Religion has not been an “ally” of the LGBTQ community.
Many religions negate that any such thing exists punishing anyone they feel goes against the “natural law.”
These extreme thoughts have shaped society causing hostility towards this community of society.
But small steps of progress are being taken everywhere.
The Roman Catholic church has become much more open to the idea of Homosexuality due to the leadership of Pope Francis.
One such move was taken by a mosque in Germany.
A mosque in Berlin has said that it is the first German mosque to fly the rainbow flag in support of LGBT+ communities, as Pride begins.
The name of this Mosque is Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque.
Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque in berlin.
Credits:- Alamy
Mo El-Ketab, one of six Imams at the mosque, said he wanted it to provide a “safe place for people who are different, so they too can experience the spiritual side of their lives”.
What did the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque do?
According to news reports The Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque in the central Moabit neighbourhood unfurled the flag ahead of Friday prayers in front of a small crowd, including Berlin’s culture senator Klaus Lederer.
Many presents for the ceremony also wore rainbow stickers that read “Love is Halal.”
The Iconic movement where the flag was hoisted and the Imams of the Mosques.
Credits:- Albawaba
This is especially significant this year Two major events in support of the LGBT community will take place in Berlin this month — the Lesbian and Gay Festival on July 16 and 17, and Christopher Street Day (CSD) on July 23.
This move was applauded by CSD board member Marc-Eric Lehmann saying this is a great move and it was “really important” to find a place for religion in LGBT communities.
He also went on to say “Queer people can also be religious and believe in God,” he said.”We should not just be talking about safe spaces in bars and clubs in Berlin, we also have to talk about safe spaces in the places of worship.”
Reactions of people to this event?
Again like most of the issues these days the reaction is quite divisive.
There is a camp of people that belief placing an LGBTQ+ flag on a mosque’s wall justifies the move as anti-Islam adding they are trying to distort the image of Islam.
There is also a conspiracy theory doing rounds claiming that the mosque is being funded by some organization that forced them to raise the LGBTQ+ flag.
While there is also a club of audience that has welcomed the move and called for the other religions to follow this lead.
The mosque has always been a controversial institution.
The mosque has been previously targetted by Fatwas from Egyptian mosques for allowing Men and Women to mix while praying which is not the case normally.
The organisation also rejects the idea of Burqa and Niqaab.
Despite all of this the founders have been resilient and continued the operation of the Mosque.
Credits:- News Nine, Albawaba, Free Press Journal and The Guardian.
Featured Image Credits:- Albawaba
