{"id":5730,"date":"2019-02-12T12:47:54","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T10:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/twistislamophobia.org\/en\/?p=5730"},"modified":"2019-02-12T14:11:13","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T12:11:13","slug":"the-curious-case-of-islamophobes-converting-to-islam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twistislamophobia.org\/en\/2019\/02\/12\/the-curious-case-of-islamophobes-converting-to-islam\/","title":{"rendered":"The curious case of anti-muslim racists converting to Islam"},"content":{"rendered":"

The news of a Dutch Islamophobe politician converting to Islam has recently hit the headlines, shocking many and proving the need to have more knowledge before judging any religion (in this case, Islam, which frequently raises suspicion and prejudices among the Western population).<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dutch MP is Joram van Klaveren, who until 2014 was a member of the far right Freedom Party (PVV), a political party known for its harsh stance against Islam and the presence of Muslims in the Netherlands. Moreover, he had been the right hand of Geert Wilder, leader of the PVV and one of the fiercest opponents to Muslim migration and what he calls the \u201cIslamization\u201d of Europe. He has frequently called for the banning<\/a> of mosques and hijabs, as well as for the halt to Muslim immigration. In fact, Wilder was recently convicted for hate speech and inciting discrimination after calling for the expulsion of Dutch Moroccans from the country, threatening to take an active part in solving the issue. This, allegedly, is one of the reasons<\/a> van Klaveren left the party.<\/p>\n

As van Doorn explains, it is easy to fall for the prejudices and stereotypes promoted both by the media and a part of a fearful society.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Surprisingly, van Klaveren\u2019s conversion comes after he began studying Islam in order to publish a book on this religion\u2019s violation of rights and its threat to the West. His study of the Quran and learning of Islam have led him, instead, to convert to Islam. As he has afterwards explained, he was just wrong<\/a> in his assumptions and prejudices. Moreover, he added that his blaming on Islam of all the West\u2019s problems was just part of his former political party\u2019s policy, following a political agenda.<\/p>\n

The book he was preparing on the evils of Islam has, thus, taken an unexpected turn, changing its title to Apostate: From Christianity to Islam in the Time of Secular Terror<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Similar cases around the world<\/h3>\n

\"\"But this is not the only case known. Last month, January 2019, Arthur Wagner, member of the alt-right political party \u201cAlternative f\u00fcr Deutschland\u201d, decided also to leave the party and convert to Islam. Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland has promoted several campaigns against the<\/a> \u201cIslamization of Germany\u201d and the presence of Muslims in the country in the last years.<\/p>\n

Although he has not publicly explained the reasons behind his conversion, he has confirmed the fact and rejected his former political party.<\/p>\n

Similarly, in 2013, Arnoud van Doorn, also a member of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) \u2013van Klaveren\u2019s former party\u2013 and former advisor of Wilders, was expelled from the party after converting to Islam and travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In the following video, he explains the reasons for his conversion, as well as for his previous radical stance. As he explains, it is easy to fall for the prejudices and stereotypes promoted both by the media and a part of a fearful society.<\/p>\n