US mayor converts to Islam
The Associated PressPublished: February 2, 2007
MACON, Georgia: Macon Mayor Jack Ellis has converted to Islam and is now working to legally change his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis.
Ellis, who was raised Christian, said Thursday that he became a Sunni Muslim during a December ceremony in the west African nation of Senegal.
“You do it because it feels right,” said Ellis. “To me it’s no big deal. But people like to know what you believe in. And this is what I believe in.”
Ellis said he has been studying the Quran for years and that his new religion was originally practiced by his ancestors before they were brought to North America as slaves.
At the request of his two of his daughters, Ellis said he will keep his last name the same.
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Ellis has not ruled out future runs for elected office after his term expires this year. But he said he had not made any calculations for how his religious conversion might affect him politically. He said he is an American first and is proud to live in a country founded on religious freedom.
In January Rep. Keith Ellison took office as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. The Michigan Democrat was born in Detroit and converted to Islam while in college.
Ellis said Muslims should not be painted with a broad brush simply because of a few radicals.
“If anybody wants to know about Islam, I can hold an intelligent conversation,” Ellis said. “What I’ve found is how little we know about the religion.”
Yeah isn't this the guy who wanted to have a private swearing in ceremony using the Quran instead of the Bible, and it caused an uproar among conservatives?
^ That was the newly elected Congressman from Michigan Rep Keith Ellison. By the way, I don't think he asked for a private ceremony, but rather he just wanted to swear-in on the Quran instead of Bible. US constitution allows anything to be used for swearing in (you can swear in on the telephone directory, if you want). However, right wing christian talk shows created a big furor over this request. You can google "Keith Ellison" for more information
This thread, it seems, is about a Mayor of a city in Georgia who has now reverted to Islam, while being in the office. Different person, different circumstances. Good for him!
muslims should really get over these conversions and concentrate on things that matter
why do we need conversions to show how great our religion is?
dont we already know?
Google his name and you will notice that many mainstream news organizations covered this reversion. Treat it as a piece of news. People discuss news all the time. Why avoid this? :)
Its not about asserting how great Islam is. Islam is personal, and in the end, no one really cares who's butt lands in heaven or hell. Your religous choices are your own matter.
But these guys are public political figures. To see them accepting Islam is a big thing. Muslims have like almost no political voice in this country because most of us are too busy with our Mercedes or too chicken to form a strong political lobby.
Yeah, I haven't been keeping up with the news much. Just what I can grab on NYtimes headlines if that.
But these guys are public political figures. To see them accepting Islam is a big thing. Muslims have like almost no political voice in this country because most of us are too busy with our Mercedes or too chicken to form a strong political lobby.
Yeah, I haven't been keeping up with the news much. Just what I can grab on NYtimes headlines if that.
Mercedes? People are struggling and your talking about these cars..
He was loaned Thomas Jefferson's two-volume hard bound copy of the Quran from the Library of Congress (I think) for this swearing-in.
As a byline, I used 'Rep' as a short for 'Representative' as in member of 'House of Representatives' and not for 'Republican'. Yes, he is a Democrat.
As a tangential topic, how long will it be before the Republicans give ticket to any muslim to run for a seat in the Congress. May be its more suited for WA, than Religion forum. :)