In ‘A Sinner in Mecca,’ a gay film director ponders his sexuality and Islamic faith

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Andy Webster
A scene from Parvez Sharma's documentary “A Sinner in Mecca,” about his 2011 pilgrimage and his experience as a gay Muslim. Credit Haram Films
HOLLYWOOD---There is no doubting the courage and conviction of the New York documentarian Parvez Sharma. In “A Jihad for Love,” from 2008, he interviewed devout gay Muslims worldwide. In “A Sinner in Mecca,” Mr. Sharma, who is also gay and Muslim, takes viewers on his 2011 hajj, or pilgrimage, to Islam’s most sacred sites. The journey is fraught with risks: In Saudi Arabia, being gay can mean execution, public lashings or imprisonment. And yet Mr. Sharma has created a swirling, fascinating travelogue and a stirring celebration of devotion. [link]

Parvez Sharma Credit Haram Films