Pride Marseile 2018: Imam Ludovic Mohamed Zahed fights the taboo of homosexuality in Islam

Franco-Algerian living in Marseille, Ludovic Mohamed Zahed defines himself as a progressive imam. In 2012, in Paris, he opened the first "inclusive" mosque in Europe, open to homosexuals. Six years later, at age 41, he is still fighting against the taboo of homosexuality in Islam. Two days before the Pride Marseille 2018 which will march on the Canebière, the imam came Thursday night on the set of the newspaper of France 3 Provence Alpes. He will be present in the procession, as will an Arab LGBT delegation.

Defending the diversity of LGBT communities

"I will be present as every year he explains, because it is very important to be visible and also to put into perspective this diversity of LGBT communities in France that includes more and more today in a positive way I find, people who are of immigrant origin, who are refugees, who are gay, lesbian, bi, trans … c ' is very important. "

Ludovic Mohamed Zahed notes that despite the evolution of mentalities in France, homophobia remains very marked as shown by the rising aggressions.

" It is the concern, our societies, especially in France, are increasingly progressive and inclusive, for the right of the human being, whatever our sexual orientation, including within the Muslim community even if it is still very stammering here , among Muslims, but those facing, he worries

the radicals, the violent, the fundamentalists, the reactionaries, the fascists are more and more afraid of losing this fight of ideas and react in a more and more violent way. But violence is the weapon of the "poor" intellectually speaking.

Homosexuality and Islam

The imam does not hide his homosexuality. For him, there is no prohibition in the texts: "I do not even ask myself the question, today,

Islam very clearly, for me, I reformulated it in my mind as a philosophy of life, a hygiene of life, advice in the relationships that one establishes with others and the divine.

This is certainly not for me, today a fascist system of control of sexual identities, gender, ethnic identities. "

Imam Zahed notes positive developments, although in some countries of the Arab world, homosexuality remains a perversion. " It is a very very old psychologizing, medicalizing representation that dates back to a time when the Arab-Muslim world was colonized by a Europe that considered itself homosexuality as a disease. Tunisia, there will be Tunisians who will be in the procession, the president of the association Shams including " he adds

It moves even in the Arab-Muslim world, we discuss these questions and We are slowly but surely turning this page.

Imam Ludovic Mohamed Zahed has many critics, and is regularly threatened, but he says he does not feel in danger. " We must remain cautious, that's for sure" he confides however.