Wave of Homophobia Sweeps the Muslim World
The politicisation of Islam is one of the main reasons why gays are increasingly persecuted in Islamic countries and secular ones such as Egypt or Morocco. In Iran, the persecution of gays has further led to a boom in demand for sex-change operations and where more operations are performed than any other country in the world besides Thailand.
The following is an excerpt from The Gay Sons of Allah: Wave of Homophobia Sweeps the Muslim World by Juliane von Mittelstaedt and Daniel Steinvorth published in a German news website, Spiegel Online. For the full article, follow the link at the end of the page.
In most Islamic countries, gay men and women are ostracized, persecuted and in some cases even murdered. Repressive regimes are often fanning the flames of hatred in a bid to outdo Islamists when it comes to spreading "moral panic."
Bearded men kidnapped him in the center of Baghdad, threw him into a dark hole, chained him down, urinated on him, and beat him with an iron pipe. But the worst moment for Hisham, 40, came on the fourth day of his ordeal when the kidnappers called his family. He was terrified they would tell his mother that he is gay and that this was the reason they had kidnapped him. If they did he would never be able to see his family again. The shame would be unbearable for them.
"Do what you want to me, but don't tell them," he screamed.
Instead of humiliating him in the eyes of his family, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $50,000 (€33,000), a huge sum for the average Iraqi family. His parents had to go into debt and sell off all of their son's possessions in order to raise the money required to secure his freedom. Shortly after they received the ransom the kidnappers threw Hisham out of their car somewhere in the northern part of Baghdad. They decided not to shoot him and let him go. But they sent him on his way with a warning: "This is your last chance. If we ever see you again, we'll kill you."
That was four months ago. Hisham has since moved to Lebanon. He told his family that he had decided to flee the violence and terror in Baghdad and that he had found work in Beirut. Needless to say he didn't disclose the fact that he is unable to live in Iraq because of the death squads who are out hunting for "effeminate-looking" men.
In Baghdad a new series of murders began early this year, perpetrated against men suspected of being gay. Often they are raped, their genitals cut off, and their anuses sealed with glue. Their bodies are left at landfills or dumped in the streets. The non-profit organization Human Rights Watch, which has documented many of these crimes, has spoken of a systematic campaign of violence involving hundreds of murders.
....
Part 2: 'Regimes Want to Control the Private Lives of Citizens'
"The most repressive are secular regimes such as those in Egypt or Morocco which are under pressure from Islamists and so try to outdo them with regard to morals," says Scott Long of Human Rights Watch. "In addition the persecution of homosexuals shows that a regime has control over the private lives of its citizens -- a sign of power and authority." For several years now a sense of "moral panic" has been systematically fomented in many Muslim countries.
The following is an excerpt from "The Gay Sons of Allah: Wave of Homophobia Sweeps the Muslim World" by Juliane von Mittelstaedt and Daniel Steinvorth published in a German news website, Spiegel Online. For the full article, follow the link at the end of the page.
Dozens of men were arrested and charged with homosexual conduct
in Cairo after police raided the Queen Boat discotheque in May 2001.
Detainees "... stood packed against the cage bars, their eyes furtive behind
masks made from torn handkerchiefs or underwear" as they listened
to their sentences being read out in a "Cairo courtroom, Nov 14, 2001.
In most Islamic countries, gay men and women are ostracized, persecuted and in some cases even murdered. Repressive regimes are often fanning the flames of hatred in a bid to outdo Islamists when it comes to spreading "moral panic."
Bearded men kidnapped him in the center of Baghdad, threw him into a dark hole, chained him down, urinated on him, and beat him with an iron pipe. But the worst moment for Hisham, 40, came on the fourth day of his ordeal when the kidnappers called his family. He was terrified they would tell his mother that he is gay and that this was the reason they had kidnapped him. If they did he would never be able to see his family again. The shame would be unbearable for them.
"Do what you want to me, but don't tell them," he screamed.
Instead of humiliating him in the eyes of his family, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $50,000 (€33,000), a huge sum for the average Iraqi family. His parents had to go into debt and sell off all of their son's possessions in order to raise the money required to secure his freedom. Shortly after they received the ransom the kidnappers threw Hisham out of their car somewhere in the northern part of Baghdad. They decided not to shoot him and let him go. But they sent him on his way with a warning: "This is your last chance. If we ever see you again, we'll kill you."
....
Part 2: 'Regimes Want to Control the Private Lives of Citizens'
"The most repressive are secular regimes such as those in Egypt or Morocco which are under pressure from Islamists and so try to outdo them with regard to morals," says Scott Long of Human Rights Watch. "In addition the persecution of homosexuals shows that a regime has control over the private lives of its citizens -- a sign of power and authority." For several years now a sense of "moral panic" has been systematically fomented in many Muslim countries.
"Do what you want to me, but don't tell them," he screamed.
Instead of humiliating him in the eyes of his family, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $50,000 (€33,000), a huge sum for the average Iraqi family. His parents had to go into debt and sell off all of their son's possessions in order to raise the money required to secure his freedom. Shortly after they received the ransom the kidnappers threw Hisham out of their car somewhere in the northern part of Baghdad. They decided not to shoot him and let him go. But they sent him on his way with a warning: "This is your last chance. If we ever see you again, we'll kill you."
That was four months ago. Hisham has since moved to Lebanon. He told his family that he had decided to flee the violence and terror in Baghdad and that he had found work in Beirut. Needless to say he didn't disclose the fact that he is unable to live in Iraq because of the death squads who are out hunting for "effeminate-looking" men.
In Baghdad a new series of murders began early this year, perpetrated against men suspected of being gay. Often they are raped, their genitals cut off, and their anuses sealed with glue. Their bodies are left at landfills or dumped in the streets. The non-profit organization Human Rights Watch, which has documented many of these crimes, has spoken of a systematic campaign of violence involving hundreds of murders.
....
Part 2: 'Regimes Want to Control the Private Lives of Citizens'
"The most repressive are secular regimes such as those in Egypt or Morocco which are under pressure from Islamists and so try to outdo them with regard to morals," says Scott Long of Human Rights Watch. "In addition the persecution of homosexuals shows that a regime has control over the private lives of its citizens -- a sign of power and authority." For several years now a sense of "moral panic" has been systematically fomented in many Muslim countries.
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Reader's Comments
Pity, as the ordinary people are the best in the world and the friendliest to gays.
A disgusting, exemplary example of what people do with religion. What kind of religion forces people to commit suicide? OH YES... How could I ever forget about Al Qaeda?
1. Fridae's new trend to quote short extracts of newspaper articles is a strange way to make editorial work easy for itself. It is rather shabby compared to previous original articles.
2. It's OK to focus on political islam as against homosexuals, but this is hiding several bigger pictures: political christianism against homosexuals, the convenience of minorities as scapegoats in the mid of societal problems, etc... Homophobia was also institutionalised in former Soviet Union. I could go on with bigger pictures.
The point has now been made quite well, and repeatedly, on Fridae about homophobia being related to the religions of the Book. Isn't it time to move forward and raise the level of the debate?
You say you could "go on with bigger pictures"... please do !
Someone reminded us recently on this board that Fridae is Singapore-based and surrounded with Muslim countries, so the paranoia may be somewhat understandable (if not justified) but the irony of it is that Singapore authorities themselves are extremely homophobic and have proved it many times ! They're definitely NOT Muslim, lol, so the nagging questions remain :
Homophobia is not specifically Muslim, ok, so what is it then ? why is it so ingrained in human societies and systems of all kinds ? why are so many gays homophobic too (numerous examples on this very board) ? Are there examples in the past or the present of TRULY non homophobic societies ? where does homophobia stem from and what purpose(s) does it serve ? can (and should) it be eradicated ? If yes, how and where do we start getting rid of it ?
Yep, many questions.
Comment 4, I feel for you and understand your reaction. Some fundamentalist Muslims obviously choose to pin all their problems on moral issues and on gay scapegoats in particular... let's not embrace the same narrow-minded attitude by pinning homophobia on Muslims alone.
I am sorry but I don't see your point comment#3 in regards to Christianism? While I am not defending Christians at all, and I agree Christianity has, and continues to affect the politics in certain countries, I fail to see why you targeted them specifically? I am not aware of Christians persecuting homosexuals in the extreme ways (even execution) anywhere near to the extent that its happaning in these other areas at the moment. Besides, it is not only muslims and Christians that need to step up...its most religions.
Lets face it, political views aside....these areas NEED the focus...people are suffering in huge ways...Beyond petty politics...this is peoples lives we are talking about. If nothing else, the article does its job of making people aware of what ours brothers and sisters are going through...and I hope that with enough awareness we might be able to slowly tackle these issues.
"I am not aware of Christians persecuting homosexuals in the extreme ways (even execution) anywhere near to the extent that its happaning in these other areas at the moment."
I can think of at least two countries where Christianity is strong enough to influence government policies against us: Poland and Russia. And if you look 10 or 15 years back, there were lots of them in Latin America.
Of course there is the Vatican but it is a bit cheating... Mugabe in Zimbabwe, who is a strident anti-gay politician, is a former marxist but (as many other marxists) he was educated in a Jesuit cathoilc mission, see Wikipedia.
These examples were to try and give true Christian parallels to "political islam". Then we have what is called the religious right in the USA, with some of them actually calling for murder. From what I read on Fridae, they are also proactive in Singapore...
But the bigger picture is that Section 377A in Singapore, or 377 in India, were created by Victorian England, directly influenced by Anglican morality...
How about doing now what stypepitot suggests in #6?
I was referring more to the present then the past....History can be debated till the end of the earth.....its not going to change the circumstances of the world now...I know very well what Christians did..and i acknowledge there are still problems, as I did in my last post.
I am not concerned about the past because its something we cannot change....and bashing Christianity isn't going to help your cause....or the people who are effected by this. I would rather see action being taken in the future...but thats just me.
"How about doing now what stypepitot suggests in #6?"
I would love to do what stype pilot suggested. And when i am in a position to do it, then I can assure you that I will be helping people less fortunate then me whether I am recognised or not. Maybe you should also try it huh?
I have travelled widely to Muslim countries like Sudan, Egypt and Turkey and gay muslims there are having their own freedom of expression in their own style. I personally went to one of the gay bathing houses in Istanbul and it gives me an overall picture of calm and serenity far from what the news is trying to portray.
Everyone knows that Iraq and Iran is in a war torn areas. The punishment given to some of these unlucky gay culprits could also happen to any ladies walking in the streets in mini skirts. The same way this things do happen in the US - there are gay bashers out there who attacked gays and cut off their testicles as a form of criminal act.
I think Fridae should stop writing articles relating gay and religion. Some of these articles are written with a huge political agendas and propagandas spreading hate campaigns to certain countries. But in reality this is not as true as you can see if you made an attempt to visit these countries.
Perhaps Fridae should debunk the myth instead of espousing that all Muslims are erratic Quran thumping gay haters/bashers/flamers. I shudder to think the impact they have on those who have very limited contact with Muslims in general to know what their views are instead of having articles that purportedly paint Muslims with the same brush. The same manner we gays feel strongly against if it were to be done to us as we have different system of beliefs and ways of handling things even though we are clumped under the same rainbow flag.
that indeed, let us not stray unknowingly and become biased against the Muslims only.
"I am not aware of Christians persecuting homosexuals in the extreme ways (even execution) anywhere near to the extent that its happaning in these other areas at the moment."
Please be mindful that the homophobic forces in Sg here is still quite strong. The saga of AWARE (a local women's assocation) has painted a good example of how some overzealous Christians nearly usurped power to launch their homophobic agenda. Fridae is not attempting to associate Islam or any religion with homophobia per se, but just updating us with world news with regard to treatment of homosexuals. That's all. So Stypepitot, if you feel depressed reading such news, just skip them. I am sure there are many others who want to know what is happening around the world.
Again.. I acknowledge that there are homophobic forces within Christianity and singapore for that matter. I said that numerous times. And am not denying that. However, this article is not about Christianity. Is it? When there is an article about the abuses of Christianity on homosexual freedoms then by all means feel free to comment on it. Bash it as much as you want. Until then, whether you like it or not there are greater and more serious issues that need to be addressed in these areas of the world. Such as people actually being executed by STATE powers......for being gay or lesbian. Someones rediclous statement..."The same way this things do happen in the US - there are gay bashers out there who attacked gays and cut off their testicles as a form of criminal act" Why is it that whenever there is any kind of issue... it has to come back to the US? please... US bashing is really 2007.....and I take isolated incidents such as the one you mentioned as having no credit at all. That kind of thing can happan in any country. Its not limited to the US.
Thats it from me. I feel I have demonstrated what I believe and there are some other posters that I know I will never win with. So best not to waste my time ;)
Cheers guys! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
To single out Islam for its treatment of gays is pernicious not to say vicious in a time where both Islam and Homosexuality are under attack; sense and sensitivity should prevail.
JPS
The rest of your sentence however, is more debatable...
Trying to present the "Muslim world" as some kind of victim of the Big Bad Christian West is geo-politically absurd and shows a highly insufficient degree of social and political analysis.
The Muslim "community" is not small, it is not poor (far from it!), it is definitely not homogenous and/or united, and it attacks as much as it is attacked. Not exactly the definition of a victim.
The question is : WHO attacks and WHO suffers from the attacks, ON BOTH sides ?
Obviously NOT the same individuals... The poor people who were blown up or jumped to their death from the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the Iraqi civilians who lost their lives in Mr Bush's Holy Crusade (and its endless aftermath) are in 99% of cases, people like you and me, ie not warmongers, not ayatollahs, not people with the power of sending others to get killed in the name of whatever ideals or pinciples.
And, needless to say, to no avail, as violence only begets more violence and NEVER solves a single problem, individually or collectively.
The one thing that is universally under attack in ALL cultures, ALL religions and ALL countries these days is tolerance. Whatever the religious context.
But that's nothing new. What's new is that there are media who talk about it. Often not well, that's for sure, but surely we can't regret the pre-media era ?
Or can we ?
All scapegoating (including homophobia) is a particular phenomena of people and cultures feeling under siege (as in the Midwestern states of America...lest we forget Matthew Sheppard).
The kind of intellectual and emotional introspection required to combat any xenophobia, or misogyny is rooted in education and freedom from economic repression and poverty.
Persecution, and vile acts are never legitimate, but they are explainable. Merely dehumanizing, and vilifying the perpetrator does nothing to address the problem. Often it is the elements of our own hedonism which makes us appear anti family, anti culture, anti Holy.
In the USA every non-Christian religion, and non-Caucasian was excluded the rights and privileges of citizenry for a couple of centuries; it took a long time till religions could begin to practice freely, without fear of persecution; and for Asians, Hispanics, Africans and in general all non-Caucasians to be accorded a modicum of respect.
In the gay community often Caucasian men still fetishize non-Caucasian men as mere accessories to take emotional hostage, dominate and devalue...and call their hostage their 'lover'...
Yes these abominable acts are to be condemned, but not to be globalized as Islam...that's too easy, and it comes from our fear of such extreme, hate-filled persecution.
I composed a line years ago:
"Peace is a practice of mindfulness: it's not magic, it's conscious and deliberate."
This is all our responsibility.
In Peace
bearnard
Well said.
In case you are wondering, I do have a face. My website is www.dannynguy3n.com .
As a Vietnamese living in Australia (what your profile says).... i suspect you should know better...
As for your exhortation to come out of the closet, how about you post your face pic here on fridae ?
I have my pics on Fridae for years for your information. Now since I am not looking to meet anyone, I find including pics in my profile unnecessary. Like I said, if you need to put a face to a person, then I have provided my website.
actually their religion is a bit closed mind and sometimes dont ask a reason then punish, this is violent so, and the religion also violent sometimes
actually their religion is a bit closed mind and sometimes dont ask a reason then punish, this is violent so, and the religion also violent sometimes
On the contrary, Islamic militancy leads to the whole world to see that they are wrong, and thus driving people away from them. But Christianity attracts people into a half truth half lie.
Homophobia? Check.
Emotionally unstable...err, I mean hypersensitive, believers?Check. Do as I say- NOT as I do!!! I'm different. Check.
Demonising anyone outside their belief systems? Check.
Twisting of facts for manipulation and/or propaganda? CHECK x10!!!!
So that begs the question: WHY ARE THEY STILL ENEMIES???
I actually mistook them for twin sisters. :d
I couldn't stop laughing after reading Bain's comments! Love it and am totally agree with you.
Anyway, I seriously don't think this article is trying to brand Islam as a bad religion nor does it aim to single out Islam as homophobic. It merely tells us what is happening in Iraq.
So, all muslims and muslimans, stop being so sensitive! It ain't abt ur religion, it's abt what'd happenned to our fellow gay brothers in Iraq. Please direct ur anger to those who gave ur religion a bad name instead of condemning Fridae for reporting the facts. They are the one who caused all the hatred against ur religion, not Fridae.
ur comments on arthurg's replies are simply...... bitchy and damn funny! lol
Dear Arthug, u need to type in ur comments in the reply box before u click on the "submit comment" button. ;-)
I would stone you, but that would be bloody medieval, in the most literal sense. :P
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