We at MyPostcard are convinced that postcards are powerful: be it in order to send warm greetings to your loved ones from around the world or to make an impact, politically and socially. This is why we are very happy to have teamed up with the LGBT movement All Out. Together we supported the new Ibn-Rushd-Goethe mosque in Berlin, which has been welcoming openly LGBT Muslims to prayer. The founder and women’s rights activist Seyran Ateş takes a stand for inclusiveness and diversity in her faith – no one should be excluded from practicing their faith because of who they are or who they love.
But even before the official opening of the mosque, the project hit the headlines. Ateş’ idea of a liberal mosque has not been received well by Muslim authorities in Egypt and Turkey, and she even had to face death threats. All of this happened because the activist wanted a place to pray for everyone – open to men, women and LGBT Muslims on an equal basis.
This is why All Out and MyPostcard invited people around the world to show some love and support by sending a solidarity postcard to Ateş and her team. Only a few clicks on the campaign website were needed to send their very own words of solidarity on a real, printed postcard via MyPostcard.
“We received more than 1,000 postcards,” Ateş said. “It’s so great to see people from around the world showing support and solidarity. My team and I are more motivated than ever now.” She often shows the postcards to visitors, who are impressed, just like herself.
The campaign of All Out and MyPostcard encouraged Ateş to carry on the fight for her beliefs and her community. In the future, the founder of the mosque wants to offer regular events for the LGBT community and open the mosque to them at all five daily prayer times. This might seem like a big challenge for a voluntary organisation, but Ateş and her community are happily tackling it.
We at MyPostcard are very happy to have made a small contribution to the project. People around the world have not only shown solidarity, but also the big impact even a small postcard can make!
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