Abstract
Upon the Shadow (2017) is a documentary of Nada Mezni Hfaeidh about a group of young queer people in the broadest sense of the word who found themselves in the home of Amina, the famous Tunisian activist, and the former member of the radical feminist group FEMEN. These queer persons have been rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation and are taking refuge in Amina’s house. In this documentary, we witness real moments of the daily lives of these young people who try to navigate in solidarity their own society with its violence, homophobia, and rejection. In this paper, I examine the importance of religious spaces for marginal queer youth in Tunisia. Accompanied by her female friend, Amina visits a mausoleum several times where she performs Sufi rituals in a traditional Sufi atmosphere. These ritual performances are known for their purifying and releasing effect. It is as if Amina is going to free her body, so that she might rid herself of social pressure, rejection and vulnerability. Then how these public religious spaces participate in the creation of secure communities and public spaces propitious for the performance of sexuality?
Presenters
Zayer BaazaouiTeacher, Languages Department, St. Paul's School, New Hampshire, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2023 Special Focus—Religion in the Public Sphere: From the Ancient Years to the Post-Modern Era
KEYWORDS
Religion, Islam, North Africa, Public Space, Sexuality, Marginality
