Abdulrahman Akkad (
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
: عبدالرحمن عقاد; born in
Aleppo
)), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black".
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on May 17, 1998) is a
Syrian
Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indi ...
political
blogger
A blog (a truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order s ...
public speaker
Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, has traditionally meant the act of speaking face to face to a live audience. Today it includes any form of speaking (formally and informally) to an audience, including pre-recorded speech deliver ...
and
human rights Activist
A human rights defender or human rights activist is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campai ...
He currently resides in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
.
Early life and education
Akkad was born in 1998 in the city of
Aleppo
)), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black".
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in northern Syria to Syrian Muslim parents of Jewish origin, his mother's name is "Manal Akkad" his family is descended from
Sephardi Jews
Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), pt, Judeus sefar ...
who later converted to Islam.
Akkad has three brothers and a sister, Akkad has only finished his intermediate education. In 2010, Akkad graduated from
''Dhat Al-Sawari'' Primary with a primary degree, and after three years in 2013, just before leaving Syria, Akkad graduated from
Abdulwahab Al-Shawaf Junior High with a middle school diploma. However, Akkad was unable to further continue his education after leaving Syria in 2013.
With the escalation of events and the
Syrian civil war, Akkad and his family were forced to leave Syria in July 2013.
Turkey
Akkad entered Turkey with his Family in July 2013 and lived in
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
, he worked as a translator in call center companies in the city, and he speaks Turkish fluently. his father traveled to Germany illegally in the summer of 2015 and Akkad and his family were waiting his father to apply for
family reunion
A family reunion is an occasion when many members of an extended family congregate. Sometimes reunions are held regularly, for example on the same date of every year.
A typical family reunion will assemble for a meal, some recreation and discussi ...
for them later, Akkad discovered his
sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. These attractions are generall ...
. He later hated himself and tried to commit suicide several times. He went to a psychological counselor who provided him with support and helped him accept himself.
He tried to obtain a
humanitarian visa
Humanitarian visas are Travel visa, visas granted by some countries in order to fulfill their international obligation to protect refugees from persecution. The criteria in the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Convention Relating to t ...
from the
Swiss Consulate in Istanbul but was refused.
Akkad decided to stay in Turkey and told his family about his sexual orientation and thought that they would accept and love him as he is. His family accused him of being sick and in need of treatment. He was taken to a doctor in Turkey who conducted an anal examination, sexually harassed him, and wrote him
testosterone
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...
. He took several doses of the hormone and later refused to take more because it caused him depression and tension. His older brother beat and locked him up in a room for two months where he did not see sunlight.
He was abused and threatened with death by his brother, sister's husband and cousins. He later managed to convince them that he was no longer
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
and took his
passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal ...
and $200 and ran away from the house to a friend's house.
Asylum
His friend suggested that he should travel to Europe because the situation in Turkey is dangerous for him, especially that Akkad's family has influence in Turkey and because the Turkish authorities will not protect him from the oppression of this family, and indeed Akkad traveled illegally to Greece at the end of November 2015 and his friend covered his travel costs.
Akkad traveled illegally to Greece by sea, and then traveled to
Macedonia,
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
,
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
, and Austria until he arrived in Germany on December 5, 2015, where he applied for
asylum
Asylum may refer to:
Types of asylum
* Asylum (antiquity), places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome
* Benevolent Asylum, a 19th-century Australian institution for housing the destitute
* Cities of Refuge, places of refuge in ancient Judea
...
based on his sexual orientation.
Akkad was granted asylum in 2016 and his asylum procedure was delayed because he was a minor at the time
Coming out
In 2017, before Akkad came out he agreed to be engaged to a girl from the family because of the pressure his family had put on him, His mother told him that his sexual orientation would change after he married. Within a few months the matter became serious and the wedding was to be held in Istanbul.
In the end, he decided to post a live Video on Facebook,
in which he announced his sexual orientation. The video was directed to his family only, but the video was withdrawn and published on many Arab pages and groups, The video garnered hundreds of thousands of views within a week.
Akkad was bullied, insulted and threatened with death by Arabs and Muslims in Germany.
On July 24, 2017, Akkad streamed a live video on Facebook,
coming out as gay after fearing that his family would have had forced him to marry a woman against his will.
The video was shared on various Arab social channels, as it was the first ever occurrence of a gay Syrian man publicly expressing his sexual orientation in a video with his real name and face.
On July 24, 2020, Akkad shared a picture of him with his family, officially announcing their acceptance of his sexual orientation and that they love him unconditionally, also declaring victory over customs, traditions and society This photo is also considered to be the first of its kind with an Arab family publicly accepting their gay son's sexual orientation.
Activism in Germany
In subsequent years, Akkad has given many interviews to several media, primarily German and Arabic ones, about his experiences and his political opinions Especially on the situation of homosexuality and
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
rights in the Middle East, Akkad gave his first interview to the famous German Newspaper (
Bild
''Bild'' (or ''Bild-Zeitung'', ; ) is a German tabloid newspaper published by Axel Springer SE. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday; on Sundays, its sister paper ''Bild am Sonntag'' ("''Bild on Sunday''") is published instead, which ...
) in Germany and said that he doesn't want to stay in Germany because of the threats he received.
Akkad participated in the
Me Too movement
#MeToo is a social movement against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in ...
and admitted that he was sexually harassed and encouraged people to participate in the campaign and speak out.
Akkad worked with
Atheist Refugee Relief Organization in Germany and helped many refugees
and appeared with them at the
Cologne Pride
Cologne Pride or Cologne Gay Pride (formerly: ''Christopher Street Day Cologne'') is one of the largest gay and lesbian organised events in Germany and one of the biggest in Europe. Its origin is to celebrate the pride in Gay and Lesbian Culture.
...
in 2019 wearing the
Niqab to support women who are forced to wear it in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East.
Akkad posted a video wearing the
Rainbow flag
A rainbow flag is a multicolored flag consisting of the colors of the rainbow. The designs differ, but many of the colors are based on the spectral colors of the visible light spectrum.
The LGBT flag introduced in 1978 is the most recognized u ...
in front of a mosque in Germany in the
Gay pride
LGBT pride (also known as gay pride or simply pride) is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to sham ...
in 2020 and he Solidarity with Homosexuals in the Middle East and
Islamic countries
The terms Muslim world and Islamic world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is practiced. In ...
, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death.
Career
Akkad is an openly gay activist in the
MENA
MENA, an acronym in the English language, refers to a grouping of countries situated in and around the Middle East and North Africa. It is also known as WANA, SWANA, or NAWA, which alternatively refers to the Middle East as Western Asia (or a ...
region specially in Syria and the
German media
Mass media in Germany includes a variety of online, print, and broadcast formats, such as radio, television, newspapers, and magazines.
History
The modern printing press developed in Mainz in the 15th century, and its innovative technology sprea ...
described him as a "hated figure" in the
Arab world
The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...
.
Political views
Akkad identifies as
secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...
, supporting the principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. And as a former member of the
Atheist Refugee Relief organization, Akkad aided many
Atheist
Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no ...
&
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
+ Middle Eastern refugees in Germany.
Akkad's story was mentioned during the federal government session of the
Federal parliament of Germany for Human Rights in 2020 by German philosopher
David Berger after
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
banned his account because he was gay and the threats he was exposed to.
Abdulrahman and his family have also been strong opponents of the Syrian regime, especially after Akkad's sister-in-law was shot and killed by a regime sniper in 2012, leading his brother to dissent from the army, and forcing his entire family to flee the country after severe pressure imposed by
al-Assad
The al-Assad family ( ar, عَائِلَة الْأَسَد '), also known as the Assad dynasty, has ruled Syria since General Hafez al-Assad became President of Syria in 1971 under the Ba'ath Party. After his death, in June 2000, he was succee ...
's authorities.
He encouraged the deportation of refugees who did not integrate into German society and did not respect the law and the constitution.
He supported the German government's decision to deport
Syrian refugees who committed crimes to Syria and encouraged the deportation of supporters of the
Syrian regime.
Akkad criticized the German government's policy in dealing with refugee and integration laws, and said that he was tired of neglecting the German police for not knowing how to deal with the threats he received from Arabs in Germany and Europe.
Reactions
There has been a long history of oppression and discrimination against the LGBT community in the Arab world through censorship, hate speech, and government-coordinated persecution. Akkad's story has been met with some supportive, but mostly homophobic responses through media coverage and public discourse. Akkad even started receiving death threats after coming out.
See also
*
LGBT rights in Syria
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Syrian Arab Republic
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية الس ...
*
LGBT rights in the Middle East
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of the Middle East, and are open to hostility in others. Sex between men is illegal in 9 of the 18 countries that make up t ...
*
LGBT in Islam
Attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their experiences in the Muslim world have been influenced by its religious, legal, social, political, and cultural history. The Quran narrates the story of the "peop ...
References
Further reading
Akkad, Abdulrahman (May 5, 2021)
Bundestagof
David Berger 14th report of the
German Federal Government
The Federal Cabinet or Federal Government (german: link=no, Bundeskabinett or ') is the chief executive body of the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists of the Federal Chancellor and cabinet ministers. The fundamentals of the cabinet's or ...
on its human rights policy (reporting period October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2020)
External links
Official WebsiteArchived
September 5, 2021 on Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by the Internet Archive, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, California. Created in 1996 and launched to the public in 2001, it allows the user to go "back in time" and see ...
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akkad, Abdulrahman
Arab activists
1998 births
Living people
Syrian LGBT rights activists
Syrian LGBT people
People from Aleppo
Syrian exiles
Syrian emigrants to Germany
Gay men
Syrian bloggers
Syrian human rights activists
Syrian humanitarians
Syrian democracy activists
People of the Syrian civil war
Syrian dissidents
Syrian refugees
Syrian feminists
Gay politicians