Portuguese and Romanian girls who converted to Islam speak out about Islamophobia

Portuguese Mariana Tavares and Romanian Maria Sirbu, who are studying in Istanbul, spoke about the Islamophobia they faced in their homelands after converting to Islam.

They say that the good behavior and personal examples shown by Muslims have helped them break free from religious stereotypes.

Mariana Tavares admitted that she used to be a very strong Islamophobe:

"I was a staunch opponent of Islam. I was a Christian preacher, and I even actively supported Israel.* For me, this internal transformation was a very unusual story," he said.

She believes that Islamophobia often stems from ignorance. Mariana emphasized that if Muslims live according to the Quran, they can show the world how beautiful Islam is.

"A Muslim with good character is the most powerful invitation for anyone who sees him. Regardless of how he is portrayed in the media, it is these Muslims who change people's minds," says Mariana.

Romanian Maria Sirbu said that her interest in Islam began with Islamophobic views.

"I converted to Islam in 2019. It all started with curiosity: why are there only negative things said about Islam, about women who wear the hijab? I started learning. I read the Quran in my own language, I looked at books about Islam and women's rights. And I found out that everything I was told was a lie."

Maria added that the process of converting to Islam was not easy:

"One day I went to the mosque and prayed. 'Oh Allah, if Islam is the true path, show me it.' That night I had a dream that I had become a Muslim and was wearing a hijab. The next day I went back to the mosque and testified."

After converting to Islam, Maria faced pressure and discrimination.

"Many people told me that because you wore the hijab and became a Muslim, you would be a second or third wife, and your family would not respect you. If I remember, those were very difficult times," she says.