LETTER OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR
ABUBAKAR SADIQ YUSSIF
ABUBAKAR SADIQ YUSSIF
On October 26th 2017, eleven LGBTIQ Faith Leaders came before the world at United Nations Headquarters in New York City to tell their stories. They came together under the auspice of the Ethics of Reciprocity project and with great courage poured their hearts and souls on that international stage. Long before that, however, they came to know each other as members of the same family.
It is with great sadness and disbelief that we, members of the Ethics of Reciprocity family, mourn the passing of one of our own. On December 11th, 2017, Abubakar Sadiq Yussif passed away.
Sadiq founded and served as the Executive Director of Solace Brothers Foundation, and worked to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Ghana. They were unapologetically Muslim and Queer, and rejected any notion that these virtues of their identity could not exist in harmony with one another. It was for this reason that over the course of their life, Sadiq coordinated and facilitated several educational gatherings to help bring LGBTIQ Muslims who felt ostracized by Islam back into Fellowship with Allah.
In Honor and Celebration of Their Life and Work, their Heritage, their Faith, and the Global Queer Muslim Ummah of which they were such a strong and vibrant contributor, the Ethics of Reciprocity Family offers Surah al-Fatiha, “the Opening” to guide us into a shared moment of remembrance:
“In the name of Allah, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
the path of those who have received your grace;
not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.
Ameen.”
Abubakar Sadiq Yussif, in peace and power, we wish you rest.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilehi rajioon.
“Truly to Allah we belong, and truly to Him we shall return.”
Sadiq is survived by their mother, Hajia Moda Lapaz, those who carry on the work of Sadiq's organization and all of those in the EOR Family who stood alongside them at the United Nations October 26, 2017:
Rev. Patrician Ackerman, Rev. Lucas Johnson, Rev. Michael Adee, Yvette Abrahams, Murilo Araujo, Tusina Ymania Brown, Bishop. Pat Bumgarder, Rev. Brian Byamukama, Rev. Martin Kalimbe, Kochava Lior Lilit, Shuhrat Saidov, Pearl Wong, Rev. Jason Carson Wilson, Cole Park, Omair Pual, Haven Herrin, Arlene Usha, Mori Hitchcock Anderson, Yana Calou.
Brian Byamukama, Abubakar Sadiq Yussif and Murilo Araújo at the Ethics of Reciprocity Luncheon in the Delegates Dining room United Nations Headquarters.