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By Youssef Sourgo
Morocco World News
Casablanca, June 15, 2013
After Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed, founder of the association for gay Muslims of France (HM2F), once opened in Paris the first gay-friendly mosque in Europe, on September 30, 2012, an alleged group of Muslims based in London have recently shown interest in opening alternative mosques in the UK for both genders and all sexual orientations, according to BBC.
This aspiration comes as part of an “Inclusive Mosque Initiative” (IMI) that was seemingly put forth in November 2012, subsequent to the inauguration of Ludovic-Mohamed Zahd’s gay-friendly mosque in Paris, France.
"We will not discriminate against anyone, they can be Sunni or Shia, straight or gay, people with families and people without,” asserted Tamsila Tauqir, IMI co-coordinator. "We want to offer Muslims an alternative space in which they can pray and meet.”
Reactions and interpretations of this decision varied among the Muslim community. Some wholeheartedly welcomed the idea of establishing mosques for both genders and all sexualities in the UK:
"I think it's a good idea, it promotes equal opportunities especially for the disabled,” Ali Noor, a Muslim Londoner was quoted by BBC as saying. “Provision should have been made for them a long time ago but it hasn't,” he added.
Other people disapproved of the idea, advancing their own arguments in this regard:
“I think it's not right for men and women to go to the mosque together,” noted Mohammed Shahid, a Muslim living in Lancashire (northwestern England). “"It can be distracting for men, some are not good with women, so women should pray at home."
