Islamophobia in the LGBT community

Islamophobia was the topic of the day when RFSL organized a panel debate in Pride House.

- RFSL works for equal rights and equality between all people. Islamophobia is not acceptable, says Tommy Lundholm from RFSL during his introduction of the panel.

According to studies by the European Union, muslims are among the most  harassed groups in Europe. The panel debate at Pride House attracted an audience of around forty people. The panel consisted of Tommy Lundholm, Ulf Schyldt from the atheist organisation Humanisterna, Lawen Mohtadi from the feminist magazine Bang, Mathilda Piehl from RFSL's youth magazine Kom Ut and human rights activists Dlovan Kassab. Carlos Diaz from RFSL conducted the panel.

- The term 'islamophobia' might focus more on religion than on the people who are the targets of racism, Lawen Mohtadi says.

The panel discussed their views on the term "islamophobia". Tommy Lundholm says that there is islamophobia within RFSL as well.

- The silence is the worst problem, says Mathilda Piehl.

The panel seemed to agree that a problem is the small numer of muslims visible in the public space.

- Few public voices speak with a muslim identity, a muslim perspective, Lawen Mhotadi says.

Ulf Schydt points out that this discussion is more common in other forums, and that some people also close their eyes to the subject.

- When my friends told me what a great film "Jihad for love" was, a film about muslim LGBT persons, I assumed it was a profound film, but it turned out to be a film about muslims who were LGBT persons. It was sad to realize that people thougt the film was great simply because muslims could be LGBT persons, that ought to be a natural thing, Mathilda Piehl says.