CALEM's Steering Committee members
INIMuslim's AIM
Mission
Inclusivity and self-definition
Operational goals
Universal Ethics
Publications
Sponsors & donors
CALEM's STEERING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
To learn more about our CALEM Cabinet and informal NGO Confederation latest news, please consult our press release about it.
INIMuslim | 2011-2012 Aim
INIMuslim is an informal network, opened to every citizen of the world inspired by a good will, without any discrimination regarding their personal convictions, ethnical background, serological status, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.
This informal
network is built on a collaborative initiative of Organizations'
Associations' representatives, selected experts worldwide (see non exhaustive list and
thanks below) and volunteers, working internationally for
the
inclusivity of individuals, that belongs de facto to
what we call today a "sexual minority" (LBTQIA*), and that are Muslims
or from a Muslim background. INMuslim sustains their struggle to
defend their human rights and dignity, fighting
both “Homophobia”,
“Islamophobia” and every other discrimination such
as racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, lesbophobia,
biphobia, transphobia,
serophobia**, etc.
Through INIMuslim, organizations and individuals can exchange information about how to prepare conferences or seminars, lead or create inclusive Muslim organizations***, increase LGBT Muslim's visibility by editing publications and/or built a blog, a website; deconstruct prejudices and misbelieves, share ideas and experiences, exchange skills, develop a united voice with humility and solidarity - away from ego or power inter-individual conflicts - and develop new tools, strategies and advocacy in total transparency.
Our position is at the avant-garde of an Islamic reform and the mutations of the relationship to Islam; an intellectually passionate position and risky at the same time. There is no unique, simple answer to the issue of the reconciliation of cultural heritage and/or faith, gender and sexuality. Thus, we have to help each other respecting true shura - collegiality - ; respecting each other point of view and self-definition, in a philanthropic and naive way, in solidarity with endangered social groups or minorities, nonetheless independently, away from partisan politics.
*Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual, asexual; but also Men having Sex with Men, Women having Sex with Women that happened to be discriminated on the basis of their gender and/or sexual orientation.
**Against individuals infected or affected by sexual transmitted deseases such as HIV/AIDS.
***Inclusive, progressive, queer LGBT Muslims need your help to be visible and gather to create human right, advocacy or convivial organizations; we are here to advice and/or exchange information about the best way to sustain their empowerment and enhance their expertise and visibility as a group or/and as individuals, through internet websites or blogs, associations, publications, conferences, etc.
INIMuslim | MissionINIMuslim * aim is to provide helpful and supported basis to address the issue of Islam & sexual diversity, and assists Muslims to reconcile Islam with their sexuality or gender orientation, to peacefully strive together toward common goals of interest for our network that aspires to the realization of an inclusive Islam.
Our network helped so far inclusive, progressive Muslim individuals and organizations to strengthen up their inner dynamic in France, South Africa, Belgium, Egypt. Today, it is spreading its energies through Europe, Middle-East, Africa, North and South America.
- conferences, seminars and colloques of CALEM in 2011, and 2012.
- publications of the Green Books in 2012, translated in French, English, Spanish and Dutch.
- sustaining our sister Nasreen Amina (in collaboration with our sister organization MPV) for her publication on islamic feminisme at the May 2012 conference in Argentina.
- financial support for three lesbians from a Muslim backhground to attend the international Muslim women's conference (in September 2010, while the network was still not formaly named).
- sessions of brainstorming and affiliations trainings organized during 2012 (...).
- helping refugees, fleeing away from their country because of despotism and homophobia, to find asylum in European countries.
- inclusive travels and spiritual quests in Middle-East and Holy Land (travel blog, video documentaries...).
More information about this
network, please write to us: islam.inclusive.2012@gmail.com
* International Network of Inclusive Muslims; in Arabic INI MUSLIM means “I am Muslim”. A name found by the international coordinator of CALEM after salat Tarawih during Ramadhan 2011.
Let us be
reminded that our beloved Creator Allah SWT
states in the Quran in numerous places that no singular identity, nor
social
category, shall be normalized above others; no identity shall be
imposed as
“normal” on any one of us, especially not on our
transgender brothers and
sisters.
Allah SWT says in the Quran: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware“ *.
Thus, we shall
promote Allah
consciousness in respect of each individual’s personal
self-definition.
* Quran: 49.13
INIMuslim | operational GOALS
INIMuslim
shall work towards the following operational goals and objectives, as a
network
that seeks to include and create safe spaces for each and every Muslim
around
the world, promoting and advancing human rights and equality
particularly for
inclusive Muslims:
1/
To develop an inclusive structure, flexible, supportive and
decentralized. That structure shall enable organizations and
individuals,
pursuing common interests in human rights and equality, to work
together.
2/
To sustain existing – or help to create –
organizations, who are interested in INIMuslim’s
issues, in order to improve
their capacity building.
3/
To provide a variety of means which include but not limited to:
exchanging information, training & capacity building,
conducting researches
and studies, coordinating actions, conferences, releasing joint
statements,
newsletters and publications, organizing cultural and spiritual
journeys to
rediscover our common heritage, developing common agendas &
strategies, and
joining national and international advocacy efforts.
4/
To raise and shed a light in the issue of Islam and sexual or gender
diversity,
to develop a collective voice on important inclusive Muslims’
issues worldwide,
and to provide a supportive and understanding environment for LGBTQIA
Muslims
who seek to reconcile their sexual orientation or gender identity with
Islam.
5/
To support Muslims who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and intersex and those who are questioning their
sexual
orientation or gender identity; to promote spirituality among LGBTQI
Muslims.
6/
To empower inclusive Muslims by creating safe spaces to share
individual
experiences and by providing information and educational resources, and
to
advocate on behalf of LGBTQI Muslims in national and international
forums
No one shall be forced to
meditate or relax of
course. Besides, like the MPV’s inclusive Unity mosques in North America, our
inclusive prayer spaces is a place of healing for everyone - for those
who
identify as Muslim, regardless of sect or tariqa. We also welcome those
who do
not identify as Muslim but need a space for healing, and those who are
family,
spouses/partners, friends, seekers and allies. We understand that women
and men
are equal agents of God in all aspects of ritual practice, regardless
of their
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, class,
dis/ability,
HIV status, language, or any other grounds. In setting up our prayer
space, we
strive to create a caring environment in which no one is segregated or
excluded. This means that a man or a woman may lead prayers.
Congregants are
seated together and pray together as one community. Of course,
individual men
and women can choose to stand/sit to one side or the other if they
prefer.
Whether you pray regularly or not, we invite you to this open and
welcoming
space.
CALEM
All our publications all totaly free of any charge since 2010 (documents, videos etc.).
OTHER RESSOURCES
MOI (Homosexual Muslim in Italy)
International congress on Islamic Feminism (Spain)
MPV publications (USA)
WEBISLAM (Spain)
INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE MOSQUE
Co-editor of the PAI (ILGA AFRICA) constitution at the 2014 conference.
CALEM 2012 main colloquium was sustained by the European Council
CALEM is founder member of the INIMuslim networking program
CALEM received the 2012 Pierre Guénin price* against homophobia.
*A price given by SOS homophobia
CALEM representative is founder member of the GIN-SOGI interfaith international LGBT network (thanks to the sponsors sustaining GIN-SOGI)
Organizations representatives, experts and volunteers, working
against every discrimination, and towards a truly inclusive islam*
* not all these individuals are Muslims of course; this informal network is administrated by CALEM
INIMuslim NETWORKING program | Thanks to the
experts working together with us towards inclusivity:
Imame Ani Zonneveld (USA)
Dr. Matthew Simonds (USA)
Randa Lamri (Algeria / Sweden)
Neil Grungras (USA)
Pav Akhtar (UK)
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (UK)
Dan Littaeur (UK)
Louis-Georges Tin (France)
Stéphanie Nicot (France)
Imam Hashim Jansen (Netherlands)
Azzah H.W.C. (Netherlands / Indonesia)
Emir Belatoui (Netherlands)
Kristi Pinderi (Albania)
Marina Barreiro (Sarajevo)
Biljana Stankovic (Serbia)
Pier Cesare Notaro (Italy)
Abdennur Prado (Spain)
Laure Rodriguez-Quiroga (Spain)
Nasreen Amina (Chile /Argentina)
Nevin Öztop (Turkey)
Brother Y. (United Arab Emirates)
Marwan Bensaid (Morocco)
Brother S., brother Greeny and sister M. (Algeria)
Abdallah Rawashda (Palestine / Sweden)
Brother X. (Egypt)
Dr. Samar Habib (Palestine /Australia)
Brother X (Sudan)
Brother S. (Burundi)
Sharon Cox Ludwig (South Africa)
Sister A. (Pakistan)
Brother H. (Pakistan)
Imam Jose Yusuf De Silva (Brazil)
Dr. & Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed
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ANTHROPOLOGY,
NEW ISLAMIC She inspired and participated to the edition of the Green Book 2012. Wadud's research specialities include gender and Qur'anic studies. After publishing her first book, she spoke at universities, grass roots level, government and non-government forums at various gatherings throughout the United States, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. In 1992 Wadud accepted a position as Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University, from where she retired as of 2008. In 2007 she received the Danish Democracy Prize, and in 2008 she gave the keynote address "Islam, Justice, and Gender" at … (Learn more, click here). |
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MUSLIM FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES, ARTIST AND PRODUCER She is co-founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), a 501 (c) (3) founded in 2007. In the short years since its inception, Ani presided over MPV’s expansion to include chapters and affiliates in |
Ani is a singer / songwriter / producer and the first woman to release an English Islamic pop album in the US entitled ’Ummah Wake Up’ followed by ‘One’. Ani performs wedding services for mixed faith and gay couples. In 2006 she was named a Muslim Leader of Tomorrow by the American Society for Muslim Advancement.  back top page |
| Abdennur Prado
PROGRESSIVE
ISLAM, Former president of Junta islamica catalan (Spanish Islamic council) and President of the International Congress on Islamic Feminism - http://feminismeislamic.org/cast/. Defensor de los derechos civiles de los musulmanes en España y comprometido en el diálogo interreligioso. Basada en un retorno a los principios de la revelación coránica, su obra se sitúa en la línea de la teología islámica de la liberación. Es autor de los libros ‘El islam como anarquismo místico’, ‘El lenguaje político del Corán’, ‘El retorn de l’islam a Catalunya’, ‘El islam anterior al Islam’ y ‘El islam en democracia’, y de numerosos artículos publicados en diarios y revistas. Ha sido director de Webislam.com, de la cual es redactor. |
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Imam Hashim Jansen IMAM, PHILOSOPHER $ THEOLOGIAN Imam Hashim Jansen was born in Rotterdam in a Roman
Catholic family. As a Catholic boy, he went to the seminary, where his interest
in the priesthood was awakened. After his ordination as a priest in the diocese
of Roermond in 1997 he began to study theology at the University of
Leiden. NGO: During that period, he was seized by Islam. After
his studies in Leiden, he went to Damascus, where he studied at the Abu Nur
University for five years of Arabic Language and Literature, Interpretation of
the Qur’an, History of Islam and Islamic studies. He also studied there in FIQH,
the basic principles and practices of Islam. He was inspired by Sufism, a
spiritual branch of Islam. Hashim Jansen has worked as a pastor in Rotterdam
and The Hague. He is one of the two inclusive imams in Europe and leader of the
Haardvuur Avond organization in Amsterdam. CONTACT: https://www.facebook.com/haardvuuravond |
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Imam Yusuf Jose De Silva MTHEOLOGIAN $ PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR (Brazil). Theology at Faculdade Transamericana de Teologia.
Mastership in Science of Religion - Same institution. Drammaturgy at
Universidade stacio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Professional counsellor
by Seminario teologico Batista. Elaboration of projects by UES and INEP.
Professinal Experiences: teacher of Foreigners Lenguages, HRDefenders, Projects
with Children of Street, STDAids, International and National Coferencist. NGO: The first gay imam of South America, leader of
MPV Brazil (Musulmanos Progressistas Do Brazil). CONTACT: +5521
98461 6205 (Cell) |
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Randa Lamri Transfeminist activist (Algeria / Sweden) Randa Lamri transfeministe activist. Founder of Abu Nawas Algreria, former director of the HELEM social center in Beirut, founder member of the first Middle-Eastern trans group. She published her biography in 2010 thanks to her collaboration with Hazem Saghiye. She currently lives in Sweden where she is member of the RFSL board, also elected for the green party "vänsterpartiet" (four years mandate). Founder member with four other activists of the francophone platform for LGBT rights. CONTACT: randa.lamri@gmail.com
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 |
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MEDIA
& INCLUSIVE (& philanthropic translation - Spanish, English, French - namely for the CALEM’s Green Books 2011 & 2012). Nasreen Amina ( Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente) is
a citizen journalist and
writer, culture columnist and social critic, Pioneer of Islamic
Feminism in
Latin America. She is an enthusiastic speaker and advocate on issues of
gender
and women rights. who has led volunteer programs for rural
communities in
the Peruvian highlands. Through her human rights work she believes
strongly in
the power of words to change the world. With some more
progressive brothers and
sisters they are forming a
group of progressive Muslims
in Latin America, which
obviously is open and includes LGBT
brothers and
sisters... |
... They have found that the cultural roots of
Latin America, deeply rooted
in discrimination, non-acceptance of difference,
misogyny and
patriarchy, are the ideal ground for
dogmatism and specifically Wahhabism.
Therefore, together with a group still small, they decided to develop a collective for the promotion of progressive ideas in Islam and to generate a network of support and mutual assistance. nasreenamina.blogspot.com |
ISLAM, GENDER
STUDIES Activist and thinker of the contemporary
Islamic Feminism, was chosen by her
country as one of the 100 most influential people in Latin America
(2010). For
nearly 20 years, Social Worker, having spent most of her work to the
struggle
for women's rights. Is a Research and Executive Committee Member of the
Institute of Euro-Mediterranean Studies at the Universidad Complutense
de
Madrid, being the head of the Department of Maghreb and the Middle
East.
Currently chairs of the Union of Muslim Women in Spain, and co-director
of the
International Congress on Islamic Feminism. She is Director of Social
and
Intercultural Consulting Tower of Babel, with gender advisor for the
government
and various organizations. |
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...We do not stand only against heterosexism but also against nationalism and militarism that go hand in hand with it. Our regional network aims to create a ground to stand up for each other as we share similar political patterns and break mental and physical borders that separate us. We want to live with each other; we want to live for each other.”  back top page |
SELF-DEFINITION, TRANSGENDER & INTERSEXUAL IDENTITIES Azzah
is originally from France. She grew up in Lacoste (Southern France) and
she now lives and works between Amsterdam and New-York. She deals to
help her transsexual
Muslim sisters and brothers living in the Netherlands. Five years ago,
Azzah
undergo sex change surgery in OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam. SHe was handled
by a
Muslim surgeon, R.B. Karim, and an assistant Iranian descent. "I am
allowed to wear headscarves in the operating room. After the surgery,
doctors Karim pinned a Quran in the palm of my hand. I deliberately chose a
Muslim
surgeon. It feels more comfortable entrusting my body and
post-operative care
to people of faith"... (Learn
more about her story here). |
Azzah is working today for the Amsterdam Arkin emergency Psychiatric
hospital as a mental care counselor for youth (especially
LGBT adolescents); she is also a consultant to the The Malcolm
X
& Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Educational Center (NYC), HM2F
and CALEM
concerning transgender, intersex and HIV. She
was one of the three international facilitators for the 2012 Paris CALEM grand colloquium.
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| Marwan Bensaid HOMOPHOBIA & MALE HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARAB WORLD
|
To
date Arab LGBT community is still far behind, and we find ourselves
as Arab LGBTs facing a battle against ignorance, first, before even we
can
fight homophobia, since the major part of the Moroccan people still see
homosexuality as a deviance and contrary to human nature, striking
against the
wall all the research and studies showing otherwise..."
(Read more on the 2012 Grenn Book's preface,
or on the Arabic page of CALEM website).  back top page |
ARAB LGBT EMPOWERMENT & FEMALE HOMOSEXUALITY Samar Habib
participated in 2012 to the edition of the Green Book. She received
her doctorate from the University of Sydney, Australia. Her monograph
Female
Homosexuality in the Middle East: Histories and Representations was
published
by Routledge in 2007. Her critical translation of the Lebanese novel Ana Hiya Anti / I Am You by Elham
Mansour was published in 2008. Islam
and Homosexuality, a two-volume collection of essays,
edited and
introduced by Habib, has been published
Pareger in December 2009. In addition to a number of published and
forthcoming
academic articles in EnterText
and Nebula ; Habib has published a number of creative
works
including the novel A Tree Like Rain
(Sydney: Nebula Press, 2005), the chapbook Islands
in Space (Sydney: Nebula Press, 2008) and the novel Rughum & Najda (March
2012).
she is now studiying the great work achieved by some LGBT arab LGBT
organizations (she presneted her work with our representative, in Ankara and Istanbul in 2012 at the
University Seminar). |
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GENDER, ISLAMIC & NEAR EASTERN STUDIES. Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies, University of
California, Berkeley; Matthew prefaced the Green Book in 2012, from his very
particular, unique point of view. He is a member of the MPV
association: Muslims for Progressive
Values (MPV) is an inclusive community rooted in the traditional
Qur’anic
ideals of human dignity and social justice. They welcome all who are
interested
in discussing, promoting and working for the implementation of
progressive
values - human rights, freedom of expression, and separation of church
and
state - as well as inclusive and tolerant understandings of
Islam… (Learn
more here). |
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| Emir Belatoui HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVIST,
Emir
is Muslim
and gay and
fled from Algeria. He
has been leaving now for
more than ten
years in the Netherlands :
I came to the Netherlands for the freedom you can have here to be gay, but discovered that many Moroccan and Turkish youths led a double life," . “That’s why I founded the Secret Garden – to reach these young people, bring them into contact with each other and to defend their interests. Secret Garden Foundation wants to remove the taboo of discussing gay, bisexuality and gender reassignment issues in society in general and within the Muslim community in particular. The target group of the Secret Garden is gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender Muslims (LBHT'ers). "Freedom is inside you, and is not determined by where your family resides. It has largely to do with your own acceptance of homosexuality. Nobody jumps with joy when his child says, "Dad I'm gay." But ultimately, most parents want their child to be happy and not walk around with all kinds of psychological problems."... |
 ... We have made materials that schools can use, such as the DVD "Hob Al Nisa” about lesbian and bisexual women. And a DVD about the safety of LGBT’ers in asylum seeker centers. We have also made brochures with portraits of refugees and other LGBT’ers, and we are now working on a new DVD, called "Fight to Be." This new DVD is about homosexuality in general and about the work that the Secret Garden has done in recent years to lift the taboo of homosexuality within immigrant communities. Our activities are well attended, and politically we have left our mark on Dutch society. We are well known, and I'm happy with that. |
Stéphanie Nicot AUTHOR,
HUMAN RIGHTS &
Founder and
president of ANT (Association National Transgender); with a degree in
Modern
Literature and Information-Communication, Stephanie Nicot has
previously held
various odd jobs (working interim, an official at the Ministry of
Finance,
Parliamentary attached) before teaching Letters and History at school
and
devote herself to literature. Stephanie, formerly Stephane, had sex
reassignment surgery to become a woman but has refused to lodge
documents, as
required by French law, to also have her gender changed on the
population
register. Last year Stephanie Nicot wed her partner Elise in a town
hall
ceremony in Nancy in eastern France in what is said to be the first
marriage of
its kind in the country. There are between 40,000 and 50,000
transsexual and
transgender people living in France, according to support groups. The
French
constitutional court in January upheld the country's gay marriage ban,
saying
it was in keeping with the constitution. The court made the ruling in
response
to a bid by a lesbian couple, who have four children, to marry after
spending
10 years in a PACS, or civil union. Learn more about the ANT
association here - http://www.ant-france.eu/ta2-assos-nous.htm
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Phyll Opoku-Gyimah HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, UK BLACK PRIDE Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black
Pride,
it is safe to say that Phyll Opoku-Gyimah is one of the leading lights
behind
the amazing celebration of Black LGBT communities that we enjoy today.
Phyll
has also been named in the Independent on the top 100 Pink list where
she came
in at number 64... A former volunteer for BLUK (Black Lesbians in the
UK),
Phyll uses her immense talents to support people within the Black LGBT
community
who either feel vulnerable or desperate to burst out of themselves and
demonstrate pride in their ethnicity and sexuality. Phyll has worked
tirelessly
to bring together LGBT activists, artists, volunteers and supporters
from
within the LGBT community and beyond to support UK Black Pride and
other such
events. Phyll’s voluntary endeavours led her to be nominated
as Woman of the
Year at the Black LGBT Community Awards 2007. Phyll is now the Head of
Equality
Health & Safety for PCS. Phyll’s commitment to
workplace equality and
social justice has secured her a seat on the TUC LGBT Committee. Phyll
is a
strong, very family-orientated Ghanaian African woman. |
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Dan Littauer HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, JOURNALIST Dan Littauer has had an
extensive career, from teaching psychoanalysis and social science in
several UK
universities to writing for the Lonely Planet. Dan is the editor of Gay
Middle
East news website; GME is a LGBT Grassroots news from the Middle East.
Dan also
regularly writes for other LGBT publications. He also has contributed
to
programs on the BBC, Al-Jazeera and the occasional contribution to CNN
and The
Guardian.
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Brother X. from Rainbow Sudan UNIQUE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS (identity kept secret for security reasons) It is an Organization based in Khartoum we work
underground conceding the fact that Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender
(LGBT) persons in Sudan face legal challenges not experienced by
non-LGTQI
residents. The judicial system is based on the Shari'a and according to
Article
148, capital punishment applies should the offense be committed either
by a man
or a woman. For homosexual men, lashes are given for the first offence,
with
the death penalty following the third offence. 100 lashes are given to
unmarried
women who engage in homosexual acts, For lesbian women, stoning and
thousands
of lashes are the penalty for the first offence. Rainbow Sudan is a
social,
human rights organization which advocates for the acceptance,
understanding and
a safe environment for LGBTQI’s to meet and discussed.
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Brother S. from Burundi UNIQUE
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS Humure
is a young association of
Burundian law which assigned
itself the mission to
help make better
the situation of minority
groups, especially sexual minorities.
The first organizational meeting of Humure held on 01 March 2009. Humure in August 2013 invited imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed for a two days seminar with LGBT youth from Burundi, Congo, Rwanda (see "publications 2013" reports here). |
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Brother S. and sister M. from Algeria UNIQUE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS (identity kept secret for security reasons) Across the world, May 17th is
known as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This
day marks the anniversary of the removal of homosexuality from the list
of mental illnesses by the World Health Organization (WHO). It was in
1990.
Since then, the LGBTQI community celebrates this day by glorifying their strong assets while remaining vigilant against homophobic and transphobic threats that continue to waylay. Abu Nawas's activists take profit of this day to establish a finding - one of the worst - on the LGBT situation in Algeria. Indeed, the decision of the WHO - twenty-three years ago - doesn't prevent Algerian psychiatrists to treat homosexuality as a serious pathology. Our country is nevertheless a member of this global organization. Recently Abu Nawas created a commission with itself to deal with Islam and homosexuality issues. They were part of the international CALEM retreat in Morocco, 2013 (see "publications 2013" reports here).
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Kristi Pinderi HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, REPORTER In 2010 he was part of the working group
that drafted the first ever anti-discrimination legislation. This law
made
Albania one of the few countries in the South East Europe region to
protect
homosexual, transgender and other sexual minorities from
discrimination. He is
co-founder of The Alliance against Discrimination of LGBT and has been
heavily
involved with Pink Embassy, a leading LGBT organization supported by
the
international community in Albania. During the last couple of
years, he
has represented the LGBT Movement in Albania by participating in many
TV
debates on national television. He is one of the key organizers of
events which
will mark the International Day against Homophobia in 2012. In 2012 he filmed the
first short documentary
for LGBT underground life entitled “Hidden among
us,” scheduled to be aired on
influential Top Channel TV later this year. Most recently, he announced
the
establishment of the organization Pro LGBT (United for LGBT Cause in
Albania)
and is serving as its Executive Director while continuing to write for
Shekulli
online. |
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Brother Y. from United Arab Emirates HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS (identity kept secret for security reasons) The group was founded in
March 2011 to raise awareness, educate the public and allow open
dialogue
regarding the Universal Rights that belong to the GLBT community of the
United
Arab Emirates. GLBT Rights UAE is a non-governmental organization that
strives
to raise awareness about the issues, which face the GLBT community in
the UAE.
The ultimate mission of the group is to decriminalize Homosexuality,
same sex
relationships, or sexual activity between consenting individuals of the
same
sex and to abolish Article 354 of the Federal Penal Code and all other
U.A.E.
laws that discriminate against those persecuted for their natural,
sexual
orientation. The group further seeks to end all form of invasive
treatment,
Psychological and Medical procedures which has no scientific basis, and
is at
odd with the international community and all psychological associations
around
the world. |
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Marina Barreiro HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, MANAGER Program Manager of the Human Rights Program of
Sarajevo Open Centre. SOC
was
established in 2007 and ever since has been constantly working and
increasing
its scope of action from interreligious education and cultural programs
to a
human rights program, especially Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual
rights, where
currently we spend almost all our resources. She studied Political
Sciences and
International Relations in Spain and France. She has a postgraduate in
Prevention and Management of International Conflicts and a Master
Degree in
International Relations and Diplomacy by the Diplomatic School of th
Spanish
Foreign Ministry. She worked for the Embassy of Spain to
Bosnia-Herzegovina as
Political Officer. She published articles about international conflicts
and
human rights reports in several scientific media. In Sarajevo Open
Centre she
is managing and defining the content of the Human Rights Program, as
well as
she has an active role in advocacy. Her mother tongue is Spanish, she
is fluent
in English and French and she is studying B&H languages. |
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Biljana Stankovic HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS Born in Novi Sad in 1974. She
has a degree in Serbian language and literature from 1999. The same
year she
also graduated from the alternative studies “Mileva Maric
Einstein” with the
feminist theater FENS as her examination work. The collision of
activism and
art in her work has resulted in the creation of yet another feminist,
and
lesbian, theater group, ACT women. Her research in bodies, voices,
moves and
rhythm in the female and lesbian identity led way to her theater
workshop “The
rhythm within us”. Since 1997 Biljana’s activism
was build trough feminist
radical lesbian politics. Her activist choices are made in patriarchal,
discriminative and nationalist country called Serbia. She is currently
working
as a coordinator in Novi Sad Lesbian Organization (NLO), giving
education on
coming-out and homophobia among other things. Biljana is a member of
several
feminist international and regional networks, started with a Balkan
“Oral
history” team. She lives in Novi Sad with her dog Lena and
red bicycle.
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CALEM's STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER SINCE 2014 NGO: She had an experience working in Damascus for the Tharwa project, the foundation of the Syrian human rights activist Ammar Abdulhammid, aiming to foster better relations between minorities & majorities in the broader Middle East and North Africa. She worked at that time on the issue of minorities and human rights in Algeria and Tunisia and also wrote a study about Algerian, Syrian public curricula in primary education. She is founder member, spokesperson of MPF. |
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CALEM's STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER SINCE 2014 NGO: Engaged in MPF since its creation, Nassreddine
has a humanitarian work background in Morocco where he participated in founding
the first committee supporting the work of "Amnesty international" in
Marrakesh, he was also member of SIFE "Students in free enterprise"
which aimed to implement socio-economic sustainable projects. He worked in 2
NGOs within the framework of fundraising activities. Furthermore, He
participated in many humanitarian and associative actions next to SOS Village
for instance helping children to get School furniture. He is now dedicated to
topics related to sexual, religious minorities, secular Islam and MPF
activities. |
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HUMAN RIGHTS, WORLD DAY AGAINST TRANS. & HOMOPHOBIA Louis-Georges Tin is the
founder of the IDAHO -World
Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. Born in 1974, he was
the first to
Martinique have integrated the prestigious Ecole Normale Superieure
since Aimé
Cesaire in 1938. Professor, Doctor of Letters, he taught at the
University of
Orleans and at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in
Paris. Intellectual
known and recognized, in 2004 he founded the World Day against
Homophobia and
Transphobia, celebrated annually in over 70 countries worldwide. He
launched
the campaign for a universal decriminalization of homosexuality,
supported by
several Nobel Prize, and this action led to the declaration of 18
December 2008
at the United Nations, which he brought to New York with Rama Yade - a
historic
first. Louis-Georges Tin is also the co-founder of CRAN, the Representative Council of
Black Associations of
France, which he is president and spokesman. His books have
been translated
into several languages,
welcomed and rewarded in many countries. Its action has changed the
situation
in the struggle for Human Rights, in France and worldwide. |
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NGO LEADER, TRADE UNION MOVEMENT Former
president of
Imaan UK, member of the black pride and the labour party,
UK. He
was one of the three international facilitators for the 2012 Paris CALEM grand colloquium. Learn more, click
here; pav.akhtar@facebook.com |
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PhD., NGO LEADER Undergoing
PhD. in political sciences; MOI,
Italy. He was one of the three international facilitators for the 2012 Paris CALEM grand colloquium.
Learn more, click here; piercesarenotaro@facebook.com |
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| Sharon Cox Ludwig LEADER of TRIANGLE PROJECT CAPE TOWN - MCC (LGBT CHRISTIAN CHURCH) South Africa She is responsible for the Health and Support Services
Program for Triangle Project, and also national coordinator for the MCC (the
inclusive LGBT Metropolitan Community Church).
NGO: Triangle Project was one of the first
organizations in the country to respond to the HIV and AIDS crisis, and
assisted with prevention initiatives in gay bars and clubs. Today their
activities includes undertaking assessments, assigning clients to therapists,
managing and coordinating the medical clinics, support groups, client
assistance program, the helpline, community counselors, crisis interventions,
victim support and the home based care program.
The program also undertakes training on issues around
gender/sexuality/sexual orientation and works with schools/learners. CONTACT: health@triangle.org.za |
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| Sister A. from Pakistan APPLIED TO BECOME MANAGER OF THE ISIPHEPHELO CENTER She is from Pakistan where she was professionally part
of a Multinational Group (Shipping / Logistics / Supply Chain / Freight
Forwarding) since 2005.
NGO: Since childhood she was involved in many community based Social services as well as worked as a Volunteer with Make a Wish Foundation and Naz Male Health Association. She also worked as a Community based Substance Abuse Counselor, Team Leader of Community Emergency Response Team; She also organized Charitable EventS and Camps as Special Project Manager. She Certified with following: Certificate Base Session -- Prevention of Substance Abuse Counseling Workshop “Capacity Development”; Certificate Base Session -- Prevention of Substance Abuse Counseling Workshop “Discover Yourself”; Certificate {Short Course} – Event Management; Certificate Base Training - Basic Fire Fighter (beginnner) / Advance First Aider / Disaster Management. She should apply to be the manager of the center. |
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| Abdallah Rawashda LEADER OF QUEER 4 PALESTINE He is a 26 Palestinian who flew away from Gaza to find
asylum in Oslo. He played in the movie The invisible man about queer
Palestinians and was one of the main guests at the CALEM 2012 main annual colloquium.
NGO: He is now head of the NGO called Quee4Palestine.
He risked his life to defend, already in Gaza, LGBT Palestinians and thus was
accused from both sides. He said to the President of the Association of queer
Arabs leaving in Palestine: “you are an Arab Israeli, I came from the
territories. I am caught between the Palestinians who want to kill me because I
am gay and the Israelis who want to deport me because I'm Arab”. Abdallah was
accused, apparently primarily because he spoke of a certain social, violent
reality that most Arab LGBT associations have decided not to treat as
frontally, they say to avoid having to be ostracized by the majority of the
rest of their society. |
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Brother H. from Pakistan PSYCHOLOGIST & ACTIVIST He is a psychologist, a human rights volunteer and
activist, a feminist, a Punjabi guy of Kashmiri origins and a peacenik.
NGO: In 2009, a group of politically active queer men
and women who aimed to make a difference and a space for Pakistani queers, an
organization was formed by the name of OPPRSM (Organization for the Protection
and Propagation of the Rights of Sexual Minorities) which was latter called The
O-Pakistan. It is a volunteer based organization, initially aimed to provide a
social support group for queers. Since
its inception, I have been has been involved in all of the above mentioned
events as an organizer and participant. |
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| Brother X. from Egypt SOCIAL RESEARCHER & ACTIVIST Social researches – Supportive comic arts – training
in LGBTI ( Gender – Sexuality , Islam and Homosexuality) - Supportive videos
and short movies – social network campaigns. He is a founder member of the
GIN-SOGI interfaith LGBT network.
NGO: Personal efforts in explaining to multiple people about the difference between being gay and the people of Sodom and Gomorra. |
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Neil Grungras LEADER OF ORAM (Refugees's organization) A refugee and immigration advocate with over 20 years
of experience in the public and private sectors, Neil Grungras has worked
extensively on behalf of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. Before
founding ORAM, Mr. Grungras was director for Europe & the Middle East at a
leading U.S.-based refugee and migration organization. He had previously
directed the U.S. Department of State Overseas Processing Entity (“OPE”) for
Iranian refugees in Vienna, Austria. There, he managed the processing of
thousands of refugees from case inception to arrival in the U.S. Mr. Grungras
has served as a refugee law adviser to several NGOs, has lectured and taught
extensively on the topic at leading law schools, and co-founded a law school
clinic assisting refugees and asylum seekers.
Contact, click here. |
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Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed
Founder and international coordinator of the CALEM Informal Confederation from 2010 to 2014; Director of the CALEM Expertises Cabinet since 2015. Read more about L. zahed here |
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