Al-Fatiha Foundation

The Al-Fatiha Foundation is an organization which advances the cause of gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims. It was founded in 1998 by Faisal Alam, a Pakistani American, and is registered as a nonprofit organization in the United States. The organization was an out shoot of an internet listserve that brought together many gay, lesbian and questioning Muslims from various countries. ["Cyber Mecca," The Advocate, March 14, 2000]

In 2001, Al-Muhajiroun, an international organization seeking the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate, issued a fatwa declaring that all members of Al-Fatiha were "murtadd", or apostates, and condemning them to death. Because of the threat and coming from conservative societies, many members of the foundation's site still prefer to be anonymous so as to protect their identity while continuing a tradition of secrecy. [Tim Herbert, "Queer chronicles", Weekend Australian, October 7, 2006, Qld Review Edition.]

Al-Fatiha has fourteen chapters in the United States, as well as offices in England, Canada, Spain, Turkey and South Africa.

ee also

* Liberal movements in Islam
* Lut, source of Qur'anic injunctions against homosexuality
* Homosexuality and Islam

References

External links

* [http://www.al-fatiha.org/ Al-Fatiha homepage]
* [http://www.imaan.org.uk Imaan, UK Muslim LGBT support organisation]