Seyran Ates: Sex, Revolution And Islam

The exemplary humanitarian work of Turkish-German radical feminist, lawyer, and imam Seyran Ates is the central focus of this compelling and revealing documentary. As a young Muslim girl in Berlin, Seyran grew up experiencing Islamic repression. Since then, she has dedicated herself to reforming Islam, opening the first mosque with no gender segregation, and educating and empowering LGBTQ Muslim youth to embrace their sexuality. The film reveals a determined woman, one willing to put her life on the line in the name of religious reform and sexual freedom. This glimpse inside the world of traditional Islam from a feminist imam's perspective ranges from intellectual philosophizing to raw pain, while drawing a nuanced portrait of its subject. The film, like its subject, has received criticism from both the right and left. Come judge for yourselves. ~Orly Yadin