by Akan Ido
A Muslim academic, Taj Hargey has opened a gay-friendly mosque in South Africa.
As if that was not astonishing enough, Hargey also stated that women would be allowed to lead prayers in the mosque. They would also be allowed to be in the same room with men.
His action has, however, drawn criticisms and even death threats from radical Islamists.
Mr. Hargey, a professor at the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford in the UK, told the BBC’s Newsday programme it was time for a “religious revolution”.
“We are opening the mosque for open-minded people, not closed-minded people,” Hargey stated.
Hargey, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies from Oxford University, has been labelled a “heretic” and a “non-believer” by groups vehemently opposed to his ideas.
One group tried to block the opening of the mosque.
South Africa’s umbrella body for Islamic groups, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), says it is investigating the new mosque and has noted concerns raised in the community.
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