A Jihad For Love is in NYC Theatrical Release at IFC Center in New York from May 21st - June 4th. "A Jihad for Love" is a groundbreaking look at Islam and homosexuality made by Muslim gay filmmaker, Parvez Sharma. On Tuesday, June 3rd, there will be a special panel discussion following the 8:10 PM screening of the documentary, co-sponsored by the Audre Lorde Project & Immigration Equality, on "Immigration & Asylum."
A Jihad For Love is in NYC Theatrical Release at IFC Center in New York from May 21st - June 4th. "A Jihad for Love" is a groundbreaking look at Islam and homosexuality made by Muslim gay filmmaker, Parvez Sharma. The documentary uncovers a hidden face of the world's fastest-growing religion. Shot over five years in 12 countries and co-produced by Trembling Before G-d's Sandi DuBowski, the film explores reconciling faith with sexuality in societies where "debauchery" can be punished by imprisonment and even death. Embodying the literal meaning of jihad as "inner struggle," the film's subjects reveal the hopes of community fighting for its place in the heart of Islam.
On Tuesday, June 3rd, there will be a special panel discussion following the 8:10 PM screening of the documentary, co-sponsored by the Audre Lorde Project & Immigration Equality, on "Immigration & Asylum." Drawing from panelists of a wide range of experiences who work with immigration and asylum, this discussion will seek to explore questions regarding immigration in the film, the fears of the Real ID Act and increasing state surveillance post 9/11, the emotional impact of immigration and asylum, and the connections of LGBT rights and immigrants rights.
Panelists include Alfredo Murga, an immigration lawyer at Hua & Murga LLP, Trishala Deb, Immigration Rights Program Coordinator with The Audre Lore Project, Zaheer Mustafa, Communications Coordinator at Immigration Equality and Mazen, Egyptian activist now living in Paris and member of the "Cairo 52" featured in A Jihad for Love
For directions and to purchase tickets for the film please go to: http://www.ifccenter.com/film?filmid=38472
Alfredo Murga
A New York city native and second generation immigrant, Alfredo devotes much of his practice litigating before Immigration Judges at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) on behalf of undocumented, visa-overstays and/or juveniles seeking relief from Removal Proceedings in the hopes of promoting family unification and humanitarian relief. Alfredo has advocated on behalf of individuals seeking political asylum in the United States because of their inability or unwillingness to avail themselves of the protection of their native country, or to return there, for fear of falling victim to persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or sexual identity. Alfredo is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Lawyers Association of New York (LeGaL).
Trishala Deb
Trishala Deb has worked as a social worker and community organizer in North Carolina, Georgia and New York City. Her work has focused on welfare rights, domestic violence, immigrant and refugee/women's/lgbt rights, and building progressive spaces within the South Asian community. She is currently working for The Audre Lorde Project – a community organizing center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color in New York City. She is a steering committee member of the South Asian Lesbian Gay Association (SALGA), and a member of the Community Birthing Project – a collective of doulas of color.
Zaheer Mustafa
Zaheer A. Mustafa is the Communications Coordinator at Immigration Equality, a national organization fighting for equal immigration rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive community. Mr. Mustafa works to increase awareness of the inequities in our immigration laws and focus attention on the many queer and HIV-positive individuals, couples and families affected by these laws. Mr. Mustafa received his undergraduate degree from the University at Albany in New York and immediately entered the advocacy arena. After making significant contributions to many progressive causes, Mr. Mustafa worked for the Nassau County Democratic Committee, rising through the ranks to become acting Executive Director. Prior to joining our staff Mr. Mustafa worked for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as a Project Director in the Organizing and Training department. Mr. Mustafa has worked on the local, state and national level to protect and gain rights for the queer, HIV-positive and people of color communities and is excited to join the fight for the rights of these communities on the immigration front.