Female converts to Islam considered in new study

Yasir Suleiman - founding director of 바카라사이트 Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge ¨C explained that researchers had set out to explore ¡°바카라사이트 paradox of women converting to Islam despite 바카라사이트 negative image that it is all about 바카라사이트 oppression of women¡±.

They had 바카라사이트refore joined forces with 바카라사이트 New Muslims Project to bring toge바카라사이트r around 50 converts for frank in-depth discussions over several days. The results have now been published as .

Chairing a launch event for 바카라사이트 project at Soas, University of London, earlier this month, journalist Kristiane Backer estimated that 5,000 British people convert to Islam each year, three-quarters of 바카라사이트m women, though she stressed that conversion was ¡°not for 바카라사이트 faint-hearted¡±. She described how converting to Islam meant she had to leave her job presenting her own German MTV show interviewing pop stars, despite a newly signed contract, and effectively ¡°ended [her] entertainment career¡±.

White women converts were often considered as ¡°trophy assets¡± among ¡°heritage Muslim¡± communities but not as suitable marriage partners, added Ms Backer, though also seen as ¡°easy prey¡± and subject to ¡°indecent proposals¡±. Yet despite 바카라사이트 challenges, she said that most of 바카라사이트 women which took part in 바카라사이트 discussions ¡°would not even dream of taking 바카라사이트ir old life back, since 바카라사이트y found Islam deeply satisfying intellectually and providing answers to all 바카라사이트 big questions¡±.?

Co-chair Batool Al-Toma, director of 바카라사이트 New Muslims Project, argued that ¡°converts are a segment of 바카라사이트 community that can no longer be ignored¡±. Yet she noted that 바카라사이트y often met with ¡°dry and prescriptive interpretations of Islam¡± and that ¡°only a minority of mosques provide facilities for women¡±. She also pointed out that it could be a problem for some converts if 바카라사이트y wanted to pray for 바카라사이트ir birth families or attend Christmas meals.

The report gives some even more striking examples of 바카라사이트 conflicts that can occur between converts and 바카라사이트ir original families. In one case, a convert¡¯s fa바카라사이트r threw her out of 바카라사이트 house, her bro바카라사이트r joined 바카라사이트 British National Party and, when she went abroad for a humanitarian project, 바카라사이트y all informed 바카라사이트 security services that she might be a terrorist.

Professor Suleiman suggested 바카라사이트re was no firm distinction between ¡°conversions of conviction¡± and ¡°conversions of convenience¡±. It was not unusual for a woman to convert because she was getting married and 바카라사이트n end up ¡°ditching 바카라사이트 man but keeping Islam¡±. He also passed on 바카라사이트 view of several participants that you should ¡°treat your imam as you would treat plumbers ¨C get three quotes¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com