Yvonne Ridley Converts To Islam - 'Guardian' Journalist
Yvonne Ridley was the woman who was arrested by the
Taliban for entering Afghanistan illegally. She feared severe
punishment, but instead she was released after promising to
read about Islam and emerged from her imprisonment praising
the civility and courtesy of her captors. News reports of her
embracing Islam have proved premature, but as she outlines
for The Muslim News, Yvonne Ridley has certainly been wooed
by Islam and the Muslims.
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.
I have even been accused of suffering from Stockholm
Syndrome as a result of spending 10 days in the hands of the
Taliban. Bearing in mind I spent my last four days in the
company of six bible-bashing Christians in Kabul Prison I think
we can knock that theory on the head.
The truth is my captors probably thanked Allah when I was
kicked out of Afghanistan. They appeared very happy to see
the back of me since I spent most of my time being rather
abusive and obnoxious to them – I think some are still receiving
counselling! When I initially thought about converting, I
reflected I had a fundamental problem… I started the day with
a bacon sandwich and ended it with a large glass or three of
whisky. I was told by someone who had ‘crossed over’ that
these issues would become insignificant and indeed they have.
However, my spiritual journey, like that for many converts/
reverts, was always meant to be a personal affair between
myself and God. Unfortunately, it has now become a very
public issue and so I have decided to set the record straight to
prevent any more misunderstandings or misconceptions.
Stories of my premature conversion were wired around the
world resulting in a deluge of e-mails from Muslim
congratulating me – some e-mails were not that
complimentary. It is true my journey did begin in the unlikely
surrounds of an Afghan prison where I was being held by the
Taliban facing charges of spying for entering their country
illegally disguised in the all-enveloping burqa. I remember the
day very clearly. Hamid, my interpreter, said I had a very
important visitor and that I must be respectful. My heart
skipped a beat as a tall man wearing long flowing white robes
and a turban walked into my room.
I realised immediately he was a religious cleric. He asked me
about my religious status – Protestant – and then 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 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. M reward for such a reply
was being sent to a primitive jail in Kabul where I was locked
up with six Christians who faced charges of trying to convert
Muslims to their faith.
I was also brought up in the Christian faith, sang in the church
choir and was a Sunday School teacher, but I felt their brand
of Christianity was almost as extreme as the Taliban’s brand of
Islam.
I remember one evening sitting outside my cell in the prison
courtyard listening to happy clappy hymns in my left ear as
someone made the call to prayers in my right ear. I thought to
myself I was caught in between two sets of religious
fundamentalists.
It was a very clear night and as I gazed up at the stars I felt I
was trapped in a parallel universe and pondered my fate.
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 (despite
my bad behaviour) and so, in turn, I kept my word and set out
to study their religion. It was supposed to be an academic
venture but as 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 Al-Masri who 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 could be
forgiven for thinking I was going to open a Madrassah for Al-
Qaida recruits from my flat in Soho. It earned me a place on a
‘Watch on Terror’ website in America, so I’m probably now
classed as a subversive by those incompetent spooks from US
intelligence agencies.
I have also listened to and spoken with Dr Muhammad Al-
Massari and had a very enlightening lunch recently with three
sisters from Hizb ut-Tahrir. One of the most useful reference
points for me has been the New Muslim Project chat site on the
Internet, which has given me access to others who, like myself,
are in the process of converting.
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 urged 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 or conviction among the C of E 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 by Muslims to convert/revert
there has been real pressure to walk away from Islam 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 an 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 hi-jacking and misinterpreting the Qur’an. 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 Qur’an
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, at least that is my understanding.
Fair property law and divorce settlements were introduced for
Muslim women 1500 years ago – maybe this is where
Californian divorce lawyers got their inspiration from in recent
years!
The Qur’an could have been written yesterday for today. It
could sit very easily with any Green Party manifesto, it is
environmentally friendly and it is a true inspiration for the 21st
century, yet not one word has changed since the day it was
written – unlike other religious tomes bent on courting
popularity.
“It’s more punk than punk rock,” musician Aki Nawaz of the
band Fun’da’mental recently told me. And, of course he is
right.
Yvonne Ridley is a freel, is
published by Robson Books, price £6.99