A Jihad For Love

Jihad: struggle; to strive in the path of God. 

Courageous, controversial and ground-breaking, A Jihad for Love is the first feature-length film about the taboo topic of homosexuality and Islam. 

In many nations with a Muslim majority, laws based on Qur’anic interpretations are enforced by authorities to monitor, entrap, imprison, torture and even execute homosexuals.

Filmed in secret and under great risk over five years, in 12 countries and nine languages, A Jihad for Love journeys through the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and beyond. Devout Muslims who are lesbian, gay or transgender share their personal and often frightening jihads for love. 

In South Africa, the imam Muhsin Hendricks faces condemnation when he publicly comes out of the closet. In Egypt, where homosexuality is outlawed, a young man named Mazen has to flee after being imprisoned and tortured following the well-publicised 2001 raid on Cairo’s “Queen Boat.”

The film works to bridge religious divides and to portray the humanity of its characters. No matter what you believe or where you come from, this film will remind you that we are all engaged in the same struggle – for love.

Winner Jury Award for Best Film Tri Continental Film Festival 2008
Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2007
Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2008

Director Parvez Sharma
USA/UK/FRANCE/GERMANY/AUSTRALIA, 2007, 81 min

English subtitles