Act of Faith

In the history of Islam, love between men is a century-old phenomenon. Homosexuality was something you did, not professed. At the same time, the Koran is everything but multi-interpretable regarding homosexuality. ‘It is prohibited to practise lust with a man.’ In this short, traditionally composed documentary, imam Iftekhar is one of the three men expressing their standpoint – arduously acquired or not – on homosexuality and Islam. But although Iftekhar represents the established opinions, he feels the time has come to review the interpretation of the Koran, in the light of what is happening in the 21st century and what is now considered normal. Kyriell, gay and an imam’s eldest son, struggled a long time with his love for Islam and that for men. ‘At first, I thought if this religion doesn’t want me, I don’t want this religion.’ But years of soul-searching led him back to the faith, after all. Arslan, on the contrary, rigorously threw religion overboard. ‘If you believe in Islam, you should live as a good Moslem. You have to give up your feeling. If you want to burn in hell, like me, it’s goodbye God.’ (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)