A Jihad for Love (2007)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Parvez Sharma

Writer:

Parvez Sharma (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A documentary on gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims across the Muslim and Western worlds.

Plot Keywords:

Muslim | Gay | Lesbian | Islam | Homosexuality

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Muhsin Hendricks	...	Himself
A.K. Hoosen	...	Himself (as Mufti A.K. Hoosen)
Mazen	...	Himself
Abdellah Taia	...	Himself
Sana	...	Herself
Maryam	...	Herself
Maha	...	Herself
Amir	...	Himself
Arsham Parsi	...	Himself
Payam	...	Himself
Mojtaba	...	Himself
Ferda	...	Herself
Kiymet	...	Herself
Qasim	...	Himself
Syed Kalbe Jawad	...	Himself

Also Known As:

In the Name of Allah (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA | UK | France | Germany | Australia

Language:

English | Arabic | Hindi | Persian | Urdu | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:Unrated | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Istanbul, Turkey

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

The film used covered faces and silhouettes in order to protect the safety of sources whose lives would have been in danger had their identities been revealed.

will significantly hasten a resolution for many in their struggle for love

"A Jihad For Love" is in the same league as "Trembling Before G-d" and "In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick's Journey of Faith" as a fine documentary dealing with the reality of severe religion based oppression of homosexuals.

"Trembling Before G-d" dealt with Orthodox Judaism and "In Good Conscience" dealt with Vatican-dominated Catholicism. "Jihad For Love" combines some of the sentiments in both those films - especially in affirming that scriptures can and ought to be read compassionately and intelligently, rather than merely reciting archaic and dubious interpretations.

The filmmakers hold the appropriate premise - the self-evident truth that difference is normal, including difference in innate sexual preference. The job of this film is not to prove that homosexuality is a valid human trait, but to question why vigorous, often mortally violent, oppression persists against persons who only want to love and be loved in honesty and with equity.

Any informed parent ought to be aware that no matter what their religion or location in the world, their children stand exactly the same statistical likelihood of being born same sex attracted - and there's nothing they can do to change that fact. However parents can do their utmost to ensure that their family, community and legal system is prepared to accept and support all good loving people.

"A Jihad For Love" will follow the other two films in doing incalculable good in the world by stimulating active community debate and also by presenting some very powerful role models for same sex attracted Moslems and for their families, friends and religious leaders. I expect that it will significantly hasten a resolution for many in their struggle for love.