Unspeakable Love; Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East (Islam & Homosexuality) [Paperback]

'An extremely well-researched and well-written text that allows us an insight into the lifestyle of the gay and lesbian community in the Middle East...educates, informs and engages the reader from the outset to the last page.' Sable Magazine 'I enjoyed and learnt much from Brian Whitaker's book, which is excellent. It was inspirational to me on the challenges to international law, and the uses of nationalism to suppress dissent within countries.' Professor Fred Halliday 'This is a compelling read. It captures with detail and with disturbing accuracy the difficulties and dangers facing lesbians and gay men across the Middle East. It helps us to understand the social pressure, the sense of isolation, the anxiety and fear and trauma. And through it all we glimpse also the possibility of hope, of remarkable courage, and perhaps even in the longer term, the chance of a more open and accepting society.' Lord (Chris) Smith, former UK Secretary of State for Culture '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 'A fascinating insight.' Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive, Stonewall 'Brian Whitaker has given us a moving analysis of the hidden lives of Arab homosexuals. This genuinely groundbreaking investigation reveals a side of Arab and Muslim culture shrouded by the strictest taboos. Arab societies can no longer contain their cultural, religious, ethnic or sexual diversity within their traditional patriarchal definitions of the public sphere. Anyone interested in reform in the Arab world must read this book.' Mai Yamani, Research Fellow at Chatham House and author of Cradle of Islam 'It is high time this issue was brought out of the closet once and for all, and afforded a frank and honest discussion. Brian Whitaker's humane, sophisticated, and deeply rewarding book, Unspeakable Love, does exactly that.' Ali Al-Ahmed, Director of the Gulf Institute

This is an important, timely book, and lucid to boot – a must-read for anyone who believes in human rights.

A compelling read.

Homosexuality is still taboo in the Arab countries. 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 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.

Brian Whitaker is Middle East editor of The Guardian newspaper. He has travelled widely in the region and has a degree in Arabic studies from Westminster University in London. He has a website devoted to Arab culture and politics (www.al-bab.com).