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A Jihad for Love

Play trailer Poster for A Jihad for Love 2008 1h 21m Documentary LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
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.
A Jihad for Love

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader 12/09/2008
Covering more than half a dozen countries, Sharma stretches himself too thin, and as a result the documentary seems sketchy; he would have done well to present on-screen some of the background information in his production notes. Go to Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times 09/05/2008
2.5/4
For all the research, courage and passion that went into it, the movie is sometimes curiously one-note. Go to Full Review Philip Kennicott Washington Post 09/04/2008
[Director Sharma's] focus on religion and this particular religion's all but certain hostility to same-sex love means there can be no answers to the spiritual searching of many of his characters. Go to Full Review Don Willmott Filmcritic.com 04/29/2009
4/5
director Parvez Sharma sets out across the world to find out what it means to be gay and Muslim. In most cases, it means trouble. Go to Full Review Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 04/21/2009
4/5
A poignant and sobering depiction of the struggle of gay Muslims in 12 countries to reconcile their sexual orientation with their faith. Go to Full Review Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters 09/12/2008
6/10
Parvez Sharma's documentary, "A Jihad for Love", traces heartening, harrowing stories of Muslim gay men and lesbians. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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PridePosterStudios 09/20/2023 Shines a light on the difficulties faced for those who are both queer and Muslim- something seldom seen on-screen. See more 06/23/2016 A very disturbing documentary on the very difficult, impossible struggle gay folks face under Islamic hated. Didn't like Islam going into this film, now Jeez! Unbelievable the hatred disguised as religion. See more 05/20/2015 An informative and important film on a little-known and ruthlessly oppressed reformist movement within Islam. See more 05/20/2013 heart breaking tales of gay discrimination in Muslim communities See more Fong Kok Hoong F 02/24/2013 Gay Muslims speak about their homosexuality and their devotion to Allah, two subjects that many will consider a death penalty even when used in the same sentence. Very depressing to watch and suggesting no way out (pun not intended) in the gay Muslim community, it is nevertheless a labour of love that takes guts to make. See more 10/21/2011 A very gutsy documentary about homosexuality in the Islamic world. See more Read all reviews
A Jihad for Love

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Cast & Crew

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Parvez Sharma

Director

Parvez Sharma

Writer

Sandi Simcha DuBowski

Producer

Andrew Herwitz

Producer

Michael Huffington

Executive Producer

Andrew Herwitz

Executive Producer

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A Jihad for Love

A Jihad for Love (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
Director
Parvez Sharma
Producer
Sandi Simcha DuBowski, Andrew Herwitz
Screenwriter
Parvez Sharma
Distributor
First Run
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language
Arabic
Release Date (Theaters)
May 21, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$105.0K
Runtime
1h 21m