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Yvonne Ridley urges Muslims to use media to counter Islamophobia
Addressing the 'Spring of Islam' conference here, organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami
over video conference from London, she said more and more Muslims
should join the media as it is the most powerful way to get the
message out about the purity of Islam. »
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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.
Ridley works for The
Sunday Times, The Observer, Daily Mirror, the News of the World
and other newspapers. The above article first appeared on Q-News.
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