New Book Sheds Light on Gay Life in the Muslim World
Fri Jul 25, 3:01 AM ET
Salaam Press publishes Illegal Citizens: Queer Lives
in the Muslim World by Afdhere Jama.
The book follows 33 people in 22 countries.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 25, 2008 -- Following
thirty-three people in twenty-two countries, Afdhere
Jama paints a complicated picture in "Illegal
Citizens", subtitled "Queer Lives in the Muslim
World."
"I set out to tell the stories of people suffering
everywhere," says Jama, who is the editor of Huriyah,
a queer Muslim magazine. "Instead, I was confronted
with diverse lives including happy ones--sometimes in
places I never imagined."
Some of the stories are touching, others completely
surprise. Like the story about a young man in Iran who
clubs all night although he is the son of a high-level
Ayatollah or politician and has a completely different
life during the day.
"Here were gay and lesbian Iranians doing everything
that happens in the Castro (of San Francisco) and
more," Jama says. "That blew me away because I went to
the country chasing stories about gays being harassed,
arrested and executed."
But Jama also has disturbing stories to tell like the
one about a Saudi gay man executed by his immediate
family.
"Horrible, horrible things happen," says Jama. "In
many of these countries, people disappear without a
trace. And that happens only because gay and lesbian
Muslims have no voice. They can't object to abuse
because, as far as anyone is concerned, they don't
exist."
Jama, who grew up in Somalia, says he was deeply
affected by the execution of a lesbian couple in
northern Somalia in 2001, which gave him the idea for
the book.
"I realized we had to tell these stories," he says. "I
had no idea how because I was an immigrant surviving
thousands of miles away from the Muslim countries and,
worse, I had no money. Whatever little money I was
earning, it was going directly to Huriyah, which we
had just started. How was I going to dash all over the
globe? It was discouraging."
By looking into the history of Gay Rights in the West,
Jama realized it was often the united community not
just individuals who changed the ways people saw gays
and lesbians.
"With the internet, things changed fast," says Jama.
"There was such a big community online. I could pay
for my ticket, and find people to stay with all over
the world. Suddenly I could afford to travel. It took
a long time to finish but it was with the help of
countless people."
People he thanks one by one in the book's
acknowledgment. But he also encourages them to be more
active.
"I tell everyone to do what you can," says Jama. "I'm
not expecting someone in Saudi Arabia to be carrying
gay flags. There are many ways we can support the
community. I know of people who give runaway queers a
place to stay. That is enormous! But there are also
those who are directly involved in political
activism."
In many instances, Jama chooses to tell untold
stories. He says it is because he feels certain
communities are underrepresented.
"I'm particularly passionate about transgendered
people and gay women," says Jama. "We all know what it
is to be a gay man in Pakisan or Morocco, but how many
people have read stories of transsexuals or lesbians
in these countries? Not many."
Jama covers a lot of ground. Countries covered include
Nigeria, Lebanon, Indonesia, Bosnia, and many others
who haven't had as much exposure as some countries.
Queer Muslims in Muslim-minority countries like China,
India, Israel, and Ukraine are also included.
Illegal Citizens: Queer Lives in the Muslim World
Afdhere Jama
ISBN-13: 9780980013887
ISBN-10: 0980013887
Publication Date: July 25, 2008.
Publisher: Salaam Press.
Wholesale available from Ingram Book Group, with
standard discounts / returnable.
Retail available from online book retailers,
bookstores, available to order and from
salaampress.com
Media Contact, including interview requests and review
copies:
Leila Hosseini
Salaam Press
1 925 281 1917
lhosseini(at)salaampress.com
Fri Jul 25, 3:01 AM ET
Salaam Press publishes Illegal Citizens: Queer Lives
in the Muslim World by Afdhere Jama.
The book follows 33 people in 22 countries.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 25, 2008 -- Following
thirty-three people in twenty-two countries, Afdhere
Jama paints a complicated picture in "Illegal
Citizens", subtitled "Queer Lives in the Muslim
World."
"I set out to tell the stories of people suffering
everywhere," says Jama, who is the editor of Huriyah,
a queer Muslim magazine. "Instead, I was confronted
with diverse lives including happy ones--sometimes in
places I never imagined."
Some of the stories are touching, others completely
surprise. Like the story about a young man in Iran who
clubs all night although he is the son of a high-level
Ayatollah or politician and has a completely different
life during the day.
"Here were gay and lesbian Iranians doing everything
that happens in the Castro (of San Francisco) and
more," Jama says. "That blew me away because I went to
the country chasing stories about gays being harassed,
arrested and executed."
But Jama also has disturbing stories to tell like the
one about a Saudi gay man executed by his immediate
family.
"Horrible, horrible things happen," says Jama. "In
many of these countries, people disappear without a
trace. And that happens only because gay and lesbian
Muslims have no voice. They can't object to abuse
because, as far as anyone is concerned, they don't
exist."
Jama, who grew up in Somalia, says he was deeply
affected by the execution of a lesbian couple in
northern Somalia in 2001, which gave him the idea for
the book.
"I realized we had to tell these stories," he says. "I
had no idea how because I was an immigrant surviving
thousands of miles away from the Muslim countries and,
worse, I had no money. Whatever little money I was
earning, it was going directly to Huriyah, which we
had just started. How was I going to dash all over the
globe? It was discouraging."
By looking into the history of Gay Rights in the West,
Jama realized it was often the united community not
just individuals who changed the ways people saw gays
and lesbians.
"With the internet, things changed fast," says Jama.
"There was such a big community online. I could pay
for my ticket, and find people to stay with all over
the world. Suddenly I could afford to travel. It took
a long time to finish but it was with the help of
countless people."
People he thanks one by one in the book's
acknowledgment. But he also encourages them to be more
active.
"I tell everyone to do what you can," says Jama. "I'm
not expecting someone in Saudi Arabia to be carrying
gay flags. There are many ways we can support the
community. I know of people who give runaway queers a
place to stay. That is enormous! But there are also
those who are directly involved in political
activism."
In many instances, Jama chooses to tell untold
stories. He says it is because he feels certain
communities are underrepresented.
"I'm particularly passionate about transgendered
people and gay women," says Jama. "We all know what it
is to be a gay man in Pakisan or Morocco, but how many
people have read stories of transsexuals or lesbians
in these countries? Not many."
Jama covers a lot of ground. Countries covered include
Nigeria, Lebanon, Indonesia, Bosnia, and many others
who haven't had as much exposure as some countries.
Queer Muslims in Muslim-minority countries like China,
India, Israel, and Ukraine are also included.
Illegal Citizens: Queer Lives in the Muslim World
Afdhere Jama
ISBN-13: 9780980013887
ISBN-10: 0980013887
Publication Date: July 25, 2008.
Publisher: Salaam Press.
Wholesale available from Ingram Book Group, with
standard discounts / returnable.
Retail available from online book retailers,
bookstores, available to order and from
salaampress.com
Media Contact, including interview requests and review
copies:
Leila Hosseini
Salaam Press
1 925 281 1917
lhosseini(at)salaampress.com
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