My Journey to Islam
Yvonne Ridley
[Courtesy of Q-News]
Islam
is by far the most misunderstood religion in the world today thanks to centuries
of medieval-style propaganda successfully peddled by bigots and Christian
zealots. So I should not have been entirely surprised by the almost hysterical
reaction in the mainstream media to news that I am considering becoming a
Muslim. Some of the comments were bitchy and snide, other journalists asked me
stupid questions showing a distinct lack of research or understanding. One even
accused me of suffering from Stockholm Syndrome as a result of spending ten days
in the hands of the Taliban!
My
spiritual journey, like that for many converts/reverts, was meant to be a
personal affair between myself and God. Sadly it has now become a very public
issue and so I have decided to share with Q-News readers my feelings and
thoughts on Islam to prevent any more misunderstandings or misconceptions.
Yes,
my journey did begin in the unlikely surrounds of an Afghan prison where I was
being held by the Taliban facing charges of entering their country illegally
disguised in the all-enveloping burqa. One day, during my captivity I was
visited by a religious cleric who asked me what I thought of Islam and if I
would like to convert. I was terrified. For five days I had managed to avoid the
subject of religion in a country led by Islamic extremists. If I gave the
wrong response, I had convinced myself I would be stoned to death. After careful
thought I thanked the cleric for his generous offer and said it was difficult
for me to make such a life-changing decision while I was in prison. However, I
did make a promise that if I was released I would study Islam on my return to
London. My reward for such a reply was being sent to a ghastly jail in Kabul
where I was locked up with six Christian fanatics who faced charges of trying to
convert Muslims to their faith. (After being bombarded with their bible
readings, happy-clappy Christian songs and prayers twice a day, I think we can
discount the accusations of Stockholm Syndrome.
Several
days later I was released unharmed on humanitarian grounds on the orders of
Mullah Omar, the Taliban's one- eyed spiritual leader. My captors had treated me
with courtesy and respect and so, in turn, I kept my word and set out to study
their religion. It was supposed to be an academic study but as I became more
engrossed with each page I turned so I became more impressed with what I read. I
turned to several eminent Islamic academics, including Dr Zaki Badawi, for
advice and instruction. I was even given several books by the notorious Sheikh
Abu Hamza AI-Masri whom I spoke to after sharing a platform at an Oxford Union
debate. This latter snippet was seized upon by some sections of the media in
such a ridiculous fashion that outsiders might have thought I was going to e
open a madrassa for AI-Qaeda recruits from my flat in Soho!
Thankfully
the support and understanding I have been given from my brothers and sisters
(for I regard them as that) has been a unstinting and comforting. Not one of
them has put pressure on me to become a Muslim and every convert/revert I've
spoken to has told me to take my
time. One of the big turning points for me happened earlier this year when the
Israelis began shelling The Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, one of the
most precious monuments for Christians. Every year thousands of school children
re-enact the Nativity at Christmas time, a potent symbol of Christianity. Yet,
not one Church of England leader publicly denounced the Israelis for their
attack. Our Prime Minister Tony Blair, who loves to be pictured
coming out of church surrounded a by his family, espousing Christian values, was
silent. Only the Pope had the guts to condemn this atrocity. I was shocked and
saddened and felt there was no backbone in my religious leaders. At least with
Islam I need no mediator or conduit
to rely upon, I can have a direct line with God anytime want.
While
I feel under no pressure to convert/revert by Muslims, the real pressure to walk
away from Islam has come from some friends and journalists who like to think
they're cynical, hard-bitten, hard-drinking, observers of the world. Religion of
any form makes them feel uneasy, but Islam, well that's something even worse.
You'd think I had made a pact with the devil or wanted to become a grand wizard
in the Ku Klux Klan.
Others
feared I was being brainwashed and that I would soon be back in my burqa,
silenced forever like all Muslim women. This, of course, is nonsense. I have
never met so many well-educated, opinionated, -outspoken, intelligent,
politically aware women in the Muslim groups I have visited throughout the UK.
Feminism pales into insignificance when it comes to the sister- hood, which has
a strong identity and a loud voice in this country. Yes, it is true that many
Muslim women around the world are subjugated, but this has only come about
through other cultures hijacking and misinterpreting the Quran. (Saudis take
note).
I
wish I had this knowledge (and I'm still very much a novice) when I was captured
by the Taliban because I would have asked them why they treated their own women
so badly. The Quran makes it crystal clear that all Muslims, men and women are
entirely equal in worth, spirituality and responsibility. Allah ordained
equality and fairness for women in education and opportunity. Fair property law
and divorce settlements were introduced for Muslim women 1500 years ago; may be
this is where Californian divorce lawyers got their inspiration from in recent
years! The Quran could have been written yesterday for today. It could sit very easily
with any Green Party manifesto, it is is environmentally friendly and it is a
true le inspiration for the 21st century, yet not one word has changed since the
day it was written unlike other religious tomes. "It's more punk than
punk," musician Aki Nawaz of the band Fun-da-Mental recently told
me. And, of course he is right.
Yvonne
Ridley
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