Al-Fatiha Foundation
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The Al-Fatiha Foundation is an organization which advances the cause of gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims. It was founded in 1997 by Faisal Alam, a Pakistani American, and is registered as a nonprofit organization in the United States. Imam Daayiee Abdullah is also a board member of the Al-Fatiha Foundation.
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[edit] History
The organization grew out of an internet listserve that brought together many gay, lesbian, and questioning Muslims from 25 countries, and by 1998 had developed numerous in-person chapters.[1][2] Al-Fatiha has 14 chapters in the United States, as well as offices in England, Canada, Spain, Turkey, and South Africa.
The name means "the Opening" and is shared with the first surah of the Qur'an. In the beginning of that surah, Allah is described as compassionate and merciful; the organization's founders believe that these attributes, rather than hatred and homophobia.[3]
Each year, Al-Fatiha hosts an international membership retreat and conference.[2] Early conferences took place in Boston, New York, and London in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and focused on issues such as the reconciliation of religion and sexual orientation.[4][1]
[edit] Fatwa
In 2001, Al-Muhajiroun, an international organization seeking the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate, issued a fatwa declaring that all members of Al-Fatiha were murtadd, or apostates, and condemning them to death. Because of the threat and coming from conservative societies, many members of the foundation's site still prefer to be anonymous so as to protect their identity while continuing a tradition of secrecy.[5]
While Al-Fatiha works to combat homophobia within Muslim communities, it faces the challenge of not provoking an Islamophobic reaction among non-Muslims.[3]
[edit] See also
- Liberal movements in Islam
- Lut, source of Qur'anic injunctions against homosexuality
- Homosexuality and Islam
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Cyber mecca". The Advocate: p. 27. March 14, 2000. http://books.google.com/books?id=E2QEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27.
- ^ a b Thumma, Scott; Gray, Edward R. (2005). Gay religion. Rowman Altamira. p. 379. http://books.google.com/books?id=8NhmnsTG5DgC&pg=PA379.
- ^ a b Kincheloe, Joe L. (2010). Teaching against Islamophobia. Peter Lang. p. 192. http://books.google.com/books?id=Bx18QENdh_MC&pg=PA192.
- ^ "Where the others stand". Out: p. 97. November 1999. http://books.google.com/books?id=PWIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA97.
- ^ Tim Herbert, "Queer chronicles", Weekend Australian, October 7, 2006, Qld Review Edition.
[edit] External links
- Al-Fatiha homepage (website discontinued since 2009)
- Imaan, UK Muslim LGBT support organisation
