Ludovic Mohamed Zahed

I had the privilege to photograph Ludovic Mohamed Zahed a few weeks ago in his home and spiritual centre "L'institut Calem" in Marseille as part of a personal photographic project. Ludovic is a French/Algerian gay muslim Imam and the founder of the first European inclusive mosque, in Paris. When I arrived at his home, I discovered a sharp, witty, incredibly articulate man who exudes a combination of warmth and seriousness that commands your respect. He has turned his small home in the Belle de Mai, one of poorest and multicultural areas of Marseille into a place of refuge and support for those who have been outcast from their homes and countries due to their sexuality or other conflicts. There is a prayer room, a dormitory for refugees, and a living room where he holds evening debates, conferences and talks with the common goal of "making Islam a factor of emancipation for all". Whilst I was there he was preparing for an event he had named "Salam, Shalom" an evening for both jewish and arab youths to come together to discuss their similarities and differences with the goal of finding common ground. A little time after I arrived , I went to the bathroom and saw that unlike the almost monastic fee to the rest of his home, the bathroom was filled with images and postcards presenting marches against fascism, theatre productions, art exhibitions, culture evenings scattered amongst pictures of men. I wondered how he would react if I asked to photograph him in his bathroom surrounded by these images.... I should have known that he would agree as Ludovic is nothing if not fearless. He has broken free of the chains of convention, the social and religious shackles that forced him for so long to choose between loving freely and practising his faith. He embraces and teaches what he believes is true Islam, a practise that embraces everyone without prejudice, regardless of the colour of their skin or their sexual orientation. He is a beacon of hope and liberalism in an era where these principles are sadly lacking.