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Monday, October 25, 2010

Tony Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam

Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam


By Tom Peck
Monday, 25 October 2010
Lauren Booth said she converted to Islam during a visit to a shrine in Qom, Iran
GETTY IMAGES
Lauren Booth said she converted to Islam during a visit to a shrine in Qom, Iran


Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, has become the latest in a long line of Western Islamic converts. From Chris Eubank to Jermaine Jackson to Alexander Litvinenko, she joins an eclectic list, yet she is markedly different from most of its names, for one key reason – she is female.
Ms Booth, who works for the Iranian state news channel Press TV, said she decided to become a Muslim after being overwhelmed during a visit to a shrine in the city of Qom, Iran.
"I felt this shot of spiritual morphine: just absolute bliss and joy," she said. When she returned to Britain six weeks ago, she decided to convert. "Now I don't eat pork, and read the Koran every day," she said.
She is now on page 60. Though women in the public eye are generally not shy of a religious conversion (Demi Moore, Kabbalah; Tina Turner, Buddhism), Islam is rarely their go-to faith. For Catherine Heseltine, CEO of MPACUK which was set up to address a perceived under-representation of Muslims in British politics, and herself a convert, this is not hugely surprising.
She said: "Islam requires women to cover their hair and hide the shape of the body. If you think of the areas where women typically achieve a high profile – singing, acting, modelling – these things tend not to be compatible with these requirements.
"Converting to Islam is a different proposition for women than from men. They are instantly asked: 'Why do you want to be oppressed?' There have been problems in the Muslim community with sexism, but these are attributable to culture, rather than religion itself and the two have become very mixed-up in the public's perception."
But the shortage of Islamic women converts in the public eye in fact conceals a trend in the public at large that is in the very opposite. Sheikh Imam Ibrahim Mogra from Leicester said: "I receive many more inquiries from women. It is quite surprising, given the negative publicity in terms of the mistreatment of women. But women say it was all the negative things that first stimulated their interest."
Though the group she joins as woman convert is small, it is a vocal one. Ms Booth's colleague at Press TV, former war correspondent Yvonne Ridley, converted to Islam in 2003 after being captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
There is of course one challenging liturgical requirement. Ms Booth said: "I haven't had a drink in 45 days," she said. "And I was someone who craved a glass of wine or two."

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/blairs-sisterinlaw-converts-to-islam-2115645.html

22 comments:

  1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Blairs-sister-in-law-converts-to-Islam/articleshow/6805951.cms#@mail/ixzz13MQuM43M

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  2. Allahu Akbar, u r much welcome to Islam sister. With Islam u will see lots

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  3. Islam is the truth, it tells u what anyone else will not tell you. the truth about yr creation, it does not discriminate btwn the rich and the poor, gender, or race, it is the universal religion. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and steadfastness and make us die as muslims (men who bow to Your will)Q7:126

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  4. Alhamdulillah, welcome to peace religious

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  5. فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

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  6. Masha Allah lucky woman you got the right thing finally just compare present with past and tell others about respect of women in Islam.

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  7. Maashaa Allah, may Allah except it, & guide u whole life & keep you to straight path...
    aameen

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  8. ALHUMDULLILAH, NOW AS IF YOU HAVE BECOME MUSLIM INSHALLLAH SOON YOU WILL BE REWARDED JANNAH AFTER DEATH BASED ON YOUR GOOD DEADS. AND NOW AS IF YOU HAVE CONVERTED YOU ARE LIKE A NEW BORN BABY AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN PAST IT IS FORGOTTEN ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE....JUST A SIMPLE ADVICE WISH TO GIVE JUST READ QURAN AND REAL HADITH AL BHUKHARI AND FOLLOW THEM...DONT GO ON OTHER ADVICE ......WISHYOU ALL THE BEST AND HOPE THE REST WILL ALSO FOLLOW YOU ...INSHALLAH AND AMEEN SUMMA AMEEN,,,,DONT KEEP ANY MEDIATOR BETWEEN YOU AND ALLAH (MEAN LA ILAHA IL'LALALLAH)

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  9. God is great. Welcome to our new world that
    give to you peace, love, and smile.
    Allah Hafiz

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  10. AllHUAKBAR SISTER NOW U R ON THE RIGHT PATH PLZ REMEMBERS ME AND WHOLE UMMAH IN UR DUAS MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU WITH HIS MERCY .............JAAZZAAKKAALLAAHHUUKKHHAAIIRRAANNJJAAZZAA

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  11. Mashallah, She Revert to Islam. The Religion of Peace.

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  12. islam will supersede them all bulldoze them all

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  13. Good news. May Allah show her right path

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  14. The Allah Has blessed her to choose the right path

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  15. thats wat when u study islam can mak cahnges

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