Jihad for Love

First Run Features

R1 DVD

Filmmaker Sandi Dubowski has always tried to understand the nuances of the relationship between religion and sexuality. Some years ago he released Trembling before G-d which was a truly eye opening look at Orthodox Judaism and homosexuality. This time, in conjunction with director Parvez Sharma, he decides to explore the explosive subject of homosexuality and Islam.

Jihad for Love was filmed in 12 different countries and in nine languages. Sharma conducted interviews throughout North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Countries included Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Turkey, France, India, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom. He found many of his interviewees online, and received thousands of emails. It took him six years to complete the film with many of the subjects appearing with some fear of reprisals and violence.

His approach has been to throw the net as wide as possible and offer an overview of the experience of lesbians and gays under Islam. So many of these stories are confronting and terrifying, for example, an Egyptian is imprisoned and tortured for two years before seeking asylum in France and yet still lives in fear. Four Iranian men live in Turkey while anxiously awaiting word on whether they will be accepted as political refugees in Canada.

At the same time we are also presented with more tolerant and open Muslims and we come to understand that there is a different approach within, at least some, aspects of the community.

While many westerners will shy from the term Jihad relating it to acts of terrorism or violence. The term simply means struggle. Within Islam the lesser struggle or Jihad is that which occurs outside (i.e. between us and others), while the greater struggle is that which occurs within. A Jihad for Love is hence the holy struggle to find the right to express love as we find it.

While the majority of Muslims believe that homosexuality is forbidden by the Qur'an, and many scholars quote Hadith (sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad) to condemn homosexuality, there is still much debate. Islam is in many ways a bit like Christianity in the 1950’s just coming to terms with scholarship about the origins of the Koran and its social mores.

Sadly while very well received in Western film festivals Muslim counties have been uncomfortable with the content. For example, it was banned from the 2008 Singapore Film Festival.

The only criticism is that this doco tends to focus on personal experiences to the extent that the effect of their message becomes diluted. I would have liked to see extensive coverage of the history of homosexuality in Islam and Koranic scholarship as a counter balance to the personal interviews. But this is a trifle, this is a groundbreaking documentary and certainly a welcome addition to the arsenal of weapons we have against intolerance.

This review will appear in Volume 2 No.3 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

If you came to this page directly (and missed our menu), click here to go to the Synergy Magazine front page. (http://www.synergy-magazine.com)