paris at the end of this month.
He calls it a place of shelter as well as a place of worship and according to the report, Zahed will be one of the three prayer leaders at the mosque along with a female French convert to Islam and another man who is being trained.
Zahed’s mosque will honor some Islamic traditions, like Friday prayers (Jumu’ah), and the Muslim marriage contract (Nikah) to bless same-sex marriage. It will also perform funeral rites (Janazah) for those who have been denied a traditional Islamic funeral based on Sharia law because of their sexual orientation.
“Our imams will talk on any taboo topic.” Zahed is quoted by ABC News as saying fueling speculations the move may lead to protests by muslims who may consider the move as blasphemous against the faith. Recently, a video which depicted the prophet Mohammed in negative light led to violent protests in many countries while some people have been sentenced to death, though in absentia, over the video.
The report went further: “We need to have a safe space for people who do not feel comfortable and at ease in normal mosques,”
Zahed told ABC News. “There are transgender people who fear aggression, women who do not want to wear head scarf or sit in the back of the mosque. This project gives hope back to many believers in my community.
“Common prayer, practiced in an egalitarian setting and without any form of gender-based discrimination, is one of the pillars supporting the proposed reforms of our progressive representation of Islam,” he said.
“The Unity” mosque will initially operate in a Buddhist temple in a neighborhood in eastern Paris, and will emphasize “accepting everyone as equally God’s creation….I hope straight men will pray together with gay men and women, everyone,” said Zahed who declines to make public the address of the venue, due to security concerns.
“It is a safe place to worship,” said Zahed, where no religious questions will go unaddressed. “Current Islamic ethics may condemn this sexual orientation,” Zahed said, “but in fact nothing in Islam or the Koran forbids homosexuality. Indeed, for centuries, Muslims did not consider homosexuality to be the supreme abomination that they do today.”
According to Zahed, renowned Muslim poets wrote odes glorifying handsome boys. Some were interpreted as metaphors for loving God, but some also seem to reference gay intimate relations. Zahed argues that homosexuality became criminalized only under European colonialism.
“From the 10th to the 14th century, Muslim society used to be a far richer mix of the legal, the rational and the mystic,” said Zahed.
“They looked at sexuality as one aspect of
life’s many possibilities, and they saw in it the hope for spiritual insight.
“Even if this mosque is newfound freedom,” said Nasser, an openly-gay Parisian, “gays will remain in a closet, worried about being ostracized at their local schwarma stand.”
“Even if this mosque is newfound freedom,” said Nasser, an openly-gay Parisian, “gays will remain in a closet, worried about being ostracized at their local schwarma stand.”
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