An event inviting Muslims of the LGBTQIA+ community in Antwerp to celebrate an iftar, a meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan, in a safe space on 31 March has been cancelled for security reasons.
'Queer Iftar' was a joint initiative set up by music venue De Roma in Borgerhout, Antwerp and the non-profit organisation Merhaba, an organisation dedicated to helping people in the community who are from a migrant background, to bring LGBTQIA+ Muslims together and giving them the chance to celebrate both parts of their identity in a safe place.
However, the event attracted angry reactions on social media, resulting in the event being cancelled.
"We wanted the Queer Iftar to create a safe space for Muslims from the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate this tradition. We wanted to provide a place where they could bring together both identities and give that layering a place and make it discussable," the organisers said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The statement noted that organising such an event is sensitive for many in different ways. For some Muslims who are not part of the LGBTQIA+ community, the event goes against their faith. However, the organisers stressed they wanted to support perception and mutual respect, without provocation and with the necessary rules of conduct to ensure everyone's safety.
However, "from numerous signals," they could not guarantee the 'safer space'. "Even though we consider the topic and the needs of the participants involved particularly important, their and our safety are priorities."
Second wave of anger
Now, the decision not to host the event is once again provoking a lot of reactions. Flemish Minister for Equal Opportunities Bart Somers (Open VLD) reacted indignantly, saying society should not bow to threats and intimidation of this kind.
"In Flanders, you can be who you are. We will never accept threats from others because of who you are. I am in contact with the organisation, we will see what we can do to allow the Iftar to take place after all," Somers wrote on social media.
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Meanwhile, Flemish MP and Antwerp district councillor Orry Van de Wauwer (CD&V) said he hoped the Queer Iftar could still take place, and that the city will look at how it can ensure the safety of the event.
"It is not easy for young people to come out for their sexual orientation. Especially for young people who are religious, this is even more difficult," he said.
