Testimony of an ex-muslim convert (April 16, 2008)

More than 25 years ago I started a ‘discrete’ relationship with an adult Muslim woman. The majority of her relatives lived in her country of origin. She warned me there could be some “problems” and that her ‘family’ would expect something from me. As a true humanist I was convinced that I could negotiate in all reason with that family and make my points of view acceptable.

More than 3 years later we got married. Her residence permit had expired and this was the only way she could stay here. The family was informed in writing after the marriage and were put at an ‘accomplished’ fact. After a while our relationship was disturbed by severe discussions: the point was that I had to ‘convert’ to Islam.

After 2 years, I was fed up with the quarrels and turned to a mosque. One week later I was a ‘Muslim’ … although …! I said the shahada with some difficulty, signed a piece of paper, …. and 5 minutes later I was a Muslim. 5 seconds later I was back to being a kafir.

I kept having an odd feeling though: I did not like the idea of a conversion at all. Me, the big atheist had “fallen into the trap” of a “controversial“ religion to express it in a diplomatic way. In addition to this, the idea of the copy of my ‘Muslim-diploma’ in the archives of the big mosque in Brussels, didn’t make me happy. After all I am not a Muslim and I will never be one. After my conversion the ‘diploma’ was immediately sent to the family… Ten months later our first child was born …

The children are being raised with a 'liberal' mind, with a tolerant yet critical worldview. At school they have attended ‘non-confessional ethics’ classes. A god, a religion with all kinds of rules, they do not know this. They eat pork, drink alcohol, and don’t celebrate religious celebrations. They are 'normal' adolescents who are searching for their own way in this world.