A transgender man in Pakistan built a mosque hoping it would offer an inclusive space for worship. Instead, he faces harassment from neighbors amid growing attacks on the trans community.

When 46-year-old Rajab Ali, a transgender man, spent his life savings to build a mosque for his local community in Okara district of the Punjab province in Pakistan, he hoped it would bring goodwill and allow people to pray there without gender discrimination. Now that it is complete, however, his neighbors are harassing him for praying in it because he is transgender, known in Pakistan as Khawaja Sira (third gender), a community that has come under renewed attack in Pakistan.

  • Jessica
    21·
    4 days ago

    “I just have one wish,” said Ali, “that after my death, people will remember me and pray for me.”

    That is so rough. It makes me wonder how acceptance of us, especially in conservative religious societies, can even happen. Fervent faith seems to be found in the least empathetic of us

  • Droechai@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    17·
    4 days ago

    If I built a church of my childhoods faith (swedish pentecostal), I would not be allowed to participate in any capacity as long as I identify as bi or have a non-hetero relationship. This is not an uncommon belief in many religions so is the news that the man had illusions of inclusivity?

    • Blubber28@lemmy.world
      14·
      4 days ago

      It is a desperate attempt to show his humanity to people too busy following a book written by a pedophile. He brought this upon himself, but I cannot help but feel sorry for him.

      • Droechai@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        13·
        4 days ago

        I feel a deep sadness for him that he seeks acceptance in an enviroment that despises him, rather than finding a group that is happy to welcome him just for who he is

      • Malyca@lemmy.zip
        2·
        4 days ago

        I’m proud of him. People like him show genuine humility and faith, it is hard to write off for an even remotely reasonable person. The 20% of humanity that sucks will always suck, by the rest will see things like this and it will plant seeds in their minds. If they see enough, they will reject evil.

    • prole
      6·
      4 days ago

      Weirdly, Islam is generally more welcoming (than western Christianity) of transgender people. Obviously varies by location, sect, etc.

    • Secret_Music@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      2·
      4 days ago

      I think maybe at least this serves as a good Aesop’s fable about how kissing up to and appeasing monotheists that think all the heretics / infidels not wearing the same funny hat should burn and suffer in hell for eternity because of it, will get you nothing but condemned to burn and suffer in hell for eternity anyway.

      This is major leopards eating faces material. What the fuck else do people expect from the one god, one way, aggressive cancer religions. The world would be 1000% better without the big three monotheist religions spreading hate and misery while camping it love, like fucking abusers.