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Irish singer Sinead O'Connor converts to Islam

48 Comments
By Fred Tanneau

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Who cares about what she does anyway? Obviously she was insecure person and lost self confidence. She had a mental illness in the past. I won't be surprised if she converted again to Judaism in the next year. Good luck with Islam.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Toasted Heretic,

oh, we're differentiating between people based on nationality. How so out of step with the times. Dont you know people can be whatever they want to be?

And as for ms Oconner, shes gone as far as being relevant musically or artistically. She only makes the news when shes being "controversial.". All in all shes long been a hasbeen and a bore.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whilst The Pogues are magnificent purveryors of Irish punk and trad, they are British with some members of Irish descent.

As for being "gone", she's been making music for over 30 years and I hope she continues for at least another 30.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

it is clearly prescribed in the hadiths

My understanding is that it is regarded as a good thing to do but not a requirement.

Thankfully, there are Muslim reformers out there who speak out against this awful practice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well, in effect she is gone, until the next time she's back in the minor news - probably in another few years when she announces shes leaving Islam.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

She hasn't gone away, you know.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good riddance.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

 no doubt there are those who believe that it has nothing at all to do with Islam

Having done some Internet research I agree that it is clearly prescribed in the hadiths so is an Islamic practice. I take back my earlier post.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

FGM is practised in 30 countries---27 African (including Egypt} and Iraqi Kurdistan and Yemen. Also Indonesia although an Indonesian Woman of my aquaintance tells me that often it is not more than a symbolic scratch to comply with Islamic tradition. An estimated 200 million women have undergone the procedures. Even in the UK and Australia it is practiced although against the law. Parents are known to take their daughters overseas to have them "done" It seems to be a fact that it is only practiced by people of the Islamic faith but no doubt there are those who believe that it has nothing at all to do with Islam

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Toasted heretic

Yusef Islam and Muhammad Ali are male and therefore have fragile egos and a need to dominate according to you.

Perhaps that’s why they joined an Abrahamic faith which gives men an extraordinarily privileged position. As far as I know, not a single Mosque in the UK allows women to lead prayers.

I seem to remember reading about extraordinary hostility to Ali’s conversion to Islam. I remember Yusef Islam got into trouble for agreeing with a death penalty for a novelist. I hope Shuhada doesn’t adopt those ideas.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Toasted Heretic, she actually just comes across as a nutcase.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I wonder would Yusef Islam or Muhammed Ali's conversions been talked about with such vitriol, back in the day?

I guess to some right wing males, she's the ultimate nightmare - an outspoken, strong woman and a Muslim.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It may be a form of self-medication (opium of the people?), but for many religion can provide a quiet space to escape the brutality of the world, a cold, scary place when things get too real.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Good on ye, Sinead. Just keep on making great music and sod the begrudgers.

Still and more seriously, Shuhada has had to do all her soul searching and dealing with family strife in public. She's been searching for a path for decades and I hope she's finally found happiness.

I remember seeing her live in 1986/87, Dave Fanning came on stage to introduce her and we were blown away by her raw, uncompromising talent. Mandinka had captured people's imagination and the poetry and power evident on The Lion and the Cobra was something magical.

Oh and Sinead is not mad. She's angry - as many of us are - with the crap the world throws at us.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Has always seemed like a very troubled woman. I hope that she'll find peace this time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ah_soOct. 27 07:21 pm JSTIt will be interesting to hear whether or not she will go the whole hog and undergo the FGM procedure.

There is nothing Islamic about FGM. It is practiced in a small number of East African communities that happen to be Islamic, but that happens entirely independently of Islam.

You could argue that both subjugate women in one way or other, or perhaps that women are more subjugated in Islamic countries than non-Islamic countries, so FGM is more likely to be found in an Islamic country.

Anyway, I doubt Sinead will be getting cut.

And it's the same with the hijab (head scarf). I've met Muslim women who wear one, and some who don't. That has more to do with locality as well. Somalian women tend to wear those more than European Balkan Muslim women do, or even Arabian.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Sinead O'Conner is a VERY troubled woman. She has many demons. Is this a stunt? Is she for real? Is she crying out for attention? Very sad.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

"the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian's journey"...she sees herself as a theologian...LOL

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Only way for a one hit wonder to stay relevant. Especially if that one hit is a cover song lol

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

A few beers short of a 6 pack that one

Maybe not the best expression to use in this situation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A few beers short of a 6 pack that one.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

There is nothing Islamic about FGM.

It is regarded as a good thing in the Hadiths. It certainly isn’t unique to Islam, but to say there is nothing Islamic about it isn’t accurate. It is carried out by some because of its endorsement in the scriptures.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

hideous woman yuck

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Who?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

""All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant."

Good grief...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Also, a female priest is a priestess...unless they identify as male, then my apologies. Minister, like flight attendant can be used in place of priest(ess), just like steward(ess).

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It will be interesting to hear whether or not she will go the whole hog and undergo the FGM procedure.

There is nothing Islamic about FGM. It is practiced in a small number of East African communities that happen to be Islamic, but that happens entirely independently of Islam.

You could argue that both subjugate women in one way or other, or perhaps that women are more subjugated in Islamic countries than non-Islamic countries, so FGM is more likely to be found in an Islamic country.

Anyway, I doubt Sinead will be getting cut.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Look at me!

Okay let's try that again...

Don't look at me!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

She appears to have good intentions at heart, though perhaps she is seeking an identity or attention, or even help ?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Surely Daniel O'Donnell and Val Doonican are Ireland's greatest musical exports!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Well, back in the day I loved her music, wasn’t my favorite artist, but she does have some talent, all I can say is with all the personal and emotional problems she’s had over the years I’m happy she’s found some peace and if it’s Islam, it’s ok, better than going through depression and like so many other musicians from the past killing themselves for a multitude of reason. Wish her the best.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Jimizo, agreed. With the other religeons she has variously flirted with or abused shes quite safe. Her latest one is a different story.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Beg to differ. Shane McGowan & the Pogues are.

Van Morrison for me. U2 or the Pogues ( I have time for both but Bono is an arse ), could only dream of writing albums as good as Astral Weeks or Moondance.

Shuhada isn’t on the same planet.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

U2 is the greatest Irish export.

Beg to differ. Shane McGowan & the Pogues are.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

She has a history of hopping around and I have no problem with people trying out different religions or ideas.

She’d just better be a little more careful with this one. Making controversial statements on this faith, or leaving it, can be a bit more problematic than the others.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Burning BushToday 07:25 am JSTWell at least she's back in the limelight.

Good strategy on the part of her agent.

What's next? An announcement that she's a Lesbian Muslim?

She's said 'I'm a bi', the later 'no I'm not'.

She said a few years ago that Rastafarianism 'saved her life' when she released a reggae album.

She posed topless/semi nude and claimed that Prince threatened to beat her butt (he wrote 'Nothing Compares 2 U').

She claimed to have had an affair with Peter Gabriel when she guested on his 1992 CD 'US'. She was on 2 or 3 of the album's 10 tracks.

She openly endorsed the IRA and she lambasted U2 as 'liberal hypocrites' or something taboo like that. U2 is the greatest Irish export.

Awww heck, turn the page.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Shes had mental problems for years, so it fits.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Shes had mental problems for years so it fits.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I thought she was a feminist?

For some reason a lot of feminists love Islam. I wonder why?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

She has a new album coming out next year. I though Islam was opposed to pop singers.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

All roads in theology lead to Islam huh? She's a nut job.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Unfortunately ,she was right about the sexual abuse......

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I thought she was a feminist?

She was, but not any more. Now she is a member of a religion that accepts the beating of wives (but only in certain circumstances).

8 ( +15 / -7 )

Will she start performing in a Burqa?

I guess she and Cat Stevens are loft buddies now.

Guess bookings must be dropping off just like with Madonna and such.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

It will be interesting to hear whether or not she will go the whole hog and undergo the FGM procedure.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

I thought she was a feminist?

10 ( +15 / -5 )

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