Posted on 11/28/2012 1:54:24 PM PST by billorites
Ludovic Mohammed Zahed is braced for controversy, maybe even worse. A gay Muslim and an expert on the Koran, Zahed 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.
"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.
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.
"It is a safe place to worship," said Zahed, where no religious questions will go unaddressed. "Our imams will talk on any taboo topic." Zahed will be one of three prayer leaders, along with a female French convert to Islam and another man who is being trained.
"Current Islamic ethics may condemn this sexual orientation," Zahed said, "but in fact...
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Follow the “gay” sheep and goat herders ... you’ll find it!
“Our imams will talk on any taboo topic.”
Name the taboo topic!
I suspect it won’t take long for the fatwa to be proclaimed.
Zahed is on zarug...
But where's the guy praising with hands high behind him??
Exactly, why would they have to hide from the religion of peace?
I understand it's a bunch of Pakkirs.
Well, the gay part won’t gain them any non-Muslim enemies in France.
Hussein 0bama will be scheduling a trip to Paris soon.
You’re wrong — there will be standing room only and it will become a national attraction especially when they decide to add a Turkish bath.
Wasn’t there a Muslim gay bar named “Suspicious Packages?”
"Secret address" headline FAIL. Yeah, I know Paris is a huge city - I've been there - and has more than one Buddhist temple. Even so, it won't take long to find this place, and from there, the next location.
I hope the Buddhists' insurance is paid up.
Ironic, especially when special churches don’t have to be so secretive.
One can hope.
Won’t be long before the address will be public. heehee
I hear there is a real good restaurant that specializes in bacon, pork loin, and ham menu items next door.
Paree: so gay that even the Muslims join in
HA!
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