Berlin mosque raises rainbow flag for Pride Month

A mosque in Berlin on Friday became the first in Germany to hoist a rainbow flag in support of the LGBT community ahead of two major gay pride events in the city this month.

The Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque in central Moabit unfurled the flag before Friday prayers in front of a small crowd including Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Klaus Lederer.

Many of those present wore rainbow stickers that read “Love is Halal”.

Established five years ago, the mosque is Germany’s only self-proclaimed liberal mosque and allows men and women to pray together and is open to LGBT believers.

Mo El-Ketab, one of six imams at the mosque, said he wanted it to provide a “safe place for people who are different so they too can experience the spiritual side of their lives.”

“I hope that many other mosques will also show their colors in this way or give other positive signs for the LGBT community,” he said.

Two major events supporting the LGBT community are taking place in Berlin this month – the Lesbian and Gay Festival on July 16th and 17th and Christopher Street Day (CSD) on July 23rd.

CSD board member Marc-Eric Lehmann said raising the flag was “an incredibly powerful sign” and that it was “really important to find a place for religion in LGBT communities.”

“Queer people can also be religious and believe in God,” he said.

“We shouldn’t just talk about safe spaces in Berlin’s bars and clubs, we also have to talk about safe spaces in places of worship.”