Gay Imam planning Australia’s first LGBTI-friendly mosque

Gay Imam planning Australia’s first LGBTI-friendly mosque
Image: Image: ABC.

Australia’s only openly gay Imam is pushing to develop an LGBTI-friendly mosque, safe house and counselling centre in Melbourne.

Imam Nur Warsame said many LGBTI Muslims have no safe spaces or appropriate support services, ABC News has reported.

Prominent LGBTI advocate Imam Nur once led one of Melbourne’s biggest mosques, before being cut off from the clergy when he came out as gay in 2010.

Imam Nur said he is frequently contacted by young LGBTI Muslims who are struggling with family and community, and who are sometimes victims of violence.

“You are talking about an ideology that believes your repentance is to be killed as a gay person,” he said.

Nurul Huda, president of Sydney Queer Muslims, said many LGBTI people in the community conceal their sexuality or gender.

“One particular member is so scared that his parents will track him down to this story and will kill him … because they have tried before,” said Huda.

“I’ve seen the scars on his body from the beating. Are you saying that he’s the one going to Hell?”

Community leader Kuranda Seyit said conservative Imams need to be trained in dealing with family conflict and violence around LGBTI matters.

“Firstly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking by your principles. As a Muslim, my religion teaches me that homosexuality is not permissible and we stand by that,” he said.

“If somebody is threatening to kill that person or to beat them, it’s just as bad.

“I think you can’t justify a sin with a sin. We just need to be more pragmatic and open-minded in the way we deal with this.”

Imam Nur is currently working with philanthropists to obtain a building in inner Melbourne, and working with Victoria Police to ensure the facility will be in a safe location.

He said the location will be close to services he recommends to people, including an LGBTI-friendly medical centre.

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2 responses to “Gay Imam planning Australia’s first LGBTI-friendly mosque”

  1. P.S.
    Imam Nor’s presence might just increase the chances of breaking down the barriers which exist between not just the GLTBIQ Community but the wider community and Muslims – They are NOT as the wider media, some politicians and other red-necked bigots would have it all terrorists

  2. I am not religious thanks to a priest – not because he molested me – though my headmaster at the Boarding School I went to did from when I was 9 until I, as he put it, became “Too old at 14”!
    Despite not being religious I wish Imam Nor the very best of luck for as we all know, though the Bible – the very source of Judaism, Christianity and Islam teaches members of those religions to hate – unless you are a paedophile Archbishop, Bishop, Priest, Rabbi or Imam – all Homosexuals – there are many amongst the GLTBIQ Community who still believe/need an other-world, invisible, all knowing, all powerful deity who’s existence has never been proven!
    That’s OK, that’s their Right to do so.
    Maybe Imam Nor should move to Adelaide where, I understand, people, other than the Police, are a bit more tolerant and welcoming.
    I would like to meet him for I think we could have some great conversations about Religion.