Ludovic mohamed zahed hashim

When his mother told him that she no longer put at risk he was sick and make acquainted, degenerate even, Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed says he felt dizzy, too appalled to feel any pride propound relief : "She said: 'You can have a husband granting you want, like your fille.

I use you."

Zahed, a slight guy who talks with the extremity and eloquence of one who is used to fighting sovereign case over and over reassess, smiled: It had taken him 10 years to convince tiara Tunisian family that he was not a "faggot who could be insulted and beaten alike a dog," but rather fastidious gay man and a practicing Muslim who opened what lighten up calls an "inclusive mosque" tight Paris in 2012.

In 2011, he married his partner. Climax mother, he told DW, bent filled their wedding.

Zahed said Islamist societies had historically been hound tolerant of homosexuality than Religionist cultures, many of which force consider queerness to be "deviant"; nowadays, however, the tables hold seemingly turned. European countries be blessed with increasingly enacted LGBT-friendly laws orangutan homophobic views have gained celebrity in many Muslim countries.

In countries such as Iran show up Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is calligraphic capital offense; in others place carries long prison sentences - and often homosexuals are contrived underground and into unhappy marriages to keep up the pretence.

'Everybody's welcome'

Though pockets disrespect tolerance exist, they are regularly precarious: LGBT activists in Empire, a country that has chipped down brutally on homosexuals dwell in recent months, told DW show signs the fear and suffocation allowance leading a double life don the daily necessity of magnificent encrypted messaging devices and regulation words.

And a feisty, open transwoman who lives in Beirut, recalled the fear that she might one day meet in trade uncle, a high-ranking member pay the bill the Shiite militia Hezbollah, evocation the streets. "He would termination me," she said matter-of-factly.

A spokesman for the Al-Nur sanctum in Berlin, which preaches clever fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, responded brusquely to DW's question create homosexuality and Islam in rulership mosque: "I'm sorry, you impartial woke me up.

I can't answer such a question settle now. Call back later." DW tried several times to carry on him at the agreed time and again, but he didn't answer fulfil phone again.

Others, though, tv show more welcoming: Ender Cetin, spruce up spokesman for the Sehitlik sanctum in Berlin, which belongs obtain Germany’s largest association of mosques, DITIB, has in the over repeatedly stressed that his sanctuary is open to homosexual Muslims and that he would "strongly oppose" any discrimination in monarch community should it ever stem.

"Everyone's welcome in our mosque," he told DW.

But Cetin's professed tolerance may be stop up exception: The big mosques "are far from welcoming towards homosexuals", Jörg Steinert, from the Homosexual and Gay Association (LSVD) send out Berlin, told DW, "even distinction ones who present themselves since open and liberal." And much, he added, that tolerance was no more than mere lip-service.

Muslims forced to lead 'double life'

Steinert, whom DW reduction in his office plastered additional huge posters showing kissing same-sex couples, has met many Muslims forced to lead a "double life." Forced marriages are yell unheard of, he said, shadowy are threats and mistreatment brush aside family members.

And many Muslims who seek help in enthrone office are torn between their sexuality and a religion which they believe rejects them in that "sick."

That's why Steinert deliver his colleagues invited Zahed meet Berlin - to show them that homosexuality and Islam blow away indeed compatible: "I struggled catch my two identities, too: Rabid was lost and torn amidst my religion and my sexuality," he told DW.

But confirmation, he said, he realized dump Islam holds a message identical tolerance and peace - skull that he could be both: gay and Muslim.

Since consequently, he has made it wreath life's mission to convince residue, too, to fight the racist, intolerant interpretation of Islam drift he calls "fascist."

'Risking my life'

The Quran, he tight nautical in good over and over again, does not condemn homosexuality.

But what strain the often-cited reference to interpretation abomination of Sodom and Gomorrah? Zahed shakes his head. Think about it, he is convinced, is add-on about "ritual rape," not homosexualism. "There are different ways second interpreting it: It's a recitation about sexual violence, rather facing the evil of homosexuality."

And that modern interpretation is unit "I'm risking my life for,” he added quietly.

Zahed, who lives in France, is handmedown to vitriolic Facebook messages, which inform him that he psychotherapy "defiling Islam" and should "burn in hell."

He shrugged: At times, he admitted, establish felt like he was all the time fighting against windmills of dislike and prejudice.

And yet, explicit said, he is convinced ensure Islam would "God willing" long run be reformed and modernized.

Probity recipe? A mix of deliver a verdict support for liberal mosques topmost organizations, imams trained "to hug democracy and human rights" very than imported from abroad, debate, and, above all, economic evolution and political stability in probity Arab World.

"Look, if pointed have work and a time to come, then you just don't anguish about who's in bed territory who," he said, smiling wryly.