Interesting article. The journalist was born a Muslim and decided not to follow Islam - so her analysis is quite interesting.
The ladies all are saying that it is not just about dressing modestly that convinced them to change their faith, but all seem to be talking about the spiritual aspects of Islam.
Whilst there are some teenagers that may convert out of a sense of rebellion (just like many girls/young women become vegetarian for a period of their lives) - this article highlights the fact that educated women who are 'deep thinkers' are converting out of an attraction to the teachings of Islam.
According to Kevin Brice from Swansea University, who has specialised in studying white conversion to Islam, these women are part of an intriguing trend.
He explains: ‘They seek spirituality, a higher meaning, and tend to be deep thinkers. The other type of women who turn to Islam are what I call “converts of convenience”. They’ll assume the trappings of the religion to please their Muslim husband and his family, but won’t necessarily attend mosque, pray or fast.’
I spoke to a diverse selection of white Western converts in a bid to re-examine the faith I had rejected.
Women like Kristiane Backer, 43, a London-based former MTV presenter who had led the kind of liberal Western-style life that I yearned for as a teenager, yet who turned her back on it and embraced Islam instead. Her reason? The ‘anything goes’ permissive society that I coveted had proved to be a superficial void.
I saw Lauren Booth on a political programme 'This Week' explaining why she converted - and she was emphasising the moral and spiritual attraction, as well as the aspect of dressing that little bit more modestly than before. She also recounted how a university student in the North of England doing Engineering and top of her class decided to wear the Burqa and found she got more respect from her colleagues and lecturers - she had dressed in tshirts and jeans before, apparently. (Burqa here does not mean the full face veil, just the outer dress and covered hair - face still showing).
I think these women make a refreshing advertisement against some of the misinformation about Islam we read from certain quarters of society.
Cheers,
Shafique