Unspeakable Love: Gay And Lesbian Life In The Middle East

Author: Brian Whitaker

Stock information

General Fields

  • : $29.99 AUD
  • : 9780863564833
  • : Saqi Books
  • : Saqi Books
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  • : May 2011
  • : 195mm X 127mm X 22mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : 29.95
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  • : books

Special Fields

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  • : Brian Whitaker
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  • : Paperback
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  • : 306.7660956
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  • : 300
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Barcode 9780863564833
9780863564833

Description

Homosexuality is still taboo in the Arab world. While clerics denounce it as a heinous sin, newspapers, reluctant to address it directly, talk cryptically of 'shameful acts' and 'deviant behaviour'. Despite growing acceptance of sexual diversity in many parts of the world, attitudes in the Middle East have been hardening against it. In this absorbing account, Guardian journalist Brian Whitaker paints a disturbing picture of people who live secretive, often fearful lives; of daughters and sons beaten and ostracised by their families or sent to be 'cured' by psychiatrists; of men imprisoned and flogged for 'behaving like women'; of others who have been jailed simply for trying to find love on the Internet. Amid all the talk of reform in the Middle East, homosexuality is one issue that almost everyone in the region would prefer to ignore. Deeply informed and engagingly written, Unspeakable Love draws long overdue attention to this crucial subject.

Reviews

'This is an important, timely book, and lucid to boot - a must-read for anyone who believes in human rights.' Rabih Alameddine, author of 'Koolaids' and 'I, the Divine' 'Anyone interested in reform in the Arab world must read this book' Mai Yamani 'A fascinating insight' Ben Summerskill 'Never before has such a comprehensive study of gay civil rights been published - Whitaker organizes this book expertly' The Middle East Gay Journal

Author description

Brian Whitaker has done a variety of jobs at the Guardian including, most recently, seven years as Middle East editor. He is currently an editor on Comment is Free. He also has his own website devoted to Arab culture and politics: al-bab.com