Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed Establishes Europe's First 'Friendly' LGBT Mosque

JAKARTA - On November 30, 2012, a mosque was opened in France. Not an ordinary mosque. The mosque is led by Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed, a gay and founder of Homosexual Muslims in France.

According to the BBC, Monday, November 30, Zahed is regularly present at mosques in Paris. But he said he wanted to create a more "inclusive" place for gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims.

Zahed said many of the LGBT people felt uncomfortable praying in the existing mosques. "A lot of gay men don't go to mosques because they don't want to be recognized," Zahed said.

"They don't want to be excluded because they wear earrings or because they are sissy or transgender, something which is very clearly rejected in many mosques in France," he added.

Zahed's husband, who is from South Africa, has a similar problem. "The first time he came to the mosque he was wearing earrings. After praying someone came to him and tried to take them off and told him, 'This is not right, you shouldn't do that here'" said Zahed.

He cited cases emerging at the time of what he described as discrimination. "A transgender person from a Muslim background died last summer. It's hard to find an imam to pray for. Nobody wants to. In the end, we do it. We have to do it," said Zahed.

Zahed said his "mosque" was not trying to be specifically gay, but "inclusive". Zahed also tried to integrate gender in Islam.

He wanted men and women to be able to pray at the mosque. Men and women pray at the Makkah mosque, he said, so why can't they be in this mosque?

After the mosque was opened, the Grand Mosque of Paris immediately issued a firm statement. "The fact that he is opening a mosque or prayer room is something outside the Islamic community. The Koran condemns homosexuality. It is forbidden," said a spokesman for the Grand Mosque of Paris.

Other Muslims were interested enough to ask Zahed how he justified his stand. He also said he had received messages of support from ordinary Muslims in France.

"People are trying to understand who we are, where we are from, what our interpretation of this verse and that is from the Koran, and that is diversity and dialogue and I am happy with that," said Zahed.

The opening of the LGBT 'friendly' mosque has met with opposition. Dalil Boubakeur, leader of the Grand Mosque in Paris, said opening new prayer spaces for gay Muslims was against Islamic rules.

“The mosques that are already there (Paris) accept everyone so making a special mosque for homosexuals is against the spirit of Islam. Worshipers go to the mosque to worship God, they don't go to show their sexuality, "said Boubakeur. Boubakeur said Islamic rules on homosexuality were unambiguous. Clear.

“Homosexuality is condemned in the Koran. The only legal sexual relationship is between a married man and woman, ”he said.

Even so, Boubakeur admits that being homophobic is also against Islam. The latest news is in 2019, the mosque is still standing.

Zahed also often opens dialogues and debates. One of them argued with Egypt's Al Azhar University on the German TV channel Deutsche Welle in 2018.

"They argue with us and are not happy, but at least they talk to us. The dialogue is open, something like this did not happen 10 years ago. Even they realize that this movement will not stop, and they have to talk to us," said Zahed.