Despite religious prohibition, controversial mosques embrace LGTBQ

Ibn Rush-Geothe Mosque in Berlin has raised an LGBTQ rainbow flag, becoming the first mosque worldwide in history to raise a flag in support of homosexuality, which is rejected and prohibited by Islam.

The mosque says it is a “liberal” worship place for all Muslims, including Sunni, Shiite, Sufis, Alevis and even LGBTQ Muslims, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning.

The founder of the mosque and a few people posed for a picture raising the flag, with the word “halal” written on it, which means “permissible” in Arabic.

In response, Ibrahim Negm, spokesperson for Dar Al-Iftaa, Egypt’s Islamic institution concerned with issuing religious edicts, told Jusoor Post, “This act by the Berlin mosque does not echo Islam’s fundamental teachings, principles of worship and methodology, which forbid practicing, showing support for or even condoning homosexual acts.”

“We oppose moves to advance LGBTQ rights, but we equally oppose all sorts of verbal and physical abuse or harm to any members of the LGBTQ community,” he added.

Some social media users took to Twitter about this issue, saying that the founder of the mosque, Seyran Ateş, “is known for her racist, islamophobic positions.”

This was not the first controversial incident the mosque has aroused against what Islamic institutions in Egypt or Turkey call for. In 2017, the mosque held a prayer for both men and women together with a woman leading the prayers, which is rejected by Islamic teachings.

The mosque was named after Islamic scholar Ibn Rushd and famous German literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Egypt’s Dar Al-Iftaa said in January 2020 that homosexuality is forbidden and a major sin, adding that “Islam does not recognize homosexuality, denies adultery, and rejects every sexual relationship that is not based on a valid marriage.”

However, Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque is not the only Muslim worship place that supports the LGBTQ community. In the United States, Masjid al-Rabia in Chicago held its first collective prayer performed by LGBTQ Muslims in December 2016, according to the mosque’s official website. It added that the mosque was “the first trans-led, women-centered, and LGBTQ+ affirming mosque in North America.” In Canada, Toronto-based Unity Mosque is another mosque that supports the LGBTQ community. 

In 2012 that a gay imam in France approved same-sex marriage for two men who married in South Africa, reported France 24.