18/11/2014 | Writer: Ömer Akpınar
The panel on ‘Islam and Homophobia’ which was planned to take place in a Berlin mosque was postponed after homophobic coverage in Turkish media.
The panel on “Islam and Homophobia” which was planned to take place in a Berlin mosque was postponed after homophobic coverage in Turkish media.
The gay organizations Völklinger Kreis e.V., Leadership Berlin and LSVD (The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany) Berlin-Brandenburg was planning to pay a visit to Sehitlik Mosque as part of their “Meet Others” event. The mosque, which is part of Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), was going to welcome gays on November 24.
Homophobia in Turkish media reached out to Germany!
The event which aimed at discussing the prejudice that Muslims and gays face in Germany was postponed until a later date following homophobic media coverage in Turkish media.
Conservative Yeni Akit newspaper reported the panel as “a scandalous decision” whereas tabloid Takvim called participants of events as “perverts”.
Panel postponed until a later date
One of the organizers of the event, Völklinger Kreis e.V. Board Member, Daniel Philipp Worat told the disappointment he felt after the cancellation to kaosGL.org.
“DITIB Germany (Cologne) cancelled the event on November 14. They told us that we could hold the event another day, maybe in December, but they did not give us an exact date.”
Imam of Sehitlik Mosque: Our doors are open to everyone
The imam of the mosque, Ender Cetin, also talked to T24 news portal and emphasized that their doors are open to everyone and that the problem is caused by a misunderstanding.
However, DITIB Germany made a statement and said “it was not our goal to legitimize any concept that is sinful according to our religion.”
Worat told kaosGL.org that the invitation says the mosque asked LGBTI people to pay a visit, which was not the case: “We went to the Mosque and got their willingness.”
DITIB has an anti-discriminationdepartment
Worat also said that not all participants are informed about the cancellation yet and some gays share on social media that they will go to the mosque on November 24 anyway.
Reminding that DITIB has an anti-discrimination department, Worat describes the decision as a “slap on the face and loss of faith” but he is determined not to give up:
“As I told you, I will not give up and will be open for the next appointment.”
“Mosques should open their doors to everyone”
German press also states that homophobic coverage in Turkish media resulted in the cancellation. Member of the left party Hakan Tas, who is both Muslim and gay, talked to B-Z Berlin, underlining that “mosques should open their doors to everyone.”
Related news: “Muslims and gays can live together freely”
Translation: LGBTI News Turkey
Tags: life
