Simon Cowell converting to Islam [New Statesman]

“Cowell may or may not convert but all Muslims need to confront the ban too many countries place on apostasy.

Simon Cowell. Photograph: Getty Images

Is Simon Cowell about to convert to Islam? The family of his fiancée, Mezhgan Hussainy, apparently wants the billionaire music mogul to become a Muslim if the couple are to marry. "They're very westernised, but no one in their family has ever married a non-Muslim - and they're not willing for their youngest daughter to become the first," a "source" is reported to have said of Hussainy's Afghan-born parents.

So will Simon become Suleiman? "Don't convert to Islam, Simon. Don't do it," says the right-wing US pundit Debbie Schlussel on her blog. For once, I can't help but agree. What do Muslims gain from the conversion of Cowell? New tunes? It frustrates me how my co-religionists get so excited at the prospect of people converting to Islam, especially celebrities. Last year, I was inundated with emails claiming Michael Jackson had been on the verge of a deathbed conversion to Islam. Heaven forbid.

“Islam is the fastest-growing religion on earth," Muslim friends say with glee. Indeed, but I don't know how adding to the world's Muslim population helps reduce the theological, political, cultural and socio-economic problems blighting its communities. I sympathise with the senior Indian Muslim cleric who revealed to me his (private) advice to Hindus considering converting: "Don't bother. Not until we Muslims get our house in order.”

Full article: http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2010/04/islam-muslim-freedom-convert

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