Jihadun-Naf

To experience a Jihadun-naf is to have the intimate struggle to purify one's soul of evil influences -- both subtle and overt. This was the case for 8 men and women who were the subject of the documentary film, "A Jihad for Love". The film chronicles the lives of these men and women who are gay Muslims and their efforts to win the Holy War against brutality to homosexuals in their faith.

One man, named Mahim, lived in Egypt. There, he was taken captive by the Egyptian police because he practiced a homosexual lifestyle. Below are two photos of Mahim and others who were sentenced to four years in prison.


They were treated like animals, forced to hide their faces from public. While in prison, they were beat with lead pipes and raped by other men. They were tortured with the same hamas, or "sin" that they were committing.

Next, a young man was caught with his boyfriend. His father had died in the Iraq-Iran war. The police condemned him for "...betraying his father, who was a martyr". He received 100 lashes and was forced to leave the country.


As I sat watching the struggle that these men and women were facing, I couldn't help but thing how lucky I am to live in a country that "tolerates" homosexuality. Even though hate crimes still exist, the government does not kill those who are gay. Many societies around the world consider homosexuality a complete abomination and carry out capital punishment by stoning or hanging the accuser to death. It pained me to see those men tell their stories and just...sob. They fled from their homes, their families and their lives to survive. Life shouldn't be like that.

One man had been married, had children, and then divorced his wife. He did not abandon his family. He still sees his kids and they respect him as their father. He asked them what would happen if the Islamic government decided to stone him. They said, "Daddy, I would not let them, I would not let them!"

Growing up in a very conservative religion, I felt a connection with these men and women. All of them mentioned how much they prayed for Allah to take this problem away. Some fasted for 80 days during the Ramadan, and still they were not cured. Many men I associate with have done the same thing. They have prayed to their Heavenly Father for years to be cured. They have fasted, served missions, and even been married all with the hope that by doing what was "expected" of them, they would be right in the sight of their Creator.

To those who are gay and belong to any religion who feel hopeless, I say: You are loved. You are not wrong, you are not sick, you are not broken or diseased or damaged or going to Hell. You are loved. God, Allah, Jehovah, G-d, As-Salām, Buddah, Creator, Fate, Destiny, Ewya, whoever...loves you for you. You were created for a purpose and no one should tell you any differently.

We are in the middle of a war. A war for love. Please, let's do what we can to help our brothers and sisters on the front lines wherever we may be.