Monday, January 21, 2008

Norway: the story of a homosexual Muslim

'Hassam' , a Norwegian Muslim homosexual, was sent by his parents to his homeland to be cured. When that didn't work, his father disowned him.

'Hassam' tried to hide his sexual inclination from his parents. to check his father's attitude, he asked his father what he would do if he had a homosexual son. His father said he would kill him.

When his parents discovered 'Hassam' last spring, he was so pressured that he fled from home. The social services intervened, he stayed in a foster home and later in a youth institution. Several times his parents tried to draw him out of his secret place of residence, once by lying that his mother was in the hospital. 'Hassam' sat alone in his room and missed his little siblings. Finally he contacted his mother. "My parents promised that they'll accept me. Therefore i came back home again."

Instead 'Hassam' was sent to his homeland to be 'cured' of homosexuality. If the cure wouldn't work, his parents agreed to accept him as he was.

'Hassam' says he was sent to the Middle East to become heterosexual. He knew it wouldn't work but thought he'll go along with it so his parents will accept him.

He was presented to an imam who had the ability to look into the future. "He said: "This is a disgrace, you're spoiling the honor, and God hates you". He said he saw my future with a girl." He told him he'll make his boyfriend unfaithful and remove him from 'Hassam's thoughts. 'Hassam' says he was scared, confused and cried alot.

He says he had to drink water with pieces of paper with verses from the Koran. The imam stirred the paper in with a red pencil. People said it would work, but 'Hassam' asks: what about science? Homosexuality is not something new.

He also had to pray a lot and read the Koran. When he continued to say no to marrying his cousin, his mother took him to a neighbor and beat him. She also cut his long hair while he slept, because she thought it was feminine.

When 'Hassam' came back to Norway, his father declared that he was no longer his son. Hassam was scared that he'll be killed or tricked. His father accused him of not having honor, that he's only thinking of submitting to men and that he's giving a bad example to his siblings.

He says he wishes he wasn't like this, but he must be what he is. If he marries a girl, he'll be ruining his life and hers just to satisfy his parents.

Senaid Kobilica, head of the Islamic Council of Norway, said that you can count the number of homosexual Muslims on one hand, but 'Hassam' says he himself knows more than five, but they don't come out. "I know so many who don't dare come out because of the family. Sixteen year olds that are scared and cry themselves to sleep." He thinks Muslim society should open up and allow them to come out.

Now his friends can't afford to pay for his food and residence. Additionally he has missed a whole school year. He has no idea what will happen in the next days and weeks. "I wish myself a normal life, where I don't need to be nervous of what can happen"

Source: Dagsavisen (Norwegian)

See also: Norway: Homosexual immigrant youth fear for their lives