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Biti gej i musliman
Novi film 'A Jihad for Love' govori o gejevima i lezbejkama u muslimanskom svetu

A new film about gays and lesbians in the Muslim world is challenging notions of right, wrong and religiosity in Islamic culture.

Filmmaker Parvez Sharma says his film "A Jihad For Love" is an effort to shed light on the social and spiritual struggle of homosexuals who are devout Muslims. It tells the story through personal narratives of gays across 12 countries. In the film, Sharma compiles a vision of Islamic life through the eyes of the gay faithful.

"I felt it really important to empower gay and lesbian Muslims to tell the story of Islam," Sharma told ABC News.

Sharma, who is gay, said he was driven to make the film in part by the desire to "come out as a Muslim" after Sept. 11, hoping to broaden public perception about the diversity of Islam's followers.

The stories in the film are intimate, with main characters that include a gay Imam in South Africa, a lesbian couple in Turkey, homosexuals in Egypt and a group of gay Iranians fleeing the country to seek asylum in Canada.

The characters struggle with their societies, some escaping persecution and abuse. They have strong bonds with their families, but forge a second family among other gay believers.

ABC News