Queer history fact: Salim Halali moved to Paris shortly before Nazi Germany invaded, and subsequently, when Germany took power, authorities harassed him for being gay and Jewish.
The founder of the Great Mosque of Paris, Si Kaddour Benghabrit, had encountered Halali before and admired his music. When he saw what was happening not only to Halali but to many other Jewish people in Paris, he stepped in. He procured fake papers and hid Jewish people in the mosque when necessary. Because Halali was so well-known, this wouldn’t do. Instead, he placed a fake grave for Halali’s grandfather in the mosque’s cemetery to prove Halali was Muslim, thus defending him from the officers.
Benghabrit would go on to assist many other Jewish people in Paris; historians estimate around 100 were helped, but some of the first reports claimed thousands were assisted by the mosque throughout the war.
It is largely because of this that Halali made it through the war, continuing with his music career.
Later, Halali had the opportunity to perform in Israel, though he was an anti-Zionist. During a performance in Jerusalem in the 1960s, he yelled in Arabic, “Long live the Arab nation.” He had things thrown at him and never returned to Israel.
(via makingqueerhistory)