بريطانيا: المسلمون الجدد يصححون المفاهيم المغلوطة عن الإسلام

كشفت الدراسة الحديثة التي صدرت بشأن ارتفاع عدد العائدين للإسلام من البريطانيين في السنوات الأخيرة - أن العائدين للإسلام حديثًا يقومون بدور كبير من أجل تصحيح المفاهيم والمعلومات المغلوطة عن الإسلام.

وقد كشفت الدراسة أن كثيرًا ممن يعتنقون الإسلام حديثًا يواجهون مشكلات بسبب المواقف السلبية تجاههم من قِبل الأسر، إضافة إلى قلة قنوات الدعم المعينة لهم.

وفي هذا الصدد أكد "إدوارد تشارلز" و"ماثيو ماكدونالد" - المسؤولان عن موقع "شبكة المسلمين الجدد" بـ"ويلز" الذي أُسس عام 2001 - أن عملهم لا يقوم فقط على تقديم العون للمسلمين الجدد، ولكن العمل على إزالة الشبهات حول الإسلام تجاه تغيير الهوية الثقافية.

وأشارا إلى أنهما يعقدان لقاءات دورية بالمسلمين الجدد للمناقشة في الأمور الدينية، والرد على الاستفسارات وتقديم الدعم المعنوي لإخوانهم حديثي الإسلام.

الخبر من مصدره الأصلي:

Muslim converts aim to explain the choice

A GROUP of converts to Islam is trying to break misconceptions about their choice.

New research suggests that thousands of people across the UK are converting to Islam each year. And more women are becoming Muslims than men, according to the study by Swansea University for religious think-tank Faith Matters.

The report says: “There is no evidence of a mass conversion of the population and this is hardly the beginning of the ‘Islamification’ of the UK as is suggested by some groups.”

Among the report’s findings is evidence that many converts experience difficulties because of the negative attitudes of their families, with complaints that there is a lack of support networks available for converts.

Edward Charles and Matthew McDonald, of www.newmuslimnetworkwales.org.uk which was established in 2001, said the findings of the report back up the experiences of its volunteers.

They said their work was not only in supporting converts, but also trying to dispel myths about conversion, such as having to change your name or lose your cultural identity.

Mr Charles said: “In Cardiff we meet up weekly on a social basis, usually at coffee shops, and we don’t just talk about religion.

“We’re all very different people with different interests.

“These regular meetings enable very new Muslims, or those with questions who would feel uncomfortable entering a mosque, to sit and talk in a relaxed informal manner. We are looking to replicate this in the other cities.

“We have a spread of individuals who measure their conversions in weeks and others in decades.

“We are able to help the new Muslim to settle into their new faith gently and help them sort out the cultural stuff from the actual faith.”

The pair are keen to stress that converting to Islam is not about being brainwashed.

Mr McDonald explained: “Most of us keep our original names and we encourage new Muslims to do the same – but ultimately it’s a personal choice”.