Source: The Telegraph
Why did George Galloway feel the urge to keep his conversion to Islam secret?
The New Statesman reveals today, in an interview by Jemima Khan with the fiery new MP for Bradford West, that Galloway converted 10 years ago at a ceremony in Kilburn, north-west London. On one level, it’s not surprising: he peppers his speeches with “inshallahs”, during his campaign, pamphlets were distributed (although he says he was not responsible for them) saying that “God knows who is a Muslim”, pointing out that his Labour opponent in the Bradford by-election, Imran Hussain, drank alcohol and that he, Galloway, did not and “never has”; he has had no fewer than three Muslim wives (though not, I must quickly add, at the same time).
But it is very odd that he kept this to himself for so long. His adopted religion, surely, is not a shameful secret. Certainly his appeal to the Islamic communities, first of Tower Hamlets and now of Bradford, is well known. But, as Khan points out, he has generally been referred to as a “Catholic” in the media, and that this might not have hurt his chances with the working-class white vote.
Categories: Belief, Europe, Human Rights, Islam: A Religion of Peace, ISLAMOPHOBIA, Politics, UK
Freedom of choice of religion and its declaration should remain with the individual as his personal and private matter and should not be interfered at all. If everyone respects this there will be wholesome respect and there will be no religious confrontations and disputes. So George has a right to keep it to himself and not to advertise.
Galloway plays games, but as Mr Alim states [Galloway]’generally been referred to as a “Catholic” in the media, and that this might not have hurt his chances with the working-class white vote.’
http://alextalbot.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/mr-galloway-throws-up-in-bradford.html