Founded in October 2001, the Safra Project acted as voluntary resource project based in the UK. The Safra Project’s aims up until 2005 were to conduct research and provide information on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who identify as Muslim culturally and/or religiously (Muslim LBT women). Safra is an Arabic word meaning journey and discovery. The combination of prejudices based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, religion, race, culture and immigration status experienced by Muslim LBT women, is unique. This is why the founders recognised the need for a resource project inclusive of all these factors, separately and in combination. The Safra Project was set up primarily in response to the difficulties experienced by Muslim LBT women in accessing appropriate social and legal services. These difficulties are exacerbated by a lack of knowledge and awareness amongst service providers of the particular issues facing Muslim LBT women.
The Safra Project’s aims (2001-2005):
- To research and provide information on the experiences and needs of Muslim LBT women in order to increase access to appropriate social and legal services.
- To research and provide information on sexuality, gender and Islam, with a focus on feminist interpretations.
- To research and provide information on the treatment of LBT women in countries with a predominantly Muslim population.
The Safra Project has not been a faith group seeking to promote any one belief. The ethos has always been one of inclusiveness and diversity welcoming input from all individuals and groups seeking to combat all forms of prejudice.
Some resources from the Safra Project during the period 2001-2005 have been archived here: