Christianity QA

Question:

My Journey to Islam Yvonne Ridley

It should be added that the six "crazy Christians" Ridley was iprisoned with were the German group which included the Americans Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. Yvonne gets some attention in their book "Prisioners of Hope." Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [snip] What she doesn’t say is that, as a committed ‘peace campaigner’, she had already intended to ‘convert’ to Islam before travelling to Afghanistan, in order to try and make herself appear a ‘victim’ of ‘western aggression’. She had an agenda, but it didn’t quite come off. I think she’s now pretty much unemployable in the mainstream press. I read a very confused interview of her made immediately after she came back. She was asked directly how she felt about the torture of women under the Taliban; she admitted it all. She didn’t even deny that in a theocratic system like Islamism such atrocities would become normal, not the subjects of apalled fascination as they are in the democratic world. Yet she still identified with the torturers, and the reason appears to be a mixture of hatred of ‘western’ men, which seems to derive from an experience she had with her ex-husband, immense pity (and I’d guess, attraction) toward Afghan and other Muslim men, and fear of the collapse of western society (and the desire to be on the ‘right’ side when it happens). In everything she said I didn’t notice any understanding or even interest in the theology of Islam, or even in general. She calls herself a feminist and yet is happy to veil her face when men tell her to. She calls herself an anti-imperialist yet she identifies with the most long-lived empire the world has seen. She would probably call herself a rationalist yet she’s willing to pretend to take as literal truth a book everyone knows is invention. Her reasons for ‘conversion’ are entirely psychological, a weid kind of inverted rebellion or self-punishment. 200 years ago she would have become a nun, and probably flagelated herself; 75 years ago she would have become a fascist. She’s not the only one. Her case is very similar to that of Abdul Azhiz, the south African neo-Nazi turned Osama supporter who used to be all over these newsgroups like a rash. He also appears to believe that democracy is doomed and so all righteous people should join the community most likely, by its apparant singularity of belief, to survive the collapse. She just happens to have arrived at the same position from the left, and has it all mixed up with hatred of certain kinds of men. There’s a Doonesbury cartoon written in the aftermath of the Iranian hostage crisis, late 70s, in which an American ex-alumni brings his very feminist, very sexy and very bored wife to a college reunion. One of his old drinking buddies is there, a Persian guy, who since they ended their university life returned to Iran and became a radical Muslim supporter of the Ayatollah Khomenni. They meet, the wife says hello, but the Persian guy ignores her. Sher persists until he asks the husband, ‘Why is your wife dressed as a whore?’ The American guy is horrified, expecting his wife to kick him in the nuts. Instead she says, ‘What a relief. A REAL man!’ And to her husband: ‘Why can’t YOU be like that?’ She could be Yvonne Ridley’s role model.

Response:

My Journey to Islam Yvonne Ridley [snip] What she doesn’t say is that, as a committed ‘peace campaigner’, she had already intended to ‘convert’ to Islam before travelling to Afghanistan, in order to try and make herself appear a ‘victim’ of ‘western aggression’. She had an agenda, but it didn’t quite come off. I think she’s now pretty much unemployable in the mainstream press.

No surprise there.  Do you have a link to this interview? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read a very confused interview of her made immediately after she came back. She was asked directly how she felt about the torture of women under the Taliban; she admitted it all. She didn’t even deny that in a theocratic system like Islamism such atrocities would become normal, not the subjects of apalled fascination as they are in the democratic world. Yet she still identified with the torturers, and the reason appears to be a mixture of hatred of ‘western’ men, which seems to derive from an experience she had with her ex-husband, immense pity (and I’d guess, attraction) toward Afghan and other Muslim men, and fear of the collapse of western society (and the desire to be on the ‘right’ side when it happens). In everything she said I didn’t notice any understanding or even interest in the theology of Islam, or even in general. She calls herself a feminist and yet is happy to veil her face when men tell her to. She calls herself an anti-imperialist yet she identifies with the most long-lived empire the world has seen. She would probably call herself a rationalist yet she’s willing to pretend to take as literal truth a book everyone knows is invention. Her reasons for ‘conversion’ are entirely psychological, a weid kind of inverted rebellion or self-punishment. 200 years ago she would have become a nun, and probably flagelated herself; 75 years ago she would have become a fascist. She’s not the only one. Her case is very similar to that of Abdul Azhiz, the south African neo-Nazi turned Osama supporter who used to be all over these newsgroups like a rash. He also appears to believe that democracy is doomed and so all righteous people should join the community most likely, by its apparant singularity of belief, to survive the collapse. She just happens to have arrived at the same position from the left, and has it all mixed up with hatred of certain kinds of men. There’s a Doonesbury cartoon written in the aftermath of the Iranian hostage crisis, late 70s, in which an American ex-alumni brings his very feminist, very sexy and very bored wife to a college reunion. One of his old drinking buddies is there, a Persian guy, who since they ended their university life returned to Iran and became a radical Muslim supporter of the Ayatollah Khomenni. They meet, the wife says hello, but the Persian guy ignores her. Sher persists until he asks the husband, ‘Why is your wife dressed as a whore?’ The American guy is horrified, expecting his wife to kick him in the nuts. Instead she says, ‘What a relief. A REAL man!’ And to her husband: ‘Why can’t YOU be like that?’ She could be Yvonne Ridley’s role model.

Response:

My Journey to Islam Yvonne Ridley

[snip] What she doesn’t say is that, as a committed ‘peace campaigner’, she had already intended to ‘convert’ to Islam before travelling to Afghanistan, in order to try and make herself appear a ‘victim’ of ‘western aggression’. She had an agenda, but it didn’t quite come off. I think she’s now pretty much unemployable in the mainstream press. I read a very confused interview of her made immediately after she came back. She was asked directly how she felt about the torture of women under the Taliban; she admitted it all. She didn’t even deny that in a theocratic system like Islamism such atrocities would become normal, not the subjects of apalled fascination as they are in the democratic world. Yet she still identified with the torturers, and the reason appears to be a mixture of hatred of ‘western’ men, which seems to derive from an experience she had with her ex-husband, immense pity (and I’d guess, attraction) toward Afghan and other Muslim men, and fear of the collapse of western society (and the desire to be on the ‘right’ side when it happens). In everything she said I didn’t notice any understanding or even interest in the theology of Islam, or even in general. She calls herself a feminist and yet is happy to veil her face when men tell her to. She calls herself an anti-imperialist yet she identifies with the most long-lived empire the world has seen. She would probably call herself a rationalist yet she’s willing to pretend to take as literal truth a book everyone knows is invention. Her reasons for ‘conversion’ are entirely psychological, a weid kind of inverted rebellion or self-punishment. 200 years ago she would have become a nun, and probably flagelated herself; 75 years ago she would have become a fascist. She’s not the only one. Her case is very similar to that of Abdul Azhiz, the south African neo-Nazi turned Osama supporter who used to be all over these newsgroups like a rash. He also appears to believe that democracy is doomed and so all righteous people should join the community most likely, by its apparant singularity of belief, to survive the collapse. She just happens to have arrived at the same position from the left, and has it all mixed up with hatred of certain kinds of men. There’s a Doonesbury cartoon written in the aftermath of the Iranian hostage crisis, late 70s, in which an American ex-alumni brings his very feminist, very sexy and very bored wife to a college reunion. One of his old drinking buddies is there, a Persian guy, who since they ended their university life returned to Iran and became a radical Muslim supporter of the Ayatollah Khomenni. They meet, the wife says hello, but the Persian guy ignores her. Sher persists until he asks the husband, ‘Why is your wife dressed as a whore?’ The American guy is horrified, expecting his wife to kick him in the nuts. Instead she says, ‘What a relief. A REAL man!’ And to her husband: ‘Why can’t YOU be like that?’ She could be Yvonne Ridley’s role model.

Response:

You are right. Islam is a very misunderstood religion. Even to Muslims themselves. IT IS NOT A RELIGION OF PEACE. Peace is only to fellow Muslims. Muslims are to wage war until the whole world become Islamized or Arabised. The founder himself directly or indirectly killed or murdered his enemies. He even got an old woman murdered because she scolded him. The founder himself led an army of cut-throats and destroyed a Jewish tribe, killed all the males who had pubic hairs or sold them as slaves, but enslaved all the girls to become sex objects to the victors. And the founder got his adopted son to divorce his wife so that he can marry her. And when he saw a 6 year old girl … do you own research! Start with the Koran.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Journey to Islam Yvonne Ridley [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 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. Yvonne Ridley

Response:

My Journey to Islam Yvonne Ridley [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 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. Yvonne Ridley

Response:

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