My Journey to Islam
by Yvonne Ridley
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
[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 *****y 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 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 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 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 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 I 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 sisterhood, 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 1400 years
ago; maybe 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 environmentally friendly
and it is truely an 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.
(for more info contact: loveislam@aol.com)