Muhammad Adeel Iqbal, Pakistan
My name is Muhammad Adeel and I’m 39 years old. Being gay in Pakistan is very horrible. You can’t even speak about this issue privately or publicly. In most Muslim countries, it’s viewed as a huge sin to be a homosexual in Islamic culture. It can be very dangerous and you simply can’t talk about it. If you do, you’ll find yourself spending your whole life in prison.
I began to understand that I was gay at around the age of 15. I was hanging out with my male friends and there was one guy I spent a lot of time with. We shared personal feelings and our bond was very strong. Around the age of 18, our relationship became sexual.
Because homosexuality is unacceptable in Pakistan, I married a woman at the age of 27. While most people get married much younger in Pakistan and in Islamic culture in general, but I waited until I was older. Together, we had one child.
While we were married, I was still having sexual relationships with other men in private. One evening, I was caught at a gay party by the police in Lahore. I managed to run away but the police still tried to find and charge me. Thankfully, I had an American visa in my passport and a brother who lived in Toronto and so I immediately went to the US and they arranged for my asylum case in Canada. I eventually made it to Canada in October 2018. While this was happening, the police raided my home in Pakistan and issued an arrest warrant. At this point, my wife read the warrant and learned that I was gay. She notified my family and they eventually stopped talking to me and disowned me. I knew immediately that life for me in Pakistan would never again be comfortable and safe. Everyone would think I wasn’t normal and a psycho and I wouldn’t be able to develop any kind of relationship with anyone.
Even though my brother lives here in Canada, he was still upset and annoyed to learn that I was gay. I can’t describe how hard this situation is for me. I’ve applied for refugee status and have my hearing in June. I’ve made some friends here that I’ve met through the 519 and I’m much happier with where my new life is going. I feel safe.
2020 Update:
Glad to hear from you, I really appreciate your kind concern and remembering me. Thanks to the help from you guys, I finally got full confidence in myself to fight crucial moments and also gained the courage to carry on in my new life in this country with full freedom.
I’m glad and very blissful to tell you about my successful case hearing which was held on August 15, 2019. With the grace of God and motivation from you guys I succeeded in this new step of my life. I’ve applied for my Permanent Resident status after this successful hearing and am working a job. I am also working for some social media panels and blogging to help the LGBTQS community in Pakistan. I learned a lot from you guys and JAYU. JAYU conveyed a message on how to fight critical circumstances and how to be a successful person at any stage of life.
I will be always grateful to you guys and JAYU for this opportunity and motivation. Stay blessed forever.
PhotoGRAPHED by
Reia picked up photography almost a decade ago at the age of 15, first focusing on the environments around her, before later focusing on events and street style. She has now come full circle by getting back into shooting nature again.