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| {{cquote|About every two weeks I get an e-mail that berates me, condemns me to hell and, if they are nice, asks me to still seek forgiveness while there is still time.<ref name="<ref name="NY"/>|}} | {{cquote|About every two weeks I get an e-mail that berates me, condemns me to hell and, if they are nice, asks me to still seek forgiveness while there is still time.<ref name="<ref name="NY"/>|}} | ||
| Sharma |
Sharma refuses to associate homosexuality with shame, but recognizes the need to protect the safety and privacy of his sources, by filming them in silhouette or with their faces blurred. In one case, the family of an Afghan woman he interviewed "would undoubtedly kill her" if they found out she was lesbian. In another example, one of the associate producers, an Egyptian gay man, chose not to be listed in the credits for fear of possible consequences.<ref name="NY"/> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 14:28, 13 September 2007
2007 film| A Jihad for Love | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Parvez Sharma |
| Produced by | Sandi Simcha DuBowski Ioannis Mookas, assistant |
| Cinematography | Parvez Sharma |
| Release date | 2007 |
| Running time | 70 min |
| Languages | English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, etc. |
A Jihad for Love is the world's first documentary film on the coexistence of Islam and homosexuality. The film is directed by Parvez Sharma, and produced by Trembling Before G-d director Sandi DuBowski.
The film has also been known under the working title In the Name of Allah.
Production
A Jihad for Love is produced by Halal Films, in association with Channel 4 Television (UK), ZDF (Germany), Arte (France-Germany), Logo (US) and SBS (Australia).
The documentary was filmed in 12 different countries and in nine languages. Sharma conducted interviews throughout North America, Europe, 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.
Its world premiere was at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2007.
Significance of the title
The film has gone by several titles, beginning with the official working title, In the Name of Allah.
Among Muslims, the phrase (bismillah in Arabic) may be used before beginning actions, speech, or writing. Its most notable use in Al-Fatiha, the opening passage of the Qur'an, which begins "Bismillah ar-Rahman, ar-Rahim." All following surat of the Qur'an, with the exception of the ninth, begin with these words.
Producer DuBowski's previous film, Trembling Before G-d, on Orthodox and Hasidic Jews, also included the name of God, written with a hyphen as in Jewish tradition. Allah is Arabic for God, and the Arabic word is often used among English-speaking Muslims.
The title A Jihad for Love refers to the Islamic concept of jihad, as a religious struggle. The film seeks to reclaim this concept of personal struggle, as it is used in the Western media almost exclusively to mean "holy war" and to refer to violent acts perpetrated by extremist Muslims.
Controversy and problems
Sharma's making of the film has not been without criticism.
About every two weeks I get an e-mail that berates me, condemns me to hell and, if they are nice, asks me to still seek forgiveness while there is still time.
Sharma refuses to associate homosexuality with shame, but recognizes the need to protect the safety and privacy of his sources, by filming them in silhouette or with their faces blurred. In one case, the family of an Afghan woman he interviewed "would undoubtedly kill her" if they found out she was lesbian. In another example, one of the associate producers, an Egyptian gay man, chose not to be listed in the credits for fear of possible consequences.
See also
External links
- A Jihad For Love, film website
- Director of Film on Muslim Homosexuals Frets over His Subjects' Safety
- In the Name of Allah, producer's website
- Film of Muslim gays stirs up sentiments
- In the Name of Allah, Hartley Film Foundation
References
- ^ "A Jihad for Love: Excerpts From A Work-In-Progress". Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "In the Name of Allah". tremblingbeforeg-d.com. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "A Jihad for Love". Hartley Film Foundation. 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Hays, Matthew (2 November, 2004). "Act of Faith: A Film on Gays and Islam". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "In the Name of Allah". tremblingbeforeg-d.com. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
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