LGBTI Meet Up Event in Mosque Postponed After Coverage

Şehitlik Camii, a mosque affiliated under Religious Affairs Turkish Islamic Union (DİTİB) in Berlin, had to postpone its “Meet Up to Respect” project that aimed to open its doors to LGBTI people. 

It was reported that the event was postponed due to homophobic media coverage on the topic. 

“Scandalous decision” wrote Turkey’s Yeni Akit newspaper. Takvim  newspaper, on the other hand, called homosexuals “perverts”. 

The aforementioned mosque released a statement online, saying that “their innocent efforts to enlighten and guide people were suspended in order not to make a provocation due to abusive journalism”. 

Postponed but news date unknown 

“The mosque officials told us that we could do the event again in December. But they didn’t give an exact date,” organizers  Völklinger Kreis and Daniel Phillipp Worat told  Ömer Akpınar from kaosGL.org website. 

Reminding that DİTİB had a unit against discrimination, Worat expressed their determination about rescheduling the event. 

“Mosques must be open to everyone,” Hakan Taş, a Muslim and Left Party deputy told B-Z Berlin. 

Previous collaboration against Islamophobia 

Some of the highlights from the mosque are as follows: 

“Şehitlik Camii has served guidance since 2004 and received an average of 30,000 visitors annually. 

“On 24 November 2014, Leadership Berlin, an organization that holds workshops on history, politics, economy,etc, has asked for a visit. Previously, we had collaboration and had worked together against Islamophobia. 

“We don’t aim to legitimize islamic bans"

“However, our aim was not to legitimize a banned behavior [homosexuality] in our religion when we confirmed to collaborate with Leadership Berlin. 

“The media coverage saying that the event was organized by us annoyed DİTİB Şehitlik Camii and its community. 

“In order not to let abuses, we have to withdraw the schedule admission. Our innocent efforts to enlighten and guide people were suspended in order not to make a provocation due to abusive journalism.

“We would like to inform the public that our doors are open to everyone who are willing to know further about our religion and culture.” (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.