Navigating Identity: Shia Islam and LGBTQ+ Experiences

In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr Zoheir Esmail is joined by Dr Muhammed Reza. Tajri to explore the complex intersection between Shi'a Muslim identity and LGB experiences through the lens of sociology. Drawing from his unique position as an insider-researcher, Dr Tajri unpacks the lived realities of Shia Muslims grappling with non-normative sexualities, revealing critical tensions between religious belonging, psychological wellbeing, and community silence. Through deep discussion, the episode highlights the pressing need for more awareness, empathy, and informed pastoral care in Shia communities. From spiritual suffering and domestic rejection to the jurisprudential discourse on homosexuality, Dr Tajri’s research brings fresh insight into one of the most underexplored yet urgent conversations in contemporary Islamic studies. Dr Tajri is a lecturer and head of the Department of Islamic Sociology and Contemporary Studies (DISCS). With a background in both traditional seminary studies and academic research, his work focuses on Muslims in the UK, contemporary Shi'ism, gender, and religious authority.