Homosexuality is a taboo subject in Arab countries. Clerics denounce it as a heinous sin, while newspapers write cryptically of "shameful acts." Although many parts of the world now accept sexual diversity, the Middle East is moving in the opposite direction. In this absorbing account, journalist Brian Whitaker calls attention to the voices of men and women who are struggling with gay identities in societies where they are marginalized and persecuted by the authorities. He paints a disturbing picture of people who live secretive, fearful lives and who are often jailed, beaten, and ostracized by their families, or sent to be "cured" by psychiatrists. Whitaker's exploration of changing sexual behavior in the Arab world reveals that―while deeply repressive prejudices and stereotypes still govern much thinking about homosexuality―there are pockets of change and tolerance. The author combines personal accounts from individuals in the region with a look at recent Arab films and novels featuring gay characters and conducts a sensitive comparative reading of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic strictures around sexuality. Deeply informed and engagingly written, Unspeakable Love draws long overdue attention to a crucial subject. Copub: Saqi Books

Unspeakable Love: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East

History

Whitaker, Brian

Middle East

University of California Press

"A passionate call for political and social change in Arab countries . . . and a stern critique of the status quo."Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor
The problems in the Middle East are always someone else’s fault.
While the West blames dictators and extremists, Arabs often blame centuries of foreign interference. For many, both in the East and West, the root problem is a lack of freedom.
Looking beyond the turmoil reported on our TV screens, Guardian journalist Brian Whitaker examines the "freedom deficit" that affects Arabs in their daily lives: their struggles against corruption, discrimination, and bureaucracy, and the stifling authoritarianism that pervades homes, schools, and mosques as well as presidential palaces.
Drawing on a wealth of new research and wide-ranging interviews, Whitaker analyzes the views of Arabs living in the region and argues that in order to achieve peace, prosperity, and full participation in today’s global economy, Arabs should embrace political and far-reaching social and cultural change.
Brian Whitaker was Middle East editor at the Guardian for seven years and is currently an editor for the newspaper’s Comment is Free website. He is the author of Unspeakable Love: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East (Saqi Books, 2006; also published in the United States by the University of California Press, 2006). His website, www.al-bab.com, is devoted to Arab culture and politics.

What's Really Wrong With The Middle East

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Saqi Books

News limited: Why you can't read all about it (Minority Press Group series)

Business & Money

Minority Press-Group

In Arab countries, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. Many have been imprisoned for it, some have been forced into exile and others threatened with execution. And yet, in a region where the influence of religion is almost inescapable, growing numbers are claiming a right to believe – or disbelieve – as they see fit. Social media have given them a voice and the uprisings that toppled Arab dictators have emboldened them to speak out. In this ground-breaking book, journalist Brian Whitaker looks at the factors that lead them to abandon religion and the challenges they pose for governments and societies that claim to be organised according to the will of God.

Arabs Without God

Religion & Spirituality

Atheism

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

In the minds of many, to be an Arab is to be a Muslim by default. Islam is often treated as an inextricable part of Arab culture, while in reality the situation is far more complex. Although some religious minorities have found ways of reconciling their Arab identity with their beliefs, a much greater challenge faces the growing number of Arabs who identify as atheists, agnostics, or skeptics. Emboldened by the political upheavals of the Arab spring and facilitated by the growth of social media, they are an increasingly vocal and assertive presence in Arab societies, despite risking imprisonment, ostracism, and death.  In Arabs Without God, Brian Whitaker explores the roots and consequences of this phenomenon, as well as the experiences of those living as non-believers in Muslim countries. Passionate and controversial, this book argues that these developments, previously ignored by Western observers, are vitally important for the future of Arab societies.

Zed Books

Notes and Queries

Humor & Entertainment

Whittaker, Brian

AUSTIN,DAVID

Humor

Fourth Estate Ltd.

Reference

Catalogs & Directories

Fourth Estate Classic House

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