A Jihad for Love

2007, Documentary/Gay & lesbian, 1h 21m

32 Reviews 500+ Ratings

critics consensus

This powerful documentary explores an important subject -- homosexuality in the Muslim world -- with humanity and courage. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

Filmmaker Parvez Sharma travels into the secretive world of homosexuality within the Islamic faith. He interviews those who try to reconcile their faith with the ban on gays and lesbians, attempting to walk a fine line between persecution and honesty. Religious leaders who are unequivocal on the subject are also interviewed and take a predictably hard-line stance. The subjects of the film choose to remain Muslims in countries where many others would flee.

Genre:

Documentary, Gay & lesbian
Original Language:

Arabic
Director:

Parvez Sharma
Producer:

Sandi Simcha DuBowski, Andrew Herwitz
Writer:

Parvez Sharma
Release Date (Theaters):

May 21, 2008 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Mar 24, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA):

$105.0K
Runtime:

1h 21m
Distributor:

First Run

Cast & Crew

Parvez Sharma
Director

Parvez Sharma
Writer

Sandi Simcha DuBowski
Producer

Andrew Herwitz
Producer

Michael Huffington
Executive Producer

Critic Reviews for A Jihad for Love

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (7)

Full Review… Joshua Rothkopf Time Out

Full Review… Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader

Full Review… John Hartl Seattle Times

Full Review… Philip Kennicott Washington Post

Full Review… David Wiegand San Francisco Chronicle

Full Review… Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle

Full Review… Don Willmott Filmcritic.com

Full Review… Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice

Full Review… Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters

Full Review… Bill White Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Full Review… Tricia Olszewski Let's Not Listen

Full Review… Les Wright culturevulture.net

View All Critic Reviews (32)

Audience Reviews for A Jihad for Love

Apr 12, 2010

What unites the conservative elements of otherwise disparate religions is a hatred of gays and lesbians. The heartfelt and enlightening documentary "A Jihad for Love" takes this topic from a Muslim point of view. From South Africa to France to Iran to Turkey to Pakistan, gays and lesbians share their experiences. Some participants are courageous enough to have their faces revealed while others are more cautious. As depicted in the film, Islam is more diverse than usually perceived, as the interpretation of sacred texts is up for debate. For example, the only relevant phrases from the Koran come up in the context of Sodom and Gomorrah, and as a gay imam puts it, the crimes committed there were rape, not consensual by any means.(The jihad in the title of the film is not here meant as it is usually thought of as a holy war, but as a struggle.) Another text forbids lesbianism but the worst punishment is a scolding. In some Muslim countries like Iran and Egypt, homosexuality is illegal and punishments vary but can include execution, causing Muslim gays and lesbians to live abroad as exiles. Turkey is Muslim, yet secular, and has no laws against homosexuality while Pakistan and India have rarely enforced statutes inherited from colonial England.

Walter M Super Reviewer
Sep 16, 2009

Could have been much better in how it was edited and put together but it was good.

Sunil J Super Reviewer
Sep 18, 2008

Extremely interesting subject matter, though I never can help to think, as an atheist, that it would always be much easier to leave the oppressive religion then to try and reconcile it with ones own life. The gay Iman impressed me very much, as did the lesbian couple from Turkey. Technically not the best documentary, but it is very close to its subjects and conveys their difficulties vividly.

Ina S Super Reviewer
Jul 21, 2008

A lightweight documentary on treatments of homosexuality in the Muslim world. Unfortunately the individuals interviewed didn't add the gravity to this situation which it deserved.

John B Super Reviewer