Muslim Influencer Breaks Barriers with Inclusive Ramadan Celebration

Ali Darwich picks up a date from his plate, takes a sip of water, and addresses the 15 friends gathered around his table for the breaking of the Ramadan fast in Berlin.

“Tonight we want to send a message that no matter where a person comes from, no matter who that person loves, no matter how queer that person is, they cannot be too queer… because they are exactly as they should be,” says the 33-year-old German influencer of Palestinian and Lebanese heritage.

Darwich, who goes by @alifragt or “Ali asks” on Instagram, has cultivated a rapidly growing following where he highlights the challenges faced by young, queer Muslims while advocating for greater tolerance and inclusivity within religious communities.

“I am a believer, I believe in God, and I find Islam beautiful, just like Christianity or Judaism and many other religions,” he explains. But he acknowledges that acceptance remains difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals across many faiths, not just Islam.

His observation is supported by alarming statistics. According to 2024 figures, violence targeting LGBTQ+ people increased by 40% in 12 of Germany’s 16 federal states compared to the previous year, as reported by the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence. These attacks occur even in Berlin, a city historically known for embracing the LGBTQ+ community.

Finding Community When Family Turns Away

Darwich’s personal journey toward self-acceptance wasn’t easy. When he came out to his mother several years ago, she initially refused to believe him, then reacted with tears. They didn’t speak for six months. Much of his extended family also withdrew their support.

“From one day to the next, I was no longer invited. Not only to Ramadan, but also to family celebrations, and that was a very difficult time for me,” he told The Associated Press.

While Darwich and his mother have since reconciled, he credits his friends for becoming his chosen family during that challenging period. This support system was crucial when traditional family structures failed him.

In one poignant Instagram video, Darwich sits alone at a table during Ramadan, addressing the loneliness many queer Muslims experience when rejected by their families. These holy days, normally times of togetherness, can intensify feelings of isolation.

His message to religious leaders and communities is clear: open your hearts and doors to queer Muslims during sacred observances. For his LGBTQ+ followers, he offers reassurance: “You deserve to break your fast surrounded by people who accept you — fully and without conditions.”

Creating Inclusive Traditions

For this week’s iftar celebration in Berlin, Darwich’s friend Randa Weiser, a 40-year-old German-Palestinian influencer known as @randa_and_the_gang, opened her home to host the gathering. She prepared a traditional feast of freekeh soup, fragrant yellow rice with almonds, raisins and cardamom, grilled chicken, and various desserts.

“It’s an absolute colorful mix tonight,” Weiser says of the diverse group. Though predominantly German, many attendees have family roots spanning the globe – Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, Chechnya, Syria, Iran, and Peru.

Weiser acknowledges receiving “some hate” on social media when she announced plans for the inclusive iftar. Nevertheless, she maintains that most of her followers agree that “you can be Muslim and gay or lesbian.”

The celebration embodied the growing intersection of traditional cultural practices with modern identity expression. Many guests, themselves social media influencers, documented the gathering for their followers, helping spread the message of inclusivity further.

Among the attendees was Haidar Darwish, a Syrian belly dancer and artist who arrived in Germany in 2016. Dressed in a traditional red fez and a white, gold-embroidered gallabiyah, Darwish acknowledged the rise in prejudice but remained defiant.

“The hate and crimes against women, Muslim people, Jewish people also, and queers and trans siblings of mine have increased,” said Darwish, who uses the handle @thedarvishofficial on Instagram. “But no matter how much the others will show us hate, we can show more love only if we are believing in ourselves.”

As attacks against marginalized communities continue to rise across Germany and beyond, grassroots celebrations like Darwich’s iftar represent both resistance and hope – creating spaces where religious tradition and modern identities can coexist peacefully.