Muslim Woman Escapes Brutal Persecution for Being Lesbian in Ghana
A young Muslim woman from Ghana, Zulaiha Ahmed, has narrowly escaped death after surviving years of brutal persecution at the hands of her family, community, and religious leaders who discovered she was a lesbian – a status considered an abomination under both cultural and religious norms in her country.
Zulaiha Ahmed’s nightmare began when suspicions about her sexuality spread through her neighborhood and mosque. Once respected for her modesty and devotion, she suddenly became the target of scorn, threats and violence. What started as whispers soon escalated into public condemnation and physical assault.
“I was beaten and humiliated by people I prayed with,” she recalled painfully. “They said I had brought shame to Islam and must be purified or killed to cleanse the community.”
In one terrifying episode, members of her mosque, acting under the influence of local clerics, stormed her home after evening prayers. She was dragged out, accused of being possessed by evil spirits and forced to kneel before an angry crowd. Some poured water mixed with salt and ashes over her, claiming it would “wash away her sin.” Others shouted that she should be stoned to death.
Her family offered no protection. Instead, they joined the chorus of condemnation. “My father said I was no longer his daughter,” she recounted. “My mother wept but said nothing — she was too afraid.”
Seeking help from the police proved futile. Officers mocked her and warned that being a lesbian was against the law. “They told me to go and pray for forgiveness,” she said. “At that moment, I knew I was completely alone.”
With the threat of death looming, she went into hiding. For days she slept in abandoned buildings and uncompleted houses, relying on the kindness of strangers who secretly brought her food and clothes. When her attackers began searching for her, she was forced to flee her community entirely – leaving behind her family, her faith community and everything she had ever known.
Even in hiding, the threats persisted. Her photographs were circulated on social media with warnings that she would be “dealt with” if seen again. Community members vowed that “no lesbian Muslim” would be allowed to live among them.
Her experience highlights the double jeopardy faced by women who identify as LGBTQ+ within conservative religious communities – trapped between faith and survival.
“I still believe in Allah,” she said softly. “But I also believe that He created me this way. I just want to live in peace, without being hunted for who I am.”
Her escape is nothing short of miraculous – a story of courage, pain and resilience in the face of deadly intolerance.